Councillor Mark Heard, Chairman of The Joseph Henry Unwin Sick Poor Fund, explains how the charity has been working with Plume Academy to benefit young people's mental health.

Joseph Henry Unwin was a Maldon-born man who worked as a commercial clerk at the Maldon Iron Works. He lived at 81 High Street (currently Bluebell Boutique) and died in 1919.

Joseph felt that, after the First World War, the 'Land fit for heroes' wasn't helping the returning sick and wounded heroes enough. He left some money in his will for the establishment of a local charity to "assist the sick and needy of Maldon with Medical Provision, holidays and other aids to make life more bearable".

This became the Joseph Henry Unwin Sick Poor Fund.

Following the pandemic, the charity has seen calls to mental health departments rocket.

The committee felt the need for investment in mental health facilities, particularly for young people struggling to cope with all the changes.

11 to 13-year-olds are educated at the Lower Plume School in Mill Road, Maldon. There is a large garden at the rear of the playground that has been out of use and become overgrown over the last nine years.

Plume Academy was keen to develop this 'dead space' into something both members of the school and the wider Maldon community can benefit from.

The charity received a £1,000 donation from the Beeleigh Abbey Masonic Lodge in June. (Photo: Ben Shahrabi)

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The committee felt this project would really benefit young people's mental health as a place to find peace and social inclusion. We are working with the school to make this great project happen, thanks to donations from Maldon Rotary Club and the Beeleigh Abbey Lodge Masons.

Carl Wakefield, Executive Principal at Plume Academy, said: "I sincerely thank this fantastic, long-established charity for their tremendous support.

"This current 'dead-space' will be turned into something quite special - by replacing the old, rotting shed with a new one, replacing the plastic on the poly-tunnel frame, and creating a 'reflection corner' with some beautiful garden objects."

The school also proposes to add some vegetable and wildflower plots to create a community project and garden.