Essex County Council & Connect Futures is promoting a series of free online workshops designed to help people feel safer, more confident, and better informed when navigating online information.
We’re asking partners to help spread the word through newsletters, networks and community channels – and please do encourage onward sharing.
👨👩👧 Workshops for Parents
Misinformation, Community and Online Safety
These sessions support parents to better understand:
What misinformation and disinformation are, and where they’re most commonly encountered
How to recognise symbols of hate and misleading online narratives
What is legal and illegal online in relation to hate and harmful content
Practical ways to talk to children about what they’re seeing online
The workshops are welcoming, interactive and delivered by trained facilitators, with plenty of opportunity to ask questions and share concerns. 📅 Multiple dates available | ⏱ 90 minutes | 💻 Online | Free to attend
Spot common tricks used in misleading posts, viral rumours and emotionally charged content
Understand how images, headlines and algorithms influence reactions
Recognise how scams, fraud and misinformation often overlap
Use simple tools to check whether information is trustworthy before sharing
No technical skills are needed – just curiosity. Sessions are friendly, jargon-free and focused on staying safe online. 📅 Multiple dates available | ⏱ 90 minutes | 💻 Online | Free to attend
There will also be train-the-trainer sessions (one for each workshop). If you know practitioners or community leaders who may be interested, please get in touch to receive full details. They are also very welcome to attend a standard session first to see how it’s delivered.
An overview of how to spot, and help, people with debt or money worries.
Helping Clients in Problem Debt: Recognising Early Signs and Helping Clients Before Crisis
Debt and financial pressure affect millions of people, yet the early signs often remain hidden. Many people do not recognise their situation as problem debt, or feel embarrassed to talk about it until things reach a crisis point.
This practical and informative session is designed for frontline staff, support workers, housing teams, carers, community organisations, and anyone who regularly works with people who may be struggling financially. The session reflects real examples and insights from Citizens Advice work with clients across the region.
You will learn how to spot early indicators of problem debt, understand how financial stress affects wellbeing, and confidently start supportive, non-judgemental conversations that help clients get the right help sooner – recognising always that full, structured and options based advice can only be provided by providers regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (such as ourselves).
What the session covers
What problem debt looks like in everyday life
The difference between priority and non-priority debts and why it matters
Early behavioural and financial warning signs
How the debt spiral develops and how it affects physical and mental wellbeing
How to have sensitive, supportive conversations that build trust
Effective signposting and referral, including when to escalate and how to avoid overstepping into regulated advice
Local trends, common vulnerabilities, and real-life case studies
Practical tools and resources to help clients stabilise their situation
Self-care guidance for frontline workers who handle difficult conversations
Who this event is for
Anyone working with clients or service users, including:
Housing and tenancy teams
Carers and health professionals
Community and voluntary groups
Support workers and caseworkers
Charity staff and advice partners
What you will leave with
Greater confidence in recognising early signs of financial distress
Practical strategies for supportive and constructive conversations
Knowledge of trusted referral pathways and free debt-advice services
Insights that help prevent crisis and improve client wellbeing
A stronger understanding of client vulnerability and the impact of financial stress
Trauma isn’t always visible, but it can change how someone thinks, feels and acts. Understanding trauma can help us make sure people feel safe and supported.
If you work in a helping profession (like health care, mental health, emergency services, education or youth services), or you simply want to be more trauma-informed, don’t miss Mind in West Essex‘s upcoming workshop.
Trauma & Recovery Awareness helps you understand brain development and how this impacts behaviour and life chances. Topics include:
💙 The impact of trauma
💙 Toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences
💙 Neuroscience research in relation to trauma
💙 Working in a trauma-informed way
💙 How vicarious trauma affects us and those around us
💙 Practical resources for self care for ourselves and those we support.
This 3-hour session builds an understanding of the importance of fairness and inclusivity in the workplace and wider society.
