This is a place where you can find out about opportunities that are available to your organisation. From funding streams to events and training, The Essex Alliance will keep you informed.
The Essex Alliance is sharing this news on behalf of Home-Start Essex.
Families with young children across the Epping Forest District are at risk of losing a vital, free support service unless urgent funding is secured. Home-Start Essex is calling on individuals, businesses and the wider community to rally behind its Family Support Group in Waltham Abbey, a weekly lifeline for families with children under give facing some of life’s toughest challenges.
Without immediate financial support, this essential service which supports 20 vulnerable families each year faces closure.
“This group is more than just a weekly meeting; it’s a safe haven. For many parents, it’s the only place they feel heard, supported and connected.” – Nic O’Brien, CEO of Home-Start Essex.
The Family Support Group provides a welcoming, nurturing space for families dealing with issues such as:
Financial hardship and poverty
Isolation and loneliness
Poor mental health
Bereavement
Housing insecurity
Domestic abuse
One parent shared: “The family group was the first time I had properly talked to a group of adults since leaving the refuge nearly a year ago. It was good to listen to other people’s views, to open up about my anxiety and share tips”.
An urgent crowdfunding appeal launches on 14th May, with all donations matched pound-for-pound by the Aviva Foundation until 24th June 2026, doubling the impact for families in crisis. This means that:
A £30 donation becomes £60
A £250 donation becomes £500
Every pound donated up to £250 will be doubled, but only until Wednesday 24th June 2026.
All funds raised will directly sustain the group.
Help keep this essential service alive and ensure families in Epping Forest District continue to receive the support they desperately need. Donate online here:
Mind in West Essex currently have 2 vacancies within their Schools Mental Health Support Team.
They are recruiting 2 Qualified Educational Mental Health Practitioners (EMHPs) – 1 is a permanent post and the other is a 12-month fixed contract.
Working in Primary, Secondary and Further Education settings in West Essex, with an office base in Harlow. Some remote working is possible. Occasional travel across West Essex may be required.
Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
£33,677 inc fringe allowance and 26-27 pay uplift (Negotiable
depending upon experience)
Closing date: 29th May 2026
For full details, including job description and person specification, CLICK HERE.
The Essex Alliance is sharing this information on behalf of Essex County Council.
County, District, Borough and City council elections are taking place on Thursday 7th May 2026. To vote in person, by post or by proxy, you must be registered.
After you’ve registered, there are extra deadlines depending on how you want to vote, or if you need to apply for free voter ID. The deadline to apply is:
for a postal vote or a postal proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21st April
for a proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 28th April
if you need free voter ID is 5pm on Tuesday 28th April
Registering to vote helps make sure your voice is part of the decisions that affect local services, places and community life.
Age Well East is currently recruiting for an Operations Manager to lead and support its Advice & Welfare Service, helping people aged 60 and over across North East Essex and Braintree, with potential expansion into other areas of Essex.
This full-time, permanent role (37.5 hours per week) offers a salary of £36,000 and a hybrid working arrangement, combining home working, time at the Clacton office, and visits to community locations across Essex.
The Operations Manager will play a key role in overseeing the day-to-day delivery of the service. Responsibilities include supporting a team of Advice Caseworkers, a Carer Navigator and Senior Dementia Coordinators, supervising staff, managing referrals and case allocation, and providing guidance on complex issues relating to welfare benefits, housing and care. The postholder may also provide direct advice and information to clients where needed.
Working closely with colleagues and local partners, the role will help strengthen relationships with statutory and voluntary organisations, represent the service at meetings, and support community engagement activities to raise awareness of available support.
The position also involves monitoring service performance, contributing to contract reporting, reviewing case files to ensure quality standards, and gathering feedback and case studies to demonstrate the impact of the service. Ensuring compliance with Age Well East policies — including safeguarding, confidentiality, lone working and GDPR — will also be an important part of the role.
Age Well East is looking for candidates with experience or strong knowledge of welfare benefits and entitlements for older people, along with experience supervising staff or teams and managing complex situations with professionalism and sensitivity. Strong communication skills, attention to detail and the ability to build effective partnerships are essential.
