Hundreds of children across Essex have helped bring comfort and joy to families in need this Christmas through a generous shoebox appeal supporting Home-Start Essex.
Children from Seymour House Nurseries, with the support of nursery staff, parents and carers, took part in the charity’s annual shoebox collection. Together, they created beautifully decorated festive boxes filled with thoughtful gifts for children supported by Home-Start Essex, a local charity working with families facing significant challenges.
The shoeboxes included a wide range of items such as warm winter essentials, books, stationery, puzzles and toys. Many of the children also decorated their own box lids with drawings and stickers, adding a personal touch and ensuring each gift was unique. The activity helped children understand the importance of kindness and empathy, while providing practical support to families who may be experiencing a difficult winter.
Home-Start Essex supports parents and young children across the county who are affected by issues including poverty, isolation, domestic abuse, bereavement, poor mental health, and the additional pressures of caring for children with disabilities or special educational needs. Demand for the charity’s services has increased significantly, with more families than ever requiring help.
Nic O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer of Home-Start Essex, said “the shoeboxes would make a meaningful difference to the families receiving them, particularly during the Christmas period. Each box, filled with care and consideration, represents more than a gift — it offers reassurance to parents and a sense of joy to children at a time when it is needed most.”
The initiative also reflects a wider commitment within early years settings to encourage social responsibility from a young age. By involving children directly in choosing and preparing the gifts, the appeal demonstrates how small acts of kindness can have a lasting impact within the local community.
Home-Start Essex continues to provide a range of services including volunteer family support, wellbeing and mental health groups, essential item provision, and specialist support for families with additional needs. Community initiatives such as this shoebox appeal play an important role in helping the charity reach families at a critical time of year.
How to Help
Home-Start Essex urgently needs support to continue providing life-changing services to families in crisis.
To donate and help local families this Christmas, please visit Donate Now – Home-Start Essex
To donate gifts, please contact fundraising@home-startessex.org.uk
Why Support Is Needed More Than Ever
• Demand for Home-Start Essex services has increased by 134%.
• Across the county, 38,600 children now live in the 20 most deprived neighbourhoods, and 14.1% of children are growing up in extreme poverty.
• In the last year alone, Home-Start Essex supported over 2000 children.
For many people, the festive season is a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. But for others, it can be one of the loneliest times of the year. Feelings of isolation can be heightened during winter, especially for older residents, carers, people living alone, and those facing difficult circumstances.
That’s why the Essex Map is playing an increasingly vital role in connecting people across the county with the support, activities, and community services they need — when they need them most.
The Essex Map is a free, easy-to-use online directory that helps residents find local groups, charities, events, and services in their area. Whether someone is looking for a friendly coffee morning, a mental health support group, wellbeing activities, food support, or social clubs, the Essex Map brings everything together in one place.
Support Is Closer Than You Think
Loneliness doesn’t always look the same. It can affect people of all ages and backgrounds. The Essex Map makes it easier to:
Discover local social groups and community activities
Find wellbeing and mental health support
Access help with food, finances, and everyday living
Connect with charities offering companionship and outreach
This festive period, if you or someone you know is feeling isolated, the Essex Map could be a powerful first step towards support and connection.
👉 Visit www.essexmap.co.uk and explore what’s available in your local area.
Calling All Charities, Community Groups & Support Services
If you are a charity, voluntary organisation, faith group, community group, or support service working to reduce loneliness or support people this winter — we want to hear from you.
By listing your service on the Essex Map, you can:
Reach more people who need your support
Increase awareness of your activities and events
Strengthen connections across the community
Help ensure no one feels alone this festive season
Light Up a Life Day (5th December) is a time for reflection, remembrance, and connection. Whether you have lost a family member, friend, or someone who made a difference in your life, this day offers a moment to honour their memory and celebrate the love they brought into the world.
For many people, days like this can bring a mixture of emotions — comfort, sadness, gratitude, or a sense of longing. That’s why finding the right local support can make such a meaningful difference.
Find Local Bereavement Support on The Essex Map
Across Essex, many charities, hospices, community groups, and organisations provide compassionate support for those coping with loss. To help residents easily find this help, The Essex Map brings together local services in one accessible place.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet space to reflect, a group to share memories with, or professional guidance during a difficult time, The Essex Map can help you find what you need close to home.
