This is where we’ll post third sector news and important updates that are useful for your organisation.
We are aware that an automated version of the newsletter was sent out this week with articles from February/March 2024 on our site.
We are currently working to find out why this happened, so we can prevent it happening again.
The usual newsletter will go out as normal, but in the meantime we would like to apologise for any inconvenience or confusion.
Many thanks,
The Essex Alliance Team
Essex County Council has reviewed how the Voluntary and Community Sector is best supported to continue its vital work.
Two organisations have been announced as the successful providers of new support services for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Essex. Maldon and District CVS (MDCVS) will deliver a universal standard support offer. This will be available to all VCS organisations in the county. They will be supported by Uttlesford Community Action Network and Pipe Media.
The support will include a digital repository of information, advice, guidance and training. VCS organisations can use this to help with their business compliance, sustainability and to improve efficiency. The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) will focus on increasing community participation and volunteering. This will include working with partners to break down barriers to participation. They will be supported by Achieve, Thrive, Flourish (ATF).
Essex County Council ran two procurements to select the new providers. The contracts will start on 1 December 2024. The services will be fully live from April 2025 following a mobilisation period.
Councillor Louise McKinlay, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity, said: “Voluntary and community sector organisations play a vital role in connecting and empowering local people and groups. They also make an invaluable contribution to the health and wellbeing of our residents. It’s therefore important that they have the right support to continue this positive work.
“This latest announcement reiterates our commitment to helping the VCS. We are pleased to have such strong providers in place and I look forward to sharing the positive outcomes from this work in the future.” The announcement of the new providers comes after the council has reviewed the support offered to the VCS over the past few years. This highlighted variation across Essex and the need for better collaboration. It also demonstrated the need to ensure there is the right support in place to sustain the VCS in the long-term. Since then, the council has worked to understand the needs of the sector. It has also engaged with partners to understand local priorities and ambitions.
Sarah Troop, Director at Maldon and District CVS, said: “We are delighted to be invited to develop this innovative new resource for the voluntary sector in Essex. This builds on the decades of charity expertise that we have as an established voluntary sector infrastructure provider, but utilising AI and digital innovation promises to be a forward looking tool for organisations of all sizes.”
Sylvia Gentleman, Funding and New Partnerships Manager at The Active Wellbeing Society, said: “The invitation to support voluntary and community sector organisations across Essex is a tremendous honour and both TAWS and ATF are excited to be part of this development journey. We have extensive experience in connecting communities to local organisations in order to improve health and wellbeing for all. We are confident that we will complement and add value to the Universal Support Offer providing valuable services to local organisations.”
These two new services are part of the council’s wider efforts to transform support for the VCS. The overall programme is made up of four elements. These will come under a shared identity and include:
A further procurement will take place to select a provider for the resource and funding element.
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Interested in joining in or want to know more? Email [email protected].
The Uttlesford Community Action Network (UCAN) Annual General Meeting is taking place on Friday 6th December 2024.
Where: Foakes Hall, Stortford Road, Great Dunmow
When: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Who: Guest Speaker, Jennifer Schooling
RSVP: [email protected]
Enjoy a fully inclusive and accessible Christmas cruise like no other! take in the stunning winter scenery along the picturesque Essex and Hertfordshire waterways, all aboard a fully accessible canal boat with plenty of festive cheer. Perfect for family, friends or community groups!
Book the whole boat for just £210 (up to 12 people) or £175 (up to 10 people) – that’s only £17.50 per person!
Spaces are limited, so don’t wait to reserve your spot!
Call: 01279 424444
Email: [email protected]
Booking Enquiries: https://www.
As a national employment focused charity, Shaw Trust supports and empowers people to find and thrive in meaningful work. They provide personalised wrap-around support to develop employment pathways, and enable individuals to realise their full potential.
Shaw Trust firmly believe in fostering strong local relationships to achieve more together, and are therefore seeking to extend their work with local charity and community-based organisations to support the future delivery of localised employment programmes.
If you are interested in collaborating with Shaw Trust, or finding out more about this opportunity, go to:
The NHS and UKHSA have launched their annual national campaign to support the Winter Vaccination programme, which is due to run until mid-December.
Head over to the NHS website for guidance and to book vaccinations: http://www.nhs.
Alternatively, go to the page for your local NHS vaccinations hub:
For West Essex, go to: https://www.
For Mid and South East Essex: https://www.
For North East Essex: https://sneevaccine.
Grants of £20k to £50k available for developing new participatory arts opportunities for men with mental health problems.
Baring Foundation are pleased to announce today a new open round of funding for arts organisations who would like to develop new participatory arts opportunities for men with mental health problems.
Grants of £20k to £50k are available for either of the following approaches, or a combination of the two:
We are looking for projects which provide new and attractive creative opportunities for men who are not already taking part, and target those men who are least likely otherwise to take part.
Projects should take place over at least one year, and preferably two or more years.
To be eligible, you must:
For full details of the call and eligibility, please read our Application Guidance.
Application Guidance is available here.
Our new report on this topic – Creatively Minded Men – can be found here.
The deadline for applications is 12 noon 23rd April 2024.
Final decisions on grants to be awarded will be made by trustees and you will be informed of the outcome by mid-July.
If you are interested in applying but have questions you’d like to ask us, we are holding two Zoom meetings for anyone interested in applying on Monday 4 March 2pm-3:15pm and Tuesday 19th March 2pm-3:15pm. You can register for a session here.