A major milestone has been reached for Essex based charity CanalAbility, as its new accessible electric canal boat, Amply Accessible, has been successfully delivered to a local marina, ahead of her journey to the charity’s base on the River Stort.
Based in Harlow, Essex, CanalAbility provides accessible boating experiences for people with disabilities, mobility challenges and significant health conditions, welcoming clients, families, carers and support groups.
The new 56ft by 11ft boat has been designed specifically for CanalAbility’s disabled clients and will join its two existing specially adapted diesel-powered wide-beam boats, helping the charity provide more opportunities for people to enjoy time on the water.
A Boat Built for the Future
The new boat is fully electric, with eight solar panels on the cabin roof helping to provide power for its onboard electrical requirements.
Moving from diesel to electric is expected to save approximately 5,130kg of CO₂ emissions each year, as well as providing a much quieter experience for clients.
Accessibility features include a wheelchair lift, drop-down access ramps, an accessible toilet, changing table and hoist. The boat also has joystick steering alongside conventional tiller steering, giving clients with different abilities the opportunity to take part in steering.
The project has been made possible thanks to the incredible support of CanalAbility’s volunteers,
fundraisers, donors and supporters, together with National Lottery players whose contributions made a substantial grant from The National Lottery Community Fund possible.
The project has also received sponsorship from Xylem and support from HFW.
CanalAbility Chairman, Marc Balkham, said: “2025 and 2026 have seen CanalAbility focussing on the exciting development and build of our new boat, while also reviewing our strategy and planning for the future stability of the charity, all while maintaining our high quality of service provision to our clients. Seeing Amply Accessible successfully trialled at Colecraft Boats and now preparing to make her journey home is a hugely exciting milestone for everyone involved. This boat represents a significant investment in the future of CanalAbility. It brings together accessibility, sustainability and modern technology, and most importantly has been designed around the needs of the people we support.”
Next Stop – CanalAbility
The boat will soon begin her journey to her new home in Harlow at CanalAbility’s base on the River Stort.
There will still be preparation, testing and commissioning before she begins welcoming disabled clients and community groups for day trips, but seeing Amply Accessible successfully complete her water trials and arrive at the marina marks an exciting step forward for CanalAbility, as she prepares for the next stage of her journey to the charity’s base on the River Stort.
For more information visit www.canalability.org.uk, Email hello@canalability.org.uk or call 01279 424444.
Chelmsford City Council has launched a new Transport Poverty Grant Scheme, with funding available for community-led projects that help people overcome transport barriers and access essential services and opportunities.
A total of £14,000 is available, with eligible organisations able to apply for grants of up to £1,500.
Projects could help improve access to:
🚍 Healthcare
🚍 Employment
🚍 Education and training
🚍 Food support
🚍 Social networks
🚍 Wellbeing activities
The scheme is open to voluntary and community organisations, registered charities, CICs and other eligible not-for-profit organisations.
📅 Applications close at 12pm on Friday 9 October 2026.
Find out more, read the guidance and apply: https://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/communities/grant-scheme-for-transport-poverty/
Gold Geese, a small, local charity supporting families facing childhood cancer, is encouraging the community to learn the signs and symptoms of childhood cancer and help spread the word.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and around 1,900 children in the UK are diagnosed with cancer each year. Gold Geese operates across mid and south Essex and this year, they have been raising awareness of childhood cancer from as far as Maldon to Brentwood and Chelmsford to Southend. To raise awareness, local businesses and schools are encouraged to display Gold Geese signs and symptoms posters and, in some cases, go big with their gold decorations (gold is the ribbon colour for childhood cancer awareness).
Gold Geese has organised a bumper number of events this month to help raise awareness and funds for its support:
On Saturday, September 5, a special convoy of more than 100 gold and yellow cars toured the streets of Leigh-on-Sea, Chalkwell and Southend to raise awareness of childhood cancer
The charity has also collaborated with Leigh-on-Sea Brewery to develop a special Gold Geese beer, with 10% of every purchase going directly to the charity. A number of Gold dads took part in making the first brew and attended the launch party this weekend. The beer will be available to buy at several local venues across mid and south Essex.
Leigh Marina will turn gold during Leigh Regatta on September 12 and 13, with a family fun day raising funds for Gold Geese
On Wednesday, September 16, CEO Katie will embark on a solo eight-day fundraising trek across the width of Essex, in remembrance of the Gold children who have passed away. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/page/katie-walks-essex
Katie is hosting a ‘signs and symptoms Zoom training’ event for parents, teachers, nursery managers and medical professionals
On September 26, Legra Tap are hosting a closing party, with music from singer Eleanor Hudson and Tony Jefford from the band Jackie Wilson Says. Tickets are available at Legra Tap X Gold Geese Party tickets
Katie Southgate, CEO and founder of Gold Geese, said: “We’d love to see as many people as possible join our events this month. If you’d like to support our campaign at school or work, you could wear yellow or gold for the day, hold a bake sale or put up one of our posters.
“Just like geese stick together on their epic journeys, we’re showing our Gold families that the whole community supports them and we fly together.”
Free symptom awareness posters are available to collect from Metro Bank in Southend and Chelmsford, or email fundraising@goldgeese.org to arrange collection.
