We’re pleased to share that the first Chelmsford Inclusive Dementia Cinema Screening will take place on Tuesday 9 December at Chelmsford Theatre, featuring the festive classic Miracle on 34th Street.
This relaxed and dementia-accessible screening is designed with people living with dementia, their families and carers in mind, creating a welcoming and comfortable environment to enjoy a film together.
About the Screening Doors will open at 12pm, with tea, coffee and cake available for a small donation. The film will begin at 1pm, with a short interval partway through for comfort and movement. The lights will be slightly raised, the volume gentle, and attendees are free to move around or talk if needed. Extra staff and clear signage will be in place to support a calm, friendly experience, and there is an accessible route into the studio.
Film:Miracle on 34th Street The holiday season begins when a warm, twinkle-eyed gentleman is hired as Macy’s store Santa and insists his real name is Kris Kringle. His presence brings kindness, joy, and a touch of Christmas magic to everyone he meets.
Dementia Accessible Cinema: Miracle on 34th Street – Chelmsford Theatre
Resource Tote Bags – Contributions Welcome The Chelmsford Inclusive Dementia Community Network is preparing 50 resource tote bags for attendees to take away. If your organisation can contribute service information, activity details, or small practical items that may support people living with dementia or their carers, these would be very welcome.
Explore the latest public-health indicators across regions with the Health of the Region Data Explorer — a powerful free tool for voluntary sector organisations in partnership with local authorities, health services and community groups.
This interactive, publicly-available tool covers a wide range of indicators: life expectancy, disease burden, risk-factors, healthy ageing and more — broken down by region and local authority.
We’re excited to announce Beat Retreat – a free 10-week drumming Music Therapy programme designed specifically for carers living in the Braintree district. Delivered by Ace Music Therapy CIC and funded by Essex County Council, this group offers carers a chance to take time for themselves, connect with others, and experience the therapeutic benefits of rhythm and music.
Why Drumming?
Drumming is one of the oldest forms of music-making and has been shown to support both emotional and physical wellbeing. Many participants report benefits such as:
Improved mood and emotional release
Reduced stress and anxiety
Lowered blood pressure
Relief from tension and pain
Boosted immune function
This group offers a warm, supportive environment where carers can step away from daily responsibilities, unwind, and enjoy the shared energy of group music-making—no musical experience needed.
Session Details
When: Wednesdays, running until 3rd December Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Where: Earls Colne Village Hall, 12 York Rd, Earls Colne, Colchester CO6 2RN Cost: Free of charge
In September 2025, local Pitsea residents voted on a recycling/upcycling project in their local area. Creative Basildon are looking for an artist to create: “A programme of workshops/activities that target a range of ages and groups across the whole of Pitsea, within the theme of recycling/upcycling.”
We want you to interpret this as creatively as you can. We are interested in hearing about your previous projects that have focused on recycling/upcycling themes. This may look like upcycling workshops, a community clean up with musical performances, or it might explore the invisible waste of the digital age.
**A fixed fee will be paid for the work, not per person. If you are applying as a collective, it is your decision how the fee will be shared. This inclusive fee should be used for all artist and production fees (including but not limited to; planning, delivery, purchasing resources, marketing, administration and evaluation).
This is an exciting and varied role, and we are looking for a proactive post holder who will manage three key aspects of CARA’s service provision:
Manage new referrals into our service, overseeing the work of our team of First Contact Navigators and our Information and Referrals Co-ordinator.
Manage our counselling waiting lists and the allocation of clients to a counsellor, overseeing the work of our Allocations Team.
Act as the main lead and point of contact for managing CARA’s client database and resolving any data queries.
The role will lead a talented and committed team of six, supporting their work and assisting them to develop their key roles. As well as overseeing day-to-day operations of the team, the post holder will be part of CARA’s management team and will have the opportunity to play a key role in CARA’s wider development, working closely with CARA’s Senior Leadership Team and Team Managers.
Application deadline: 9am on Wednesday 26th November 2025
Interviews: Tuesday 2nd December 2025
This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.
Click here for Job Description and Person Specification.
As part of Men’s Health Month, we’re pleased to announce that a new section dedicated to men’s mental health has been added to the Talk Suicide website.
This section has been created to encourage open conversations, raise awareness, and provide tailored support for men who may be struggling with their mental health or experiencing suicidal thoughts.
🌟 What’s Included
Real-life stories from men who’ve faced mental health challenges
Information on local and national charities offering specialist support
Insightful pages exploring topics such as toxic masculinity and the barriers that stop men from seeking help
A powerful documentary sharing one man’s personal journey through suicidal thoughts and recovery
👥 How You Can Help
We’re asking all partners—particularly those working in emergency departments, health settings, and the voluntary sector—to:
Share the link with colleagues, service users, and community networks
Encourage others to complete the FREE online suicide prevention training available on the site
Your support in promoting this vital resource can help us reach more men in our communities—and could genuinely help to save lives.
💬 Get Involved
If your organisation offers workshops, local services, or personal stories that could enhance the content on the Talk Suicide website, we’d love to hear from you.
