Robert Bartella is a businessman and hotelier who owns the Heritage Leisure Group. In 2004 he asked his solicitor to set up a family charitable trust. His solicitor suggested that a better alternative would be to establish a Fund with his local community foundation, who would have the knowledge and expertise to work with Robert and his family to give support to local charities. The Bartella Charitable Fund was established and gives support to organisations working with vulnerable children and their families, including the Melbourne Project, whose work is featured in our Stories of Success.

"We have a fantastic relationship with Essex Community Foundation: they are kind, caring, informative and efficient. A Community Foundation should be a MUST everywhere in the UK and worldwide. I wanted to know that the money put into a Fund would be used here in Essex. My family and I have been delighted to see how our Fund has benefited local people and charities. Our family name will live on and our Fund will go on helping Esserx charities for years to come."
Robert Bartella, Heritage Leisure Group