🕯️ Supporting Light Up a Life Day in Your Community
Light Up a Life Day encourages individuals and communities to come together and celebrate the lives of those who have passed. Many local groups hold remembrance events, candle-lighting ceremonies, tree-decorating activities, or moments of collective reflection.
If your organisation is taking part or offering support around this day, The Essex Map is a valuable place to make your services visible to residents across Essex.
✨ Are You a Bereavement Charity or Support Group?
If you provide bereavement support, counselling, remembrance events, hospice care, or any other related services, you can list your organisation for free on The Essex Map.
Adding your service helps local people find the support they need, especially on days like Light Up a Life Day when many seek comfort and community.
👉 Add your organisation to The Essex Map here:www.essexmap.co.uk (navigate to the “Add a Listing” section) or email: communications@essexalliance.org.uk
By joining the map, you’ll be contributing to a county-wide network of support that ensures no one has to face loss alone.
🌈 You Are Not Alone
Light Up a Life Day reminds us that while loss is deeply personal, support is something we can share. Whether you’re remembering someone special or looking for ways to support others, The Essex Map is here to help you connect with services that care.
Author: Emily Smith
Posted:
Categories: Events, News
Active Essex and the Foundation invite eligible VCSE sector organisations who are working with, or looking to work with, 17-25 years olds experiencing low levels of emotional wellbeing using physical activity alongside other support, to apply for funding to become future delivery partners.
Essex Transition Age Mental Health & Physical Activity Project, funded through Wellbeing, Public Health, and Communities Team at Essex County Council, is an innovative 3-year project, which is now entering its second year.
For more information about the project, including priority cohorts, funding criteria and grant application process – Click Here
All applications must be submitted by 31st December 2025.
The Government has now launched its public consultation on proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)across Greater Essex. This represents a significant opportunity for organisations, community groups, businesses, and residents to help shape what the future of local government could look like in our county.
Announced on 19 November 2025, the consultation covers all four unitary proposals submitted by councils across Essex, Southend-on-Sea, and Thurrock. It will run until 11 January 2026, giving organisations across the voluntary and community sector vital time to feed back their views.
These proposals aim to simplify how local councils work, strengthen local decision-making, and improve the way services are delivered. This includes ensuring councils reflect local identity, operate efficiently, and deliver high-quality public services.
This is a unique opportunity for the VCS to influence decisions that will affect communities for years to come.
Why this matters to Essex Alliance members
Local Government Reorganisation has the potential to reshape:
how services are delivered
how local priorities are set
how communities engage with decision-making
the future structure and scale of local authorities across Greater Essex
Your insight—as organisations working closely with communities—is key to ensuring these proposals reflect local needs.
All the councils in Essex are working together to propose changes to how they are run. Each council – whether district, borough, city or county councils – might have their own ideas to share with the government.
These proposals are based on:
making sure decision making is as close to communities as possible
delivering value for money and efficient local services
what’s good for local businesses and voluntary sector organisations
Some ideas will be the same, but some will be different.
You can read the four proposals that councils in Greater Essex have sent to government HERE.
3rd December is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities — a reminder of how important it is that everyone can access the support they need in their community.
The Essex Map brings together local disability-friendly groups and services, from social clubs and peer support to accessible activities and wellbeing resources.
Are you part of a great group that isn’t listed yet? Add it HERE to help others find them or email: communications@essexalliance.org.uk and we can add it for you.
Looking for support? Start searching on The Essex Map today.
Coming up on 5 December is International Volunteer Day — a global celebration of the power and impact of volunteering. It’s the perfect moment to shine a light on the incredible organisations across Essex that rely on volunteers, and to encourage more people to get involved in supporting their local communities.
If you’re thinking about volunteering, the Essex Map is a great place to start. It brings together a wide range of community groups, charities and local initiatives looking for support.
Simply search “Volunteering” to discover opportunities near you and find something that suits your interests, skills and availability.
Volunteering doesn’t just help the community — it offers real benefits for you too. Some of the key advantages include:
Building stronger communities – Local groups thrive when residents share their time and skills.
Improved wellbeing – Helping others can boost your mood, reduce stress and support better mental health.