Understand the difference between equality and equity
Explore intersectionality, privilege, unconscious bias and discrimination
Discuss microaggressions and how they can escalate without intervention
Consider how collective trauma, cultural trauma and racial trauma can impact wellbeing and good mental health
Reflect on how we can create a more inclusive workplace and society
Whether you’re a team leader, HR professional, educator, or simply someone committed to positive change, this training will help you foster fairness in your community or workplace.
We’re excited to launch the Your Essex Community Learning Series, brought to you by Active Essex in partnership with Essex communities and organisations. Through this series of free webinars and online seminars, we aim to support, equip and inspire community groups, voluntary organisations, local leaders and grassroots networks across Essex.
As part of the Your Essex Community place-based offer, these sessions are designed based on insights gathered directly from local communities. They focus on the issues, skills, and challenges that matter most — whether that’s funding, community engagement, impact evaluation, leadership, or inclusive communication.
Each session is hosted online, making it accessible across the county. You can join live, ask questions, engage with facilitators and peers — all with zero travel required.
Upcoming Sessions & What You’ll Learn
Here’s a rundown of the forthcoming Learning Series webinars (all free to attend):
Date / Time
Title
What You’ll Gain
23 October, 2-3pm
Securing Grant Funding Successfully
Tips, strategies, and real examples of how to write compelling proposals — from both small and large grant perspectives.
11 November, 10-11am
Utilising Marketing to Promote Your Offer
Practical marketing methods, language, campaign ideas, social media approaches — delivered by the Active Essex Marketing team.
11 November, 11am-12pm
Engaging Local Communities Effectively
Approaches to community leadership, resident-led initiatives, building belonging, and creating system change through local engagement.
3 December, 10.30-11.30am
Effective Leadership for VCS During Change
Navigating uncertainty in times of reform, funding shifts, and organisational pressures — resilience, courage and adaptive leadership.
21 January 2026, 12-1pm
Inclusive Language and Communication
Gain tools to foster equity, accessibility, and amplify community voice; explore the Social Model of Disability and inclusive communication.
5 February 2026, 4-5pm
How to Demonstrate Your Impact
Learn the fundamentals of impact measurement: planning, data collection, analysis, reporting — and making your case with confidence.
Whether you’re fairly new to running a community project or a seasoned lead, these sessions are built to add value — practical tools, peer learning, and insight to help your organisation grow stronger.
Why It Matters
In Essex, we see a wealth of voluntary organisations, resident groups, and community networks doing vital work. Yet many face shared challenges: limited funding, competing priorities, evolving local structures, and navigating change. The Learning Series is part of our commitment to help meet those challenges head on — not by prescribing solutions, but by building skills, sharing best practice, and growing collective capacity.
As we roll out more sessions, the Learning Series will evolve — shaped by your feedback and the emerging needs across the county.
Join Us
Sign up now to access the webinars and be part of a growing community of practice across Essex. You’ll be able to attend live and revisit recordings (where available).
Looking to save money, eat well, and meet new people? Join us for Batch Cooking on a Budget – a fun and relaxed series of cooking sessions designed to help you make delicious meals without breaking the bank.
This six-session programme is perfect for everyone – no experience needed! Each session is packed with friendly vibes, hands-on learning, and plenty of practical tips.
Here’s what you can expect: ✅ All ingredients and equipment provided – just bring yourself! ✅ Free Hygiene Level 1 course & certificate – a great addition to your CV. ✅ Take home your own slow cooker and utensils at the end of the course!
When: Every other week, starting 10th September, 12:15 PM – 2:00 PM Where: The Hive URC, North Street, Southminster, CM0 7DF
Transpire Training is excited to share the Mindful Impact Initiative– a program designed to make mental health training more affordable and accessible for front-line volunteers and charity staff who support individuals and communities.
Through this initiative, Transpire Training provides:
✅ 50% funding towards any of our Mental Health training for volunteers ✅ 30% funding towards any of our Mental Health training for charity staff ✅ FREE monthly Mental Health Awareness webinars offering simple, effective ways to support mental health, build knowledge, and help break stigma
The goal of the initiative is to empower those working on the front lines with the skills and confidence to support others experiencing mental health challenges.
