At Leslie Clark, we’re proud to support organisations that make a real difference in their communities. Over the past few months, we’ve had the privilege of working with Age Concern Southend on their mission to acquire and revitalise the Havens building in Westcliff-on-Sea – the home of their Community Hub.
Explore the Community Hub here.

Age Concern Southend has recently been awarded a substantial grant of £960,000 from the Community Ownership Fund, established by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. This funding will help them purchase the historic Havens building, a vital step in securing their future and expanding the invaluable support they provide to older people across Southend and the surrounding areas.

Our pro-bono work on the initial cost estimates helped to shape their broader plans for securing additional funding. By providing advice on property rationalisation and ongoing maintenance and compliance costs, we’re pleased to have played a small but meaningful part in their progress so far.

The Havens building is not just a local landmark but also a critical resource for the community. Once purchased, it will save Age Concern Southend £90,000 annually in rent – funds that can be reinvested in their services and community support. However, their work is far from over. The charity now faces the challenge of raising an additional £240,000 to complete the purchase in 2025.

If you’d like to support Age Concern Southend in achieving their goal, visit their website to learn more about how you can get involved.

We’re inspired by the dedication of the volunteers and team at Age Concern Southend and look forward to seeing the positive impact this acquisition will have on the local community.