Empower has been serving the primary & secondary schools
around the Braintree & Halstead areas since 1996.
Here's a bit of a timeline...
1996
Inspired by the work of CYO Colchester, the churches of Braintree agree to trial a similar project.
1997
A part-time secondary schools worker is employed and work begins in the Braintree and Witham areas.
1998
An instant success, CYO welcomes Olive & Sheena to the team to start work in Braintree primary schools
1999
Matt joins us as our first full-time worker, serving the Braintree, Witham and Halstead area secondary schools.
2003
CYO employs its first primary schools workers for the Witham area.
2004
Sarah is employed as a part-time secondary schools worker, specialising in dance and emotional wellbeing among girls.
We employ our first primary schools worker for the Halstead area.
2010
Following a number of years of different staff joining and moving on from CYO, the team is further expanded with part-time workers in Braintree & Witham.
2012
The Witham primary work grows with the employment of an additional worker.
2014
The Witham team establishes a separate charity, enabling CYO to expand its work in the Braintree and Halstead areas.
2015
Matt is appointed Director, continuing with secondary schools work.
Sally takes on the primary schools work in the Halstead area.
Nikki joins Sheena in the Braintree primary schools.
2020
Sarah rejoins the team to focus on mentoring in the Halstead area secondary schools.
The Covid pandemic leads CYO to develop their online presence for schools, delivering assemblies, lessons and projects via their YouTube channel and other media.
2021
Following successful grant applications, Delana & Holly join the team to focus on mentoring, with Delana also employed to redevelop primary schools work in the Halstead area.
A degree of normality returns to schools work post-pandemic with minor restrictions in place.
2022
Further funding enables us to offer Delana a permanent contract.
Katie is employed to work with Sheena in the Braintree primary schools.
2023
Another successful grant application enables us to employ Hilary for 12 months as a secondary schools mentor, despite regular income dropping significantly.
Demand for more work reaches an all-time high, igniting discussions between staff & trustees about CYO's future and what else can be offered to local schools.
2024
Trustees vote to change the name of CYO to Empower.
A surprise grant appears, funding the entirety of Empower's work in the Halstead area for 12 months.
Vicki is appointed as Halstead area mentor for the year.
2025
Additional funding secures Vicki's employment for a further year
2026
Bix joins the primary schools team to launch a new initative working across the Braintree and Halstead areas.
Biz, Katie, Matt, Olive, Sheena & Vicki prepare to take things into the future.
Staff past and present, trustees and supporters celebrate Empower's 30th birthday.
Empower exists because of Derek.
Derek’s journey with what would become Empower began in 1996, when he was instrumental in kickstarting a local schools ministry. From those early beginnings, he became a constant presence and a driving force in the development of the organisation.
"A heartbeat throughout the life of the charity..."
Alongside our trustee Irene, Derek was a heartbeat throughout the life of the charity. He helped shape its direction, supported its people and made the bold, generous decisions that enabled it to grow — increasing our staff team, expanding our reach and creating opportunities for countless young people.
Derek had an extraordinary ability to see what was possible and to have the courage to pursue it. His generosity was matched by a deep sense of trust, and again and again he was prepared to invest in the future of the charity, even when the outcome was not certain. His faith in the work, and in the people carrying it forward, helped Empower become what it is today.
Over more than 26 years, Derek’s influence has reached far beyond structures, strategies and finances. It has touched the lives of staff, trustees, volunteers, partners and, most importantly, generations of young people who have encountered Empower because he chose to invest in its future.
We owe Derek an enormous debt of gratitude. His legacy is woven into the very fabric of this organisation...the work we do, the people we employ, the communities we serve and the young lives we have the privilege of impacting.
As we remember Derek, we do so with immense gratitude for the part he played in making Empower possible.
Without Derek, there would be no Empower.
We will carry his legacy forward with gratitude, remembering the extraordinary difference one person can make when they are willing to believe in something, invest in it and give others the opportunity to make it grow.
"Well done, good and faithful servant"
Matthew 25:21
As a christian charity, Empower shares biblical values through much of its work. In line with government requirements, workers will share their faith when invited to, such as in assemblies and RE lessons. Through all its services, Empower continues to be a non-judgemental, all-embracing charity, entirely focused on the needs of the young people it reaches as opposed to pushing its own agenda.
We are committed to providing services on a fair and equitable basis, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, lifestyle, sex, sexuality, physical/mental disability or any other factor.
We have only one agenda...EMPOWER!