The NHS in Hertfordshire and West Essex is making a short video to help health and care staff better understand how to give older people more choice when it comes to their healthcare options — especially for those who may be living with frailty. For example, some older patients can be taken to hospital and not offered other care options. We want to change that by showing how care can be more personal, more flexible, and closer to home.
This is a great chance to:
Tell your story.
Explain the importance of shared decision making.
Make a real difference to how care is delivered.
We’re looking for people aged 65+ from all walks of life who have recently used NHS services to share their experiences on camera.
We would love to film in a location that works best for you, whether this is in your home or in your local community.
Chelmsford Star Co-op is calling on volunteers to participate in the Big Co-op Clean Up at Central Park, Chelmsford.This community-driven event aims to bring together residents, families, and local groups to help keep our cherished green spaces clean and vibrant.
Date & Time: Friday 27th June 2025: 2pm – 3.30pm
Location: Central Park, Chelmsford
Meeting Point: Meet at the gazebo at Bell Meadow CM2 0PD
Please wear sturdy footwear.
Volunteers will be provided with all necessary equipment, including litter pickers, gloves, high-visibility vests, and bin bags. Please bring your own if you can.
Why volunteer?
Make a Visible Impact: Your efforts will contribute to a cleaner, more inviting park for everyone to enjoy.
Community Engagement: Meet like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a difference in Chelmsford.
🎉 Carers Week: 9–15 June 🎉 To mark Carers Week, Essex County Council and partners are hosting daily bite-size webinarsto help professionals identify carers early and signpost them to the right support.
📍 Open to all front-line professionals and services across Essex 🖥️ Hosted on Microsoft Teams
🔍 Each session covers a key area:
9 June – Support for young carers
10 June – Support for adult carers
11 June – Supporting carers of people with dementia
12 June – Advocacy supportfor carers
13 June – Employer supportfor working carers
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and improve outcomes for carers in your community.
Chelmsford City Racecouse are delighted to be supporting for the fourth consecutive year, the Eden Project Communities “Month of Community” in June. As part of this initiative, they are holding an Unpaid Carers Raceday on Thursday 12th June at Chelmsford City Racecourse.
Essex County Council is seeking compassionate individuals to join their community of foster carers. With more children than ever needing a safe and loving home, your support can make a world of difference.
Essex County Council offer exceptional support, award-winning training, competitive fees and have a whole community around you. New foster carers in 2025 will receive a £2000 welcome bonus. With various fostering options to suit your lifestyle, there’s never been better time to foster.
Become a foster carer and provide a child with the safe and loving home they deserve. Learn more at an information event where you can meet foster carers and ask questions. Join them in-person on Saturday 17 May or find a virtual event.
On 21 March, all 15 councils across Greater Essex, together with the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC), submitted an interim proposal for Local Government Reorganisation to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
The proposal represents a collaborative effort across Greater Essex to explore the potential for creating new unitary council structures. These changes aim to improve the efficiency, accountability, and delivery of public services across the region.
Working together with colleagues across the county, ECC are carefully considering the response and will incorporate this input as they refine their plans. Detailed proposals will be submitted to the MHCLG by the end of September.
We remain committed to keeping residents and stakeholders informed throughout this process. For ongoing updates on Local Government Reorganisation and Devolution in Greater Essex, please visit this page.
Fraud is on the rise in Essex — with a 6.1% increase in offences over the past year, totalling 9,604 incidentsand a staggering £68.5 millionin losses.
Despite the scale of the issue, many residents still feel unsure or anxious about reporting fraud. In fact, Essex Police estimate that many people experience fraud at least once a month, yet most cases go unreported.
To help tackle this, the Multi-Agency Approach to Fraud (MAAF)has launched a new anonymous surveyto understand public awareness and experiences of fraud and scams — whether or not you’ve been a victim. The goal is to better focus resources, improve prevention strategies, and ultimately reduce fraud across Southend, Essex, and Thurrock.
MAAFbrings together key organisations including:
Essex County Council
Essex Police
Essex Trading Standards
Victim Support
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner
We’re asking all Alliance members and partners to support this important initiative by sharing the survey widely — through your communications channels, networks, and with your communities. Every response counts.
Councillor Mark Durham, who oversees Essex Trading Standards, said:
“Fraudsters are always looking at new ways to scam people to a point where it’s not always immediately clear when you’ve been a victim. This can make fraud a difficult crime to combat and means we have to constantly evolve our tactics. However, if enough people come forward and engage with our anonymous survey, we can get a better understanding of the issues faced and start stamping out what has become a rampant issue across the UK.”
If you’ve been affected by fraud or want to learn more, visitEssex Police.
Hearing Help Essex are looking to recruit more Volunteers in the districts of Southend, Castle Point and Rochford.
Do you have a few hours to spare each month?
Are you looking for a rewarding and fun volunteering opportunity?
We would love to hear from you!
We are looking for 3 new technical volunteers to join our award-winning team of volunteers to enable us to help more people across Southend, Rochford, and Castle Point districts.
Ticket price: £5pp includes a hot breakfast bap and hot drink
Join us for our Time to Talk About Men’s Mental Health Event at Colchester Rugby Club to raise awareness of men’s mental health, with guest speakers, local support services, and resources for men’s mental wellbeing. This event is in collaboration with The Colte Partnership.
Join the OutHouse on Saturday, 14th June, for a joyous celebration of Pride Month as we mark the 45th birthday of The OutHouse, our wonderful charity supporting the LGBTQ+ community. The event will take place in the beautiful gardens of The Minories, a stunning venue that provides the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of fun, community, and celebration.
From 12 noon until 8pm, the gardens will be the heart of this special occasion.
This special day will honour The OutHouse’s incredible journey and the positive impact it has had over the last 45 years, all while celebrating the diversity and unity of the LGBTQ+ community.
Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration! It’s the perfect way to come together and enjoy a sunny day in the garden with friends, family, and allies. We look forward to seeing you there!
