Healthwatch Essex is delighted to be starting 2026 with an exciting opportunity to join their award-winning Carers Voices team.
They are currently recruiting a Carers Voices Officer to join the Information and Guidance Team.
This role is ideal for someone who is passionate about ensuring unpaid carers are heard and supported. The successful candidate will play a key role in reaching out to carers, engaging with them, and listening to their experiences to help shape and improve services.
You can find full details about the role and how to apply below:
Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with your networks and including it in any relevant circulars. The webpage can be accessed here: 👉 https://healthwatchessex.org.uk/get-involved
Essex County Council is developing a new All-Age Carers Strategy — and we want to hear from you.
As part of our commitment to supporting carers of all ages, this strategy will set out a shared vision and priorities for how carers are supported now and in the future. To make sure it truly reflects the real experiences and needs of carers, we’re inviting unpaid carers to share their views through a public consultation.
A carer is anyone who provides unpaid help, care, or support to a relative, friend, or neighbour who couldn’t manage everyday life without them. We know that caring can be deeply rewarding but also brings challenges — and your insight is vital to shaping how we move forward.
By taking part in the short online survey, carers can help us:
Shape services that reflect carers’ real needs
Improve support for carers across all ages
Raise awareness of the vital role carers play
Influence decisions on policy and funding
Ensure carers’ voices are heard
The consultation is open until 4th November, and every response will help build a more supportive and inclusive system for carers in Essex.
We’d be very grateful if you could share this consultation link across your networks — with staff, community groups, and carers you work with — as well as through newsletters, websites, and social media. The more carers we hear from, the more meaningful and representative the strategy will be.
Together, we can make sure carers’ experiences shape a better future for all.
Help shape the future of Crossroads Braintree & Chelmsford
We’re looking for compassionate, community-minded individuals to join our Board of Trustees. Whether you have lived experience, professional skills, or simply a passion for supporting unpaid family carers and older adults — your voice matters.
What you’ll gain:
✅ Use your skills for good
✅ Make a real difference in Mid Essex
✅ Be part of a warm, inclusive team
✅ No prior trustee experience needed — just commitment and care
Interested or want to learn more?
📩 Contact: Danni Perry
Finance and Business Development Manager
📧 braintreexroads@btconnect.com
📞 01376 529985
📍 Crossroads Braintree & Chelmsford, 8 Park Farm, Witham Road, Black Notley, Braintree CM77 8LQ
Do you look after a family member or friend who couldn’t manage without you?
Action for Family Carers, in partnership with Essex Carers Support, is commissioned by Essex County Council to deliver support for adult carers across West Essex (Epping, Harlow & Uttlesford districts) and Northeast Essex (Colchester & Tendring districts).
What We Offer
Our service is designed to help unpaid carers navigate the challenges of caring while looking after their own wellbeing. We provide:
✅ Information, advice and practical guidance to make caring easier
✅ Emotional support and someone to talk to
✅ Free counselling service
✅ Groups to connect with other carers
✅ Time 4 You grants to support your wellbeing
How to Access Support
You can get in touch with us in two ways:
📞 Call the Essex Wellbeing Service on 0303 303 9988 (Phone lines are open Mon–Fri 8:00am–7:00pm, Sat 9:00am–12:00pm)
The Carers Voices team continues to expand its reach across Essex, listening to unpaid carers and offering a vital platform for their experiences to be heard and valued. From supporting carers with employment struggles to offering training and social opportunities, we’re building a stronger, more connected network for carers across the county.
Upcoming Carers Voices Events
Come and meet us in person at one of our summer engagement events:
Healthier Habits Hub 📅 Thursday, 3rd July | 🕘 9am–4pm 📍 The Lounge, Esplanade Hall, Harwich CO12 3ES
Basildon Hospital Atrium 📅 Monday, 7th July | 🕙 10am–2pm
Broomfield Hospital Atrium 📅 Monday, 14th July | 🕙 10am–2pm
Colchester Carnival 📅 Saturday, 19th July | 🕘 9am–5pm
Billericay Town FC Fella’s Fair 📅 Saturday, 19th July | 🕚 11am–5:30pm 📍 New Lodge, CM12 9SA | Free entry before 1pm
Colchester Hospital Atrium 📅 Thursday, 24th July | 🕙 10am–2pm
Warley Family Fun Day 📅 Friday, 1st July | 🕘 9am–5pm 📍 Warley Playing Fields, CM13 3AZ
Harlow Care Weekender 📅 Sunday, 3rd August | 🕛 12pm–5pm 📍 Playhouse Square, Harlow
Share Your Experience: Carers and Employment
Balancing work and caring responsibilities is one of the biggest challenges faced by unpaid carers. Many experience real barriers in the workplace.
We’re currently running a live survey to gather insights. 👉 Take the survey here
Your feedback helps shape better services and support.
As part of Carers Week, Essex County Council are working with carers organisations to host webinars to highlight the importance of carer identification and early support offers available to carers. Your team may play a vital role in this. These webinars are aimed at all front-line practitioners and services working across Essex.
Support for young carers: Monday 9th June 10:00 – 10:30am
Young carers often balance their school and social lives with their caring duties and that can have a huge impact. The Essex Young Carers Service work with partner organisations to provide support to young carers in Essex to navigate school, work and life. This webinar by the Youth Service will cover the support available to young carers and where you as a professional can signpost/refer young carers.Support for adult carers: Tuesday 10th June 10:00 – 10:30am
The physical and mental health of carers can be significantly impacted by the demands of their caring role, with many experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness, often leading to burnout and a decline in their overall well-being. This webinar by Action for Family Carers, Carers First, Essex Wellbeing Service and Adult Social Care Connects will give an overview of some of the organisations supporting carers across Essex so that you can be more confident in identifying carers and then signposting/referring to specialist support available.
Supporting carers of people with dementia: Wednesday 11th June 10:00-10:30am
Supporting dementia carers is crucial because they often experience significant stress, isolation, and emotional strain. When carers are well-supported, they can provide better care, feel better in themselves, and are more likely to continue caring. This webinar by Alzheimer’s Society will raise awareness of some of the challenges carers supporting people with dementia experience, along with examples of some of the key places you can refer/signpost carers too for support.
Advocacy support for carers: Thursday 12th June 11:30am – 12:00pm
Carers may not know what help to ask for, how to ask, or indeed who to ask. Services are available to support carers to understand their options, make informed choices and decisions about their caring role and be heard when they face a challenge or issue. This webinar by Voiceability will raise awareness of some of the challenges carers