This is where we’ll post third sector news and important updates that are useful for your organisation.
Thinking about quitting smoking?
You don’t have to do it alone ❤️
Discover local stop-smoking support groups, wellbeing services and community help near you with Essex Map.
Your healthier future could start today.
🔎 Find support near you: www.essexmap.co.uk
Helping people live healthier lives in Essex?
Join Essex Map – it’s free to list your group or service and reach those who need your support. email: communications@essexalliance.org.uk
Across Essex, incredible women are leading groups, running services, supporting families, championing wellbeing and creating safe spaces for others to thrive — and you can find them all in one place on 👉 https://www.essexmap.co.uk/
The Essex Map is a free directory designed to help residents discover local community groups, charities and activities that make a real difference — not for profit, but for people.
✨ Looking for a women’s support group?
✨ Want to meet like-minded people?
✨ Ready to promote a group you run?
Let’s make women’s voices, spaces and achievements more visible this #InternationalWomensDay
🔎 Explore
📍 Connect
📣 Add your group – email: communications@essexalliance.org.uk
If your website isn’t accessible, you could be unintentionally shutting people out.
Accessibility isn’t just a technical requirement – it’s about making sure everyone can use and benefit from your website, including people with disabilities, older users, and those accessing services in different ways.
To help organisations take practical steps towards more inclusive digital spaces, Few and Far® are hosting a free webinar: “A Web for All.” on Wednesday 11th March 2026 at 11am.
This two-hour session focuses on simple, practical ways to improve the accessibility and usability of your website. Rather than theory or jargon, the webinar will provide clear guidance and tools that you can start using straight away.
Topics will include:
Practical steps to improve website accessibility
Common barriers that prevent people from using websites
Tools and techniques to help you assess and improve your site
Realistic changes you can make without needing major redevelopment
This webinar is ideal for:
Organisations responsible for managing a website
Communications and marketing teams
Community groups and charities
Anyone interested in making their online services more inclusive
You can find full details and register for the webinar here:
https://e-portal-essex.co.uk/news/a-web-for-all-accessibility-usability-and-inclusivity-online-8874
If website accessibility has been sitting on your to-do list, this is a great opportunity to learn practical ways to get started.
Looking for a cosy weekend activity? Harlow Library are hosting Screentime Free Film Club every Saturday from 2pm – 4pm in the ACL Classrooms.
No need to book, and refreshments available at a small charge. Perfect for a relaxed Saturday afternoon.
Films showing include:
Spaghetti Western with great Morricone soundtrack. Two men form an uneasy alliance rescue a pacifist professor and seize a fortune during the Mexican Revolution. English, 2hrs long.
A wealthy yet emotionally repressed young housewife spends her afternoons secretly working in a high-class brothel. Gorgeous surreal film with costumes by Yves Saint Laurent. French with English subtitles, 1hr 40 mins long.
An English pianist in Rome gets embroiled in a dangerous investigation after witnessing the brutal murder of a psychic, teaming up with a journalist to track down the serial killer. Italian with English subtitles, 2hrs long.
A cunning madam maintains control over her Caracas bordello, even as she manages, rotates and manipulates lovers and henchmen who vie for power with her operation. Spanish with English subtitles, 2hrs long.
In 19th-century Edinburgh, an anatomist purchases fresh corpses from the notorious grave-robbing duo Burke and Hare. English, 1hr 40 mins long.
British social drama, with scenes filmed in Harlow swimming pool and good 60s style music. A group of schoolgirls wear a badge to show off their experience with men; Linda, their leader, fears she may be pregnant. English, 1hr 30 mins long.
Bollywood musical with ‘heaven and hell’ showstopper. A slum-dwelling thief falls for a privileged lawyer but unbeknownst to him, the judge presiding over his case is his estranged father. Hindi with English subtitles, 2hr 50 – this film will be shown in parts across two weeks.
📍 Location: Harlow Central Library
🆓 Entry: Free (no booking required)
☕ Extras: Snacks & soft drinks available for a small charge
For the full programme, including film descriptions, see here: Film Programme
We’re pleased to announce that the Essex Alliance newsletter is back!
Thank you for your patience and understanding while we worked to resolve the recent issue that temporarily interrupted our regular updates. We know how important the newsletter is for keeping our community informed, connected, and up to date with the latest news, events, and opportunities across Essex.
Our team has now fully resolved the issue, and we’re excited to resume sharing valuable updates with you.
We truly appreciate your continued support and patience while we worked behind the scenes to get everything back on track.
If you have any questions or would like to contribute to a future newsletter, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via communications@essexalliance.org.uk
Essex VCSE Alliance Supporting Your Essex Community
We’re pleased to share that the Essex VCSE Alliance is now proudly supporting Your Essex Community.
The voluntary and community sector (VCS) plays a vital role in creating strong, resilient communities across Essex. From supporting residents to tackling local challenges and driving change, charities, community groups and social enterprises make a real difference every day.
To continue having that impact, organisations need the right support — and that’s where Your Essex Community comes in.
What is Your Essex Community?
Your Essex Community offers free support to all voluntary and community sector organisations in Essex. Its aim is to help the sector thrive by creating a more connected and collaborative environment.
It works with organisations to:
By strengthening connections and encouraging collaboration, it helps ensure the sector can continue meeting the needs of local communities.
Our Role
As the Essex VCSE Alliance, we’re proud to support this work — championing the sector’s voice, promoting partnership working, and helping organisations stay connected to wider opportunities and conversations.
Together, we’re building a stronger, more joined-up VCSE sector across Essex.
If you’re a charity, community group or social enterprise in Essex, we encourage you to find out more about the support available through Your Essex Community.
Find out more at www.youressexcommunity.org/welcome-your-essex-community
March is National Nutrition Month — the perfect time to explore healthier choices for you and your family!
Looking for local food support, nutrition services, community groups, and wellbeing resources across Essex?
👉 Discover what’s available near you on the Essex Map: www.essexmap.co.uk
✨ And if you’re an organisation supporting health, food, or wellbeing in Essex — make sure you’re listed so people can find you!
#NationalNutritionMonth #HealthyEssex #CommunitySupport #EssexMap #Wellbeing
Essex Alliance is sharing the following programme on behalf of Headway Essex.
Headway Essex are about to run the next session of their ‘Brain Injury and Me’ programme in Colchester this March, and also deliver sessions throughout the year in other parts of Essex.
The programme has been designed to provide focused support to help get life back on track following a brain injury. It’s open to anyone at any stage after their injury — whether that’s weeks, months, or even many years later
These groups are run according to demand and take place on one day a week over 8 – 10 consecutive weeks. The course covers areas such as:
When someone has an acquired brain injury, it affects not only them but also their family and friends. It can change everyday life and relationships in many ways.
A brain injury often happens suddenly and without warning. There’s no guidebook to show you what to do next. It can be hard to know where to find help, what support is available, or what to expect from health and financial services.
At the same time, it can bring a wide range of emotions for everyone involved.
These supportive learning sessions have been created to help adults adjusting to life after a brain injury, and the impact is truly heart-warming.
“I found the course absolutely amazing and wonderfully helpful in restoring my self-confidence. It also helped in allowing me to function in group work. It restored my sense of identity and accepting my new self. It helped me ‘fight through the fog.“
The weekly sessions are informal, but structured with planned topics, using presentations, discussions and handouts given at the end of each session. One of the most valued parts of the programme is the peer support — the friendships formed and the opportunity to share experiences with others who truly understand.
Brain Injury and Me runs over eight weekly sessions* between Friday 6th March, and Friday 1st May 2025 from 10am-1pm
*Please note there will be no session on Friday 3rd April due to it being the Easter Bank Holiday weekend
If you or someone you know could benefit, we’d love to welcome you.
Please reach out to us at 01206 845945 or email abisupport@headwayessex.org.uk.
Mind in Havering, Barking and Dagenham are pleased to announce Essex Summer Fest!
Taking place at Harrow Lodge Park, Hornchurch, on Saturday 11th July, the Essex Summer Fest promises live music, a bar, fun fair, silent disco and more!
For more information, go to www.essexsummerfest.com
