The Sport and Youth Mental Health Project, led by the Active Essex Foundation, has officially completed its first year as part of a three-year, National Lottery-funded initiative. Now entering its second year, the project continues to support young people across Essex through the power of sport and physical activity, aiming to improve mental wellbeing and build stronger communities.
We’re excited to share that our evaluation partner, Centre for Mental Health, has published the Year 1 Evaluation Report, offering detailed insights into the project’s early impact, learning, and areas for growth.
📄 Prefer a quick read? Check out the 2-page Executive Summary, highlighting key findings and recommendations for the next two years: Executive Summary – Key Insights (PDF)
We’re pleased to invite your organisation to apply to become a delivery partner for the Place-Based Support Element of the Your Essex Community Programme – a coordinated effort to strengthen and empower the voluntary and community sector (VCS) across Essex.
As part of this offer, we’re seeking organisations with experience in delivering high-quality, locally relevant infrastructure support – such as training, mentoring, peer learning, network facilitation, and organisational development – to help grow skills and resilience across VCS groups.
This resource is designed to respond directly to the unique needs of each area. The priorities for each district and borough have been informed by local listening events, feedback from VCS organisations, and system insight. Applicants should demonstrate their understanding of the local landscape, and proposals must align with the identified Place Plan priorities which can be found in the attached guidance document.
We’re particularly interested in working with partners who:
Understand the local VCS context and existing networks
Bring subject expertise in areas highlighted in place priorities
Are open to collaboration, innovation, and sharing learning across sectors
How to Apply: Applications must be submitted via our online form here by Sunday 27th July, 11:59pm. The full Guidance for Applicants document can be found attached.
We are pleased to share some information about the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) place-based support work that Active Essex are leading on behalf of the Essex County Council Strengthening Communities Team.
This work will be identifying what success looks like for the VCS at place, recognising the ambitions of local VCS organisations, the expertise and strengths that already exist in a place and how we might be able to work in partnership to share and learn with other VCS organisations.
Over the coming weeks we will be working in partnership with a wide range of partners in order develop place plans so that we can best respond to the local needs of the VCS.
Your voice, views, ambitions and ideas are key to us ensuring that the right support and resource is put in place as part of the VCS place support offer. We would really appreciate it if you could spare 5-10 minutes to complete the below survey to tell us what support your organisation needs to help you further develop, thrive and sustain.
We are also keen to hear from local organisations who feel they have experiences and expertise that could benefit other VCS organisations across Essex. This might be through training, share and learn networks, webinars, mentoring, etc… If you feel you could contribute to the VCS place-based support offer, then please also complete the survey below. This will help us to understand what strengths are already in a place.