The Crisis and Resilience Fund helps households who are likely to suffer financial crisis to improve their financial wellbeing, build resilience and address the causes of financial hardship. As part of this, we have released a Prior Information Notice (PIN) outlining plans to invest in financial information, advice and guidance provision for residents.
We are seeking feedback to help shape the procurement process and encourage community groups to work together under a lead provider organisation.
Please share this opportunity with teams and community groups. Further details are on the Government website.
Support is also available for residents facing immediate financial pressures. If the residents you work with live in the Essex County Council area, they may be able to claim support for heating oil payments if they are unable to meet current prices. The crisis payment service will review their finances and, where needed, provide support towards the additional cost. We would recommend that residents contact us well in advance of usual purchase time to ensure oil can be purchased and delivered as expected.
In September the Greater Essex Research Community of Practice is hosting Emma Funnell, the Chief Officer for Citizens Advice Tendring, who will deliver a session about service evaluation together with colleagues from University College London and Essex County Council.
Emma will explain how she has worked in collaboration with Essex County Council and University College London to create an evaluation that has helped deliver real insight on a mental health recovery programme.
The session will cover:
How developing a theory of change helped add value to communicating the value of the programme and the monitoring work.
How this led to Emma working with Dr Rachel Benchekroun from University College London to do a piece of realist evaluation, which has revealed further insights from conversations with programme staff and programme participants.
And how colleagues are looking to communicate the findings to appeal to a range of audiences – by linking
The evaluation findings into wider theories about social networks, social infrastructure and recovery journeys.
And inviting members of the voluntary and community sector into a follow-up informal workshop to discuss insights and lessons learned on supporting people back into work.
This webinar will be relevant to anyone in the VCSE sector with an interest in evaluation, mental health recovery and supporting people back into work.
Please email mike.williams@essex.gov.uk for an invite.
The Essex Alliance is sharing this training opportunity on behalf of Mind in West Essex.
The Essentials workshop is the foundation for workplace wellbeing, and it’s at the core of everything we do at The Mental Health Toolkit.
This half-day session takes you through the Mental Health Continuum – the spectrum of mental health that we are all on – and introduces you to the Emotional Needs & Resources approach.
Unmet emotional needs trigger symptoms of mental ill health. Understanding how to meet them helps you understand what you need to be well, and enables you to take care of yourself and those around you.
The dates below have been fully funded by Essex County Council, and are offered free of charge for staff and volunteers of any VCSE organisations working in Essex.
Bellringers across Essex will open the doors to historic local bell towers as part of the Heritage Open Days 2026. Visitors will have the opportunity to inside a ringing room, meet the bellringers and discover how change ringing works.
Check out the participating towers by contacting news@eacr.org.uk
Stagetext, a deaf-led charity based in Colchester, has some free deaf awareness training for people working or volunteering in Essex in arts, culture, museums or heritage venues.
When: Tuesday 22nd September Where: Chelmsford City Museum, Wells Suite in Essex Time: There are two available sessions, in the morning or afternoon: 10.00am to 12:30pm or 1:30pm to 4.00pm. How to book: Click on the link below to find out more.
Ace Music Therapy have announced the next 2 blocks of free Wiggles and Jiggles groups for babies and their mums in Chelmsford this autumn.
This fun and friendly group combines music, movement, and baby massage to support babies’ early development while giving parents a chance to connect, chat, and enjoy time with their little ones.
Designed and delivered by a qualified Music Therapist and Paediatric Physiotherapist, the sessions combine live music, baby massage & movement to support childhood development, enhance parent-child bonds, and improve maternal mental health.
This evidence-based program uses music as a clinical tool to promote communication, emotional regulation, creativity, and self-confidence. These benefits are especially impactful for mothers experiencing postnatal depression (PND) or isolation, as research demonstrates that structured baby classes improve maternal mood, enhance early interactions, and foster secure attachments. Babies gain from the developmental benefits of live music and tactile activities.
The sessions will be led by Amelia – our CEO & HCPC Registered Music Therapist and Natalie – Paediatric Physiotherapist from Happy Little Feet. The sessions are gentle, engaging, and accessible for babies of all abilities, including those with special needs, from 12 weeks to pre-crawling.
The group will run for 6 weeks, with resources given to parents for practising some of the skills learnt in the group at home. The group can accommodate up to 8 babies and their mums (one parent should attend the entire block where possible.)
Please note – our aim with this group is to reach the people who need it most – Please do not share the group details on social media at this time, we are trying to reach social prescribers, family support teams and those who work with vulnerable parents, who can signpost the mothers they support to our group.
September – October Group (For Babies that will be between 12 weeks + pre-crawling between these dates)
We are sharing this information on behalf of Fareport.
We are delighted that Essex County Council have agreed funding for our short training course, focused on Digital Skills for the Community and Voluntary Sector.
The course is designed specifically for charities, community groups and VCSE organisations in Essex, and covers practical digital skills in cyber security and GDPR, digital marketing and storytelling, online income generation, data and impact reporting, and using automation and AI responsibly within mission‑led organisations.
The course will start on the 6th of October, and runs 1 day a week, live online with our expert trainers.
If someone in your team or your network would benefit from the training, you can find all the details on our website:
