News
This is where we’ll post third sector news and important updates that are useful for your organisation.
Uttlesford Health Ltd are looking to hire a PCN Social Prescribing Link Worker
Free cost of living support initiative for older adults
What it’s all about
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1:1 outreach work providing 150 older adults in Tendring and Colchester with slow cookers, and ingredients for hot meals;
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1: 1 outreach providing a “Hug in a Bag”™ (containing warm clothing and bedding) for the same cohort.
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300 meals over the course of 3 months via a part-funded fortnightly lunch in a group setting such as a community café provided on a “pay what you can” basis.
Referrals
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By telephone, or
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By email.
Identifying and Responding to Fuel Poverty
With increased domestic fuel costs and unprecedented volatility in the energy market, people on low incomes, including pensioners, people with disabilities and families, face profound challenges keeping their homes warm, dry and conducive to health.
As a frontline worker, you may feel powerless to respond. Still, the need to respond is greater than ever, especially because, as more people move into “fuel poverty”, the number of those who are most profoundly fuel-poor also increases. Government policy and individual action should, in the face of overwhelming need, respond to those worst affected.
Nudging the people you help, towards making changes in how they use energy, engaging in opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of their homes AND making sure they can access the high-quality, intensive energy advice the Citizens Advice service in Essex offers are all ways of responding to these needs.
Our services seek to tackle some of the underlying causes of fuel poverty – not just “hard to heat” homes but also low incomes, issues with benefits and debt.
In this FREE, 90 minute course, delivered by Citizens Advice energy experts, you’ll learn:
What is fuel poverty
What are the causes and effects
Who is most vulnerable
Practical steps your service user can take
Grants and schemes available to improve energy efficiency
The vital role income maximisation plays and how we help including a run down of government support measures
Other ways Citizens Advice can help and how to refer
The role of emerging voluntary and public sector responses such as “Warm Spaces.”
Delivered online using Teams
Select a date and book your tickets here.
Invitation to Essex County Fire & Rescue HQ** Partnership Tree Event
As Essex organisations, we have a shared ambition; to help Essex residents live safe lives.
We’re really pleased to be launching our free partnership tree and networking event which is a chance for us all to connect and grow together. Our aim is for this to become an annual event where we’ll all share information and insights, educate one another and explore how partnership working can benefit our residents.
It’s a simple idea really – a space to inform and be informed for all. So, let’s start a conversation through networking; nurturing existing and sowing new partnerships.
Who’s it for?
We are extending our branches to new and existing partners.
What now?
Book your free place and join us in person at our Headquarters in Kelvedon Park, London Road, Rivenhall, Essex, CM8 3HB on Thursday 23 February from 9am – 4pm.
Partnership Tree Networking Event – join us in person Tickets, Thu 23 Feb 2023 at 09:00 | Eventbrite
Sound good but you can’t make it in person? You can also join us online for the opening and first two sessions. Just head over to our online event ticket page to book your place.
Partnership Tree Networking Event – join us online Tickets, Thu 23 Feb 2023 at 09:00 | Eventbrite
**Book your marketplace table
As part of our event, we’re also giving people time to browse our marketplace; a dedicated area where we’ll set up tables for people to showcase their organisation. It’ll make it easier for people to find and talk to you as well as give you space to present any materials you’d like to share. Book your table now by emailing Will.Newman@essex-fire.gov.uk
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. I really look forward to seeing you there.
Public Consultation – Housing Strategy 2023-28 Basildon Council
The Housing Strategy sets out how the council, along with its partners, will respond to the housing challenges faced by the borough, to provide good quality housing related options and services.
We are currently developing our Housing Strategy for the next five years and the council welcomes your views. We will use the information you provide to further understand:
· Which priorities you feel are most important
· The housing issues that matter most to you
· Any other comments you may have regarding the draft Housing Strategy.
To support the delivery of the Corporate Plan and the Housing Strategy vision we have identified three key priorities that we are seeking your thoughts on. Under each of these priorities there will be an action plan as to how we will meet each priority. The Draft Housing Strategy 2023 – 2028 priorities can be found here: Housing Strategy 2023 – 2028 Priorities (PDF) [99KB]
If you would like to read more about the Housing Strategy, the Draft Housing Strategy 2023 – 2028 can be found here: Housing Strategy 2023- 2028 Draft (PDF) [1MB]
We are grateful for your input, and in recognition we are offering a prize draw for a £50 gift voucher for all fully completed survey. Only one application per e-mail address.
