This week, we’re delighted to celebrate Wendy Barron, nominated as our Essex Alliance Star of the Week, recognising the incredible people making a difference across Essex’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector.
Wendy has been volunteering with Uttlesford Community Travel since 1999 – an incredible 27 years of dedication!
Wendy started as a volunteer car driver, helping people get to vital medical appointments across Uttlesford and beyond. After several years behind the wheel, she moved into the office, coordinating volunteer drivers and scheduling their journeys to ensure local residents could access the transport they needed. Wendy has played a huge role in ensuring that local people have been able to attend appointments and preventing loneliness and isolation in the area.
All this alongside serving as a councillor on Great Dunmow Town Council and as Mayor during her time there!
Now, at 84, Wendy has decided it’s time to put her feet up and enjoy a well-earned rest. Her colleagues say she has been a massive part of the charity and local community, and there will certainly be a big hole in the office on Mondays and Fridays!
Wendy, thank you for 27 years of kindness, commitment and incredible service. Your contribution has made a real difference to so many people’s lives, and we hope you enjoy every moment of your retirement. ❤️
👏 Please join us in celebrating Wendy and thanking her for everything she has given to her community!
The Essex Alliance is sharing this information on behalf of the Uttlesford Voluntary Sector Forum.
The Uttlesford Voluntary Sector Forum is kicking off on 24th November. The forum is being hosted by WECAN and funded through Your Essex Community.
The forum sets out to bring Uttlesford non-profits, volunteers, and community leaders together to support each other, share best practices, access information about funding and resources, and shape our district.
Come along to the first meeting and tell us what you would like to get from this new forum.
Meeting Details
When? Tuesday 24th November
What Time? 10:00-12:00
Where? Uttlesford District Council Chamber, London Road, Saffron Walden, CB11 4ER
Please let us know if you will be joining us by 20th November. Email: wecan@mindinwestessex.org.uk
Writing Successful Small Grant Applications – A Masterclass
Multiple in-person workshop dates throughout November & December
Join a free interactive workshop designed for Essex voluntary and community organisations looking to strengthen their fundraising and income generation plans.
You’ll explore current fundraising trends, discover new income opportunities, learn where to find grants under £20,000, and gain practical tips to help your applications stand out in an increasingly competitive funding landscape. The session also provides a valuable opportunity to network and share experiences with other local organisations.
Please select which date and venue you’d like to join by clicking the button below and completing the online form.
Whether you’re new to fundraising or looking to refresh your approach, we hope you’ll join us for this valuable opportunity to learn, share ideas and connect with others from across the voluntary and community sector.
Community organisations across Essex can now apply for grants of up to £10,000 from the NHS Essex Community Health Partnership Fund to support community-led projects that encourage, enable and support greater vaccine confidence and uptake.
The NHS Essex Community Health Partnership Fund has been established by NHS Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) and ECF. The programme is exploring how community-led approaches can help improve preventative health outcomes and increase vaccination uptake among communities where take-up of vaccines is lower than expected.
To help achieve this, the Fund is investing in local charities and community groups that often have trusted relationships with the people they support and can engage people and communities that statutory services may find more difficult to reach.
Priority Groups
Projects must work with one or more of the following priority groups:
Pregnant Women – Pertussis, RSV, Flu
Teenage Girls & Boys – HPV
Children – MMR Dose 1 & 2
Priority Areas
The Fund will consider applications from across Essex (excluding Southend and Thurrock) but priority will be given to projects working in:
Basildon
Harlow
Tendring
What Can Be Funded?
The Fund is designed to support organisations that are already working with one or more of the priority groups and have strong relationships within the communities they support. Funding is available for projects that can build on and strengthen work that is already taking place.
Grants of up to £10,000 are available for projects lasting up to 24 months.
The Advisory Panel is looking for organisations that have strong community connections and can work collaboratively to help increase vaccination uptake among Essex’s priority communities.
The Fund is looking for community-led approaches that:
Increase awareness and understanding of vaccinations
Build trust and confidence within communities
Address barriers to accessing vaccination services
Support informed decision-making
Engage communities that are underserved or less likely to engage with mainstream services
Create sustainable and collaborative approaches that can inform future delivery models
Who Can Apply?
Applications are welcome from:
Registered charities
Community and voluntary organisations
Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee
Other not-for-profit organisations meeting ECF eligibility requirements
Organisations must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Deadline: Wednesday 25 November 2026, 5pm.
EOIs will be reviewed by the Advisory Panel and organisations demonstrating the strongest fit with the Fund’s priorities will be invited to submit a full application.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their EOI by Wednesday 16 December 2026.
Stage Two: Full Application
Organisations invited to the second stage will be asked to provide further information about their proposed project. Any additional questions from the Advisory Panel will be shared with applicants at this stage.
The deadline for Stage Two applications is Friday 22 January 2027.
Apply
Expression of Interest applications are now open.
Expression of Interest deadline: Wednesday 25 November 2026, 5pm.