Together, we can break down stigma and make sure men know that it’s okay to talk—and to seek help.
November is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month — a vital time to shine a light on the unique pressures men face, the stigma that still surrounds asking for help, and the importance of connecting with others. It’s also a powerful opportunity to raise awareness of how local support networks and platforms can make a real difference.
This year, we’d like to highlight the role of one such resource: the digital directory The Essex Map (www.theessexmap.co.uk). Whether you’re supporting friends, family or colleagues — or reaching out for yourself — The Essex Map is a centralised hub to find mental-health support across Essex, for men and anyone who needs support.
Why this matters
Research shows that men are less likely to seek help for mental health problems compared to women.
Many mental illnesses begin before the age of 25; early intervention matters. (Source: UK Parliament)
In Essex, the mental-health support system is complex and can be difficult to navigate. (Source: UK Parliament)
Platforms like The Essex Map help bridge that gap by putting many options in one place.
What The Essex Map offers
A searchable, browsable directory of local services, groups and activities across Essex, tailored for a range of needs (community groups, peer support, wellbeing-activities).
Support both for individuals looking for help and for groups/organisations offering support to get listed, so the network keeps growing.
Sign-posting to services specifically designed for men (or all genders) — for example, courses like Men4Mental Health run by Essex County Council’s Adult Mental Health & Wellbeing team.
A free, accessible, online resource: you can explore from home, pick what’s relevant and share it easily with someone you think might benefit.
How you can use it
If you’re looking for help: Go to www.theessexmap.co.uk, enter your postcode or browse by category (e.g., “mental health – men”, “wellbeing groups”), and see what’s available locally.
If you run or know a group: Consider getting listed on The Essex Map so others can find you. It’s a way to amplify your reach and make sure men who may otherwise struggle to access help can discover what you offer.
For workplaces, community groups or families: Share the link internally, raise awareness during November (and beyond) about men’s mental health, and encourage people to check what support exists locally.
For men’s health conversations: Use this month as a prompt — have a check-in with yourself and others: How am I doing? What’s my support network? What local resource could I connect with if needed?
Practical suggestions for this month
Choose one day this November to pause and reflect: maybe take 10 minutes to check The Essex Map for local support.
Organise a small group chat (among colleagues, friends or in a men’s group) about mental health: what it means for each of you, what support is out there, what stops you asking for help.
Share a local group listing or resource from The Essex Map with someone you know — you don’t need to be a mental health professional to sign-post.
Make a “wellbeing plan”: simple actions like getting outdoors, regular sleep, talking to someone when things feel heavy — and “if it escalates, here’s the link to The Essex Map”.
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month is more than a campaign—it’s a chance to open the door to conversations, break down barriers and connect people with tangible support. The Essex Map gives us a practical way to locate that support right here in our community.
If you’re navigating tough times — or know someone who is — visit www.theessexmap.co.uk, explore what’s available, and remember: you don’t have to go it alone.
Let’s make this November count. Let’s talk. Let’s reach out. Let’s use what’s available. Together, we can build stronger connections and healthier lives.
Hamelin Trust, a local charity dedicated to supporting people with disabilities across Essex, is expanding its team and currently recruiting for several rewarding roles. These positions offer a chance to make a real difference in the lives of others while joining a passionate, community-focused organisation.
Current Vacancies:
Links Project Co-ordinator Location: Mid & South Essex Salary: £27,398 (37.5 hours per week) Deadline: 7th November Interviews: 18th & 19th November This role supports the growth of Hamelin Trust’s Links project, working closely with key stakeholders to strengthen community connections.
Ability Works Employment Support Co-ordinator Location: Rochford, Basildon & Castle Point Salary: £16,439 (22.5 hours per week) Deadline: 7th November Interviews: 18th & 19th November A fantastic opportunity to help people with disabilities access employment and develop workplace skills.
Volunteer Co-ordinator Location: Mid & South Essex Salary: £21,918 (30 hours per week) Deadline: 14th November Interviews: 25th & 26th November This role focuses on supporting Hamelin’s volunteer network and enhancing community engagement.
Renew Counselling and Training, a local mental health charity, is offering a free online session for parents and carers on Wednesday 12 November from 12pm – 1pm.
Led by experienced therapist and CEO Nikki Schuster, the workshop explores practical ways to support young people in building a healthier relationship with their bodies and themselves.
Free to attend and open to all. A recording will also be available.
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 and are hosting one-to-one interviews to hear your views and provide you with the opportunity to share your experiences. We are interested in speaking with anyone from West Essex about their experiences using local pharmacies.
Whether it’s picking up prescriptions, getting health advice, or using walk-in services, your voice matters. By getting involved you’ll be shaping how pharmacy services are delivered and improving 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:
All responses will be kept anonymous and any personal information you provide will be strictly private and confidential.
Get in touch: If you would like to speak to us directly to share your story, please email our Project Officer Lily Boag, lily.boag@healthwatchessex.org.uk or call 07742 072740. (Please get in touch if you would like this survey to be provided in an alternative format.)
Our engagement period closes on February 20th 2026.