Complete the consultation here: Housing Strategy Public Consultation
The consultation will open on 30 January 2023 and close on 26 February 2023.
If you are unable to complete the survey online or require assistance, please contact the customer contact centre on (01268) 533 333 and someone will help you complete the survey over the phone.
The Privacy Notice for this consultation can be found here: Privacy Notice – Housing Strategy 2023-28 Consultation
Your responses to this survey will inform the development and review of our Housing Strategy and Action Plan. By completing this questionnaire, you are consenting to your responses being used to inform this work. Your data will be processed in line with our privacy policy. Personal data will be maintained confidentially and will not be shared without permission.
For further information please click here.
B&Q Foundation
The B&Q Foundation supports hundreds of registered charities across the UK every year.
Providing grants for a wide range of charities who are looking for funding to improve or develop spaces that benefit their local communities.
We know that charities are pushed for time and that is why we work with the team at Neighbourly to make the application process as easy as possible. Follow the three-step process below to apply for a B&Q Foundation grant.
Read more here.
Free Mental Health Awareness Training – Mind Mid & North East Essex
Would you like to increase your knowledge and understanding around mental health?
Would you like to feel more confident to have conversations about mental health, look after your own wellbeing and know how to signpost others for support?
Join us for a free mental health awareness training session in Essex, between 10am – 1.30pm, on a date that suits you.
Book your place
Email: training@mnessexmind.org
Telephone: 01206 764 600
When:
Thurs 23 Feb
Thurs 02 Mar
Thurs 09 Mar
Thurs
23 Mar
Where:
Maldon
Braintree
Colchester
Chelmsford
BBW Volunteer Network Community Exchange
Do you have skills that you would like to share?
Would you like to learn something new?
Join the Basildon, Billericay & Wickford Community Exchange and be part of a growing community of people sharing their skills and time with others. Whatever your passion or expertise, everyone has something to offer.
Through the exchange you can:
• Choose when and how often you would like to volunteer
• Offer your skills and spare time to help others
• Support family, friends, neighbours and meet new people
• Bank the hours you volunteer and ask for help in return
How does it work?
1 hour = 1 Credit
For every hour you volunteer, you earn one ‘Credit’. You can then use this to ask for help in return, or donate it to our ‘Community Pot’ where it will be used to help others in the community.
Everyone’s time is valued equally
You can decide what skills you can offer and everyone’s time is equal. So one hour of your time is equal to one hour of someone else’s time.
The Community Exchange is for everyone
It’s free to become a member of the Community Exchange and it’s open to anyone aged 18 or over, regardless of ability, skills or situation and all help is free!
Join us and discover just how rewarding being part of the exchange can be!
Joining is quick and easy. Simply sign up at our community exchange website.
If you are you are interested in joining our Community Exchange and would like to speak to one of the team for further details please contact us on 01268 294420 or send us a message, we would love to hear from you.
Before you leave this page why not check out some of our volunteering opportunities with some of our amazing community organisations in our 2020 virtual volunteer fair on our YouTube page.
Do you want to make a difference to how cancer services are delivered in the East of England?
The East of England Cancer Alliances Patient Participation Group is looking for new members.
The next meeting will be held on 1 March 2023 6.30 to 8.30 pm.
If you, or someone you care about has had recent experiences of cancer services in this area and you are keen to have your say on how services could be changed for the better, then we are the group for you.
We meet monthly, online, for two hours. The meetings consist of interesting talks from experts in their fields, and the opportunity to use your experiences and views to influence how cancer services can be improved in our region. We are also involved in a number of change projects, including looking at quality of life following cancer treatment, methods for new testing and diagnosis, developing patient information, and many more. Often these projects are suggested by members of our PPG then our teams will help to set-up a task group to take the project forward.
If you really want to make a difference to cancer services, then visit our website for more information. Get involved :: East of England Cancer Alliance
If you would like to talk to someone about our Patient Participation Group then please call Ayse Casey on 07702436696 or Jane Parker-Coulson on 07718130493 or email england.eoecancerallianceteam@nhs.net.