Learning new skills – Gain experience in teamwork, communication and practical or specialist abilities.
Increased confidence – Stepping into a volunteer role can help you grow personally and professionally.
Meeting new people – Expand your social circle and connect with like-minded people in your area.
Making a tangible local impact – Even a small amount of time can make a huge difference to community organisations.
Enhancing your CV – Volunteering experience is valued by employers and may open new career paths.
A sense of purpose – Supporting a cause you care about brings fulfilment and motivation.
Flexibility – Many roles can fit around work, study, caring responsibilities or retirement.
Supporting causes you value – From the environment to arts, youth work to health services, there’s something for everyone.
Find Your Volunteering Match
Whether you’re new to volunteering or looking for your next opportunity, the Essex Map makes it easy to explore what’s available across the county. This International Volunteer Day, take a moment to browse, get inspired and maybe even take your first step towards making a difference.
🔍 Search “Volunteering” on The Essex Map and find your match today. ❤️ Together, we can build stronger, more connected communities in Essex.
Essex County Council is conducting important research into youth vaping and is seeking views from parents and carers of children aged 9–14 in Essex.
Your insight will help shape future support and a new county-wide campaign to help families have non-judgemental conversations about the risks of vaping for young people.
The survey is anonymous, takes 10 minutes, and is open to all parents and carers—whether or not your child vapes.
Your feedback will directly support future work to protect the health and wellbeing of young people in Essex.
This survey aims to understand your attitudes to youth vaping, talking about it with your child, and what resources might be helpful to support this.
The findings will be summarised in a report which will be used by Essex County Council to inform services and materials to support parents, schools and young people around vaping. The report will be kept indefinitely and may be shared in the public domain on the Essex Open Data Platform (Essex Youth Vaping | Essex Open Data). Insight may be taken from the report and used for other relevant projects and shared with other partners.
We want to explore how people are using their local community pharmacies and how they think services could be improved. As part of this project, we have launched a new survey to encourage people to share their views and experiences. Whether it’s picking up prescriptions, getting health advice, or using walk-in services, your voice matters. By getting involved, you can help shape pharmacy services and improve access to healthcare.
We are particularly interested in hearing from:
Children and young people
Frail/housebound residents
Parents and carers
People with neurodiverse conditions
People with sensory disabilities
For more information, visit the Healthwatch Essex website:
We are pleased to share an important new resource designed to shine a light on domestic abuse affecting people in later life. On 29 October 2025, partners across Essex launched Look. Listen. Be aware – a countywide campaign focused on increasing understanding, improving identification, and strengthening support for people aged 70 and over who may be experiencing domestic abuse.
Domestic abuse in later life is often hidden. Older people may face unique barriers to seeking help, including dependency on a partner or carer, mobility or health challenges, or simply not recognising certain behaviours as abuse. This campaign aims to break down those barriers and ensure our communities know how to spot the signs and where to turn for help.
Campaign Goals
Raise Awareness
Highlight the realities of domestic abuse among people aged 70+.
Help the public and professionals recognise key warning signs.
Promote the support available through COMPASS, Essex’s specialist domestic abuse helpline.
Encourage anyone supporting older people to reach out for advice and guidance.
Educate & Equip
Provide clear information for professionals—including caregivers, health and social care teams, and community organisations—on recognising abuse and accessing SETDAB resources.
Support local authorities and community groups to confidently signpost older residents to help.
Who the Campaign Supports
The campaign is designed for:
Community organisations and local authorities
Domiciliary care and healthcare professionals
Unpaid carers
Family members and friends
Individuals aged 70+ who may be affected
How You Can Help
Your support is vital in helping this message reach every community across Essex. You can get involved by:
Sharing and engaging with Look. Listen. Be aware social media posts
Using and circulating the partner toolkit across your networks
Adapting the sample content and campaign assets for your own channels
Championing the campaign within your local communities
Encouraging wider stakeholder engagement and amplification
Sharing SETDAB resources within your organisation to build awareness and staff confidence
Access the Toolkit
A comprehensive partner toolkit—along with digital and print campaign assets—is available to download from the campaign’s SharePoint folder. If you need access, please contact campaigns@essex.gov.uk