Applications can be submitted using the online application form below
Get into the festive spirit and support local mental health services at a Merry Minds Festive Fun Run near you this November!
Join us as we come together for a feel-good morning of spreading seasonal cheer and raising vital funds in aid of a great cause.
Everyone is welcome and festive fancy dress is strongly encouraged!
The Mind in Essex partnership are hosting 4 Merry Minds events on the weekend on 28-29 November 2026 – find out more about your local festive fun run below…
Saturday 28th November
Great Notley Country Park, Braintree
in aid of Mid and North East Essex Mind Info and tickets
Weald Country Park, Brentwood
in aid of Thurrock and Brentwood Mind Info and tickets
Belfairs Wood, Leigh on Sea
in aid of South East and Central Essex Mind Info and tickets
Sunday 29th November
The Water Gardens, Harlow
in aid of Mind in West Essex Info and tickets
The Essex Alliance is sharing this information on behalf of Ace Music Therapy.
Healing Harmonies will bring parents, children and home-educating families together through inclusive community music-making in Chelmsford.
The project aims to help people build confidence, strengthen relationships, reduce isolation and enjoy positive creative experiences through music.
Sessions will include singing, playing instruments, exploring sounds and making music together. Activities will be shaped around participants and adapted to support different needs and abilities. No musical experience is needed, and everyone is welcome.
We’re particularly keen to reach families living in St Andrews ward, Chelmsford including those who may be experiencing isolation, financial pressures or difficulties accessing affordable, inclusive local activities.
Our groups:
All sessions will take place on Fridays at Chelmsford Community Church.
– 1pm-2pm: Parents’ group
A chance for parents to enjoy music, build confidence and connect with others.
– 2.30pm-3.30pm: Home-educated families
Parents and children making music together and enjoying a creative activity as a family.
– 4pm-5pm: Children’s group
An inclusive space for children to explore music, express themselves and build confidence.
The programme runs from 6 November 2026 to 5 February 2027, with a break over Christmas. We’ll finish with a celebratory community concert bringing all three groups together on Friday 5 February.
Ace Music Therapy CIC has experience delivering inclusive community music programmes across Essex. While our organisation includes HCPC-registered music therapists, Healing Harmonies is delivered as community music-making rather than clinical music therapy. Our focus is on creating a welcoming space where people can enjoy music, build connections and take part in a way that works for them.
To find out more or register interest, families can contact us directly:
Email: info@acemusictherapy.co.uk
Phone: 07957 225109
Sign Up Link: Healing Harmonies Sign Up Form – Fill in form
At 91 years young, Ann has been volunteering since the age of just SEVEN! That’s an incredible 84 years of dedication, kindness and making a difference to others.
Ann’s volunteering journey has shaped her life in so many ways. As she explains:
“Volunteering helped to get me my first job in 1952 – after being interviewed as a junior shorthand typist, I was asked ‘what else I had to offer’ and I spoke about my interests. I thought he was an old man (he turned out to be 45!!) – he became my boss. Volunteering has given me so many rich experiences and contact with wonderful people -I have learnt so much.”
And Ann continues to give so much back to her community!
In recent years, she has established a thriving knitting project, bringing people together to create beautiful items for charities supporting homeless people, those affected by addiction and young families. More than just knitting, it’s helped tackle loneliness and isolation and created lasting friendships.
She has also started a sign language group, warmly welcomes newcomers to the community hub’s Monday coffee group and, as UCAN’s (Uttlesford Community Action Network) Volunteering Ambassador, champions the benefits of volunteering across Essex.
Ann has a wonderful gift for spotting when someone needs support, offering a smile, a hug (if wanted!), a friendly conversation or simply a warm welcome. She’s always full of ideas and, more importantly, makes them happen!
Ann is a shining example of how volunteering brings communities together, changes lives and enriches the lives of those who give their time, too.
Thank you, Ann, for your extraordinary contribution, unwavering dedication and inspiration to us all. You are a very special Essex Star! ❤️
The Essex Alliance is sharing this opportunity on behalf of Age Well East.
Job Title: Finance and HR Administrator
Salary: £22,848.00 per annum (£28,560.00 FTE)
Reports to: Head of Finances and Resources
Location: Home based with some occasional travel across Essex.
Hours: 30 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Annual Leave: 24 days pro rata per annum from 1st April to 31st March, plus birthday day (or day nearest). Bank holidays pro rata. Office closure between Christmas and New Year.
Purpose of the Role:
To provide efficient, accurate support across the Finance, Human Resources, and general administration functions, helping ensure the smooth day-to-day running of financial processes, recruitment, employee records, HR compliance, organisational records, and administrative systems. The post holder will work with confidentiality, attention to detail, and a strong customer-service focus while supporting the effective operations and the organisation’s mission to improve the lives of older people across Essex.
Applications close on 8th November 2026, with first stage interviews taking place online week commencing 16th November 2026.