A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes is required. Desirable experience includes contract monitoring, service development, safeguarding practice, advocacy, CRM systems such as Salesforce, and qualifications in Advice, Information and Guidance.
Renew Counselling and Training is hosting a CPD workshop on Eating Disorders & Body Image on Saturday 14 March (10am–4.30pm, Chelmsford).
Led by CEO and therapist Nikki Schuster (former associate trainer for Beat), this practical session supports counsellors to work confidently with clients experiencing eating disorders, body image concerns and body dysmorphia.
6.5 CPD hours | £40 external attendees
Suitable for adult & CYP counsellors and trainees on placement.
Every booking supports Renew’s charitable work providing affordable counselling locally.
Book your place now by emailing justinecolley@renew.org.uk – spaces are limited, so please book promptly to avoid disappointment.
BelievePerform is pleased to be working with Active Essex Foundation to deliver a bespoke version of their Thrive programme, designed specifically for VCSE sector organisations working with young people and grounded in the core principles of common low-level psychological therapy approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and positive psychology/mindset.
This programme is not intended to train attendees as therapists, rather it provides evidence-based tools and techniques derived from these common psychological therapy approaches that can be used to support young people aged 11 to 25 in building emotional resilience and practical skills to help them thrive.
Participants will receive some pre-reading/video that they will be expected to engage with ahead of the session, as well as content to access six short explainer videos, six practical tools, and six supporting infographics to reinforce and extend their learning after attending this workshop. Through this workshop, attendees will develop a foundational understanding of CBT and positive psychology theory and its practical applications.
They will learn how to apply some basic CBT-informed interventions in their work with young people to positively influence mental health and wellbeing. Participants will also gain deeper insight into common mental health challenges and the role they play in providing safe, informed support. Attendees will be supported to understand the importance of boundaries and in identifying appropriate referral pathways when further support is needed.
It will be expected that all attendees attend the full day to complete the training and to receive a certificate.
The consultation closes on 3 February 2026, so please take a few minutes today to make your voice heard.
Why Your Voice Matters
This strategy will shape how we work together across Essex to tackle health inequalities and improve outcomes for residents. Your insights are essential to ensure the strategy reflects the real needs and priorities of our communities.
What We’re Asking You
We want your views on the four key areas of the strategy, which will guide the Health and Wellbeing Board’s focus over the next three years, along with the priorities within each. Your feedback will help us confirm whether these are the right areas or highlight other pressing challenges we may have overlooked.
What’s in the Strategy
Our vision: All residents are enabled to achieve good health, in safe and thriving communities, with access to support when they need it.
To achieve this, the strategy focuses on four key areas:
Improving life chances for children and young people
Helping more people into and stay in work
Building healthy, resilient, and connected communities
Creating opportunities to improve health and reduce the impact of poor health
There are three emerging priorities against each of these, including improving mental health, reducing poverty, helping more people into work, creating healthy places, and promoting healthy lifestyles.
CARA is recruiting an Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) to join their team. ISVAs provide vital emotional and practical support, as well as impartial information, to victims and survivors of sexual violence. This includes individuals who have reported to the police and those who are considering reporting.
The role of an ISVA includes:
Ensuring the voices of victims and survivors are heard
Supporting individuals to make choices that feel right for them
Accompanying clients to key appointments and court proceedings
Providing ongoing support after the legal process concludes, regardless of the outcome
For victims and survivors who are considering reporting to the police, ISVAs also:
Provide impartial information to support informed decision-making
Offer an overview of police processes and what to expect
Support individuals with their next steps
CARA provides an ISVA service to adults, young people and children who have experienced sexual violence across mid and North Essex, including Uttlesford.
Further information
To view the job description and person specification, please click here
Working in Primary, Secondary and Further Education settings in West Essex, with an office base in Harlow. Some remote working is possible. Occasional travel across West Essex may be required.
Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
£33,677 inc fringe allowance and 26-27 pay uplift (Negotiable
Closing date: 29th May 2026
