April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about stress and help people find the support they need.
One practical way we can all support our communities is by making it easier for people to find local services quickly and easily.
The Essex Map (www.essexmap.co.uk) is a free online directory that helps residents, professionals and community organisations discover services across Essex that support health, wellbeing, community connection and more.
We would love your help to make the map even more useful during Stress Awareness Month.
How you can get involved:
• Promote the Essex Map to people you support so they can find local help and resources when they need it.
• Add your organisation or service to the map so more people can find the support you provide.
• Share the map with colleagues and partners to help grow the network of support across Essex.
The more organisations that are listed, the easier it becomes for people experiencing stress or other challenges to find the right support at the right time.
Every year on World Autism Awareness Day (2 April), communities around the world come together to raise awareness, promote understanding, and celebrate autistic people. The day encourages us to move beyond awareness and focus on acceptance, inclusion, and meaningful support for autistic individuals and their families.
At The Essex Alliance we believe that access to the right support, information, and community connections can make a huge difference. That’s why we’re encouraging organisations across Essex to take part by sharing their services and connecting with others through the Essex Map.
Helping People Find Support in Essex
The Essex Map is a free online directory designed to help people easily find local services, support groups, activities, and organisations across Essex.
For autistic individuals, parents, carers, and families, finding the right support can sometimes feel overwhelming.
The Essex Map brings together services in one place so people can quickly discover:
Autism support groups
Parent and carer networks
Specialist services and organisations
Inclusive activities and community groups
Advice and wellbeing support
By making these services more visible, we help ensure that people across Essex can access the help and community they need.
Do You Offer Autism Support?
As part of World Autism Awareness Day, we are inviting organisations across Essex to join the map.
If your group or organisation offers:
Autism support services
Inclusive activities
Advice or guidance for families
Community groups or peer support
we would love to include you. Being listed helps ensure that individuals and families who are searching for support can find your organisation quickly and easily.
The Essex Map isn’t just for organisations—it’s also a valuable tool for anyone looking for help, connection, or community.
Whether you are an autistic person, a parent, a carer, or a professional supporting someone else, you can use the map to discover local services and supportive communities across Essex.
Working Together for Acceptance
World Autism Awareness Day reminds us that creating inclusive communities requires collaboration, understanding, and visibility. By sharing services and connecting organisations through The Essex Map, we can help ensure that no one in Essex has to search alone for the support they need.
Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone — and support is closer than you think.
The Essex Map brings together local groups, services, and community activities in one easy-to-use place, helping you find the right support for your mental health and wellbeing when you need it most.
✨ Looking for support?
Discover wellbeing groups, safe spaces, practical help, and friendly communities across Essex.
✨ Running a group or service?
Make sure people can find you. Listing your organisation on the Essex Map is free, simple, and helps connect you with those who need your support.
This Stress Awareness Month, let’s make it easier for everyone in Essex to access the help that’s out there — and remind each other that no one has to cope alone.
The Essex Alliance are sharing this event on behalf of Parents 1st.
Are you a new parent? Are you expecting soon? Then why not come and join Parents 1st at our Couples Coffee Connections morning?
Bring your little ones along for a play (0-5 year olds welcome) and meet other parents or parents-to-be from your area.
Our local Thurrock peer supporters will be on hand for a chat and to let you know how Parents 1st can help you on your parenting journey. We’ll even be providing hot drinks and a croissant!
Where? Tilbury Family Hub, Anchor Field, London Road, Tilbury, RM18 8EY
Age Well East is currently recruiting for an Operations Manager to lead and support its Advice & Welfare Service, helping people aged 60 and over across North East Essex and Braintree, with potential expansion into other areas of Essex.
This full-time, permanent role (37.5 hours per week) offers a salary of £36,000 and a hybrid working arrangement, combining home working, time at the Clacton office, and visits to community locations across Essex.
The Operations Manager will play a key role in overseeing the day-to-day delivery of the service. Responsibilities include supporting a team of Advice Caseworkers, a Carer Navigator and Senior Dementia Coordinators, supervising staff, managing referrals and case allocation, and providing guidance on complex issues relating to welfare benefits, housing and care. The postholder may also provide direct advice and information to clients where needed.
Working closely with colleagues and local partners, the role will help strengthen relationships with statutory and voluntary organisations, represent the service at meetings, and support community engagement activities to raise awareness of available support.
The position also involves monitoring service performance, contributing to contract reporting, reviewing case files to ensure quality standards, and gathering feedback and case studies to demonstrate the impact of the service. Ensuring compliance with Age Well East policies — including safeguarding, confidentiality, lone working and GDPR — will also be an important part of the role.
Age Well East is looking for candidates with experience or strong knowledge of welfare benefits and entitlements for older people, along with experience supervising staff or teams and managing complex situations with professionalism and sensitivity. Strong communication skills, attention to detail and the ability to build effective partnerships are essential.
A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes is required. Desirable experience includes contract monitoring, service development, safeguarding practice, advocacy, CRM systems such as Salesforce, and qualifications in Advice, Information and Guidance.
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
Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Events, News
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.
What the webinar will cover
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
Who should attend?
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