Mindful Impact is a dedicated initiative by Transpire Training, aimed at empowering charitable organisations and volunteers through accessible and affordable Mental Health First Aid and Awareness training. This initiative recognises the invaluable contributions of charitable organisations and volunteers and seeks to support their missions by equipping them with essential Mental Health skills.
Mind in West Essex offers arange of training workshops help you to manage your mental health and provide support to others – at work, home or in the community.
Complex Mental Health and Personality Disorders
📆 3 October, 12.30pm-3.30pm
📍 Uttlesford Community Hub, Dunmow
Understand complex mental health conditions and self-harm, explore stigma and learn how you can support recovery. Info and tickets
Equity and Inclusion
📆 14 October, 10am-1pm
📍 Uttlesford Community Hub, Dunmow
Build an understanding of the importance of fairness and inclusivity in the workplace and wider society. Info and tickets
Learn about brain development and how this impacts behaviour and life chances. This session is ideal for people who work in helping professions. Info and tickets
The Mental Health Toolkit: The Essentials
📆 11 November, 9.30am-1pm
📍 Wellbeing Hub, Bush Fair, Harlow
The foundation for workplace wellbeing, introducing you to the Mental Health Continuum and the Emotional Needs & Resources approach. Info and tickets
Suicide First Aid Lite
📆 26 November, 9.30am-1pm
📍 Uttlesford Community Hub, Dunmow
Gain skills to have a conversation with someone who may be thinking about suicide and signpost them to appropriate help using a first-aid approach. Info and tickets
Qualified MHFAider® (4-day course, half-day sessions)
📆 1, 3, 8 and 10 December, 9am-1pm
📍 Uttlesford Community Hub, Dunmow
Train as a Mental Health First Aider, certified for 3 years with access to ongoing benefits like resources, learning and 24/7 support. Info and tickets
You can find out more about all of our face-to-face and online workshops, as well as our self-help and e-learning courses, on the Training Academy website.
Mid and North East Essex Mind is bringing a series of free mental health training sessions to Braintree, Halstead, Witham, and surrounding villages over the next eight months.
These community-based courses are designed to help individuals strengthen their mental wellbeing, but the charity is also encouraging businesses and community groups to get in touch to arrange bespoke sessions. This could be particularly valuable for employers supporting staff, local organisations, or anyone looking to improve wellbeing in their community.
A Toolkit for Better Mental Health
The sessions form part of the pioneering Mental Health Toolkit, developed by Mid and North East Essex Mind to help people understand their emotions and strengthen resilience.
Natalie Britt, Mental Health Education Lead, explains:
“We all feel different from one day to the next. Our mental wellbeing can be affected by so many things – whether we’ve had enough sleep, eaten well, or are experiencing pressures from work, relationships, or stress.
Through the ‘Mental Health Continuum’, we help people become more aware of their own feelings, understand others, and learn practical ways to manage emotions. We’ve already seen great results, and we’re excited to reach more people in the Braintree area.”
The training has been fully funded by Braintree District Council through the HM Government UK Shared Prosperity Fund, making it free for all participants.
Mental Health Toolkit – The Essentials
In-person sessions across Braintree District:
11th September – Braintree Town Hall, Braintree
16th September – Team Kinetix, Witham
9th October – Queens Hall, Halstead
23rd October – The Plaza, Great Notley, Braintree
11th November – Team Kinetix, Witham
27th November – I-construct, Braintree
6th January – Braintree Town Hall, Braintree
20th January – The Plaza, Great Notley, Braintree
29th January – Team Kinetix, Witham
5th February – Queens Hall, Halstead
24th February – Online session
10th March – Online session
12th March – Braintree Town Hall, Braintree
Sleep Well, Work Well & Keeping Calm
Workshops run 9.30am–11am (Sleep Well, Work Well) followed by 11.30am–12.30pm (Keeping Calm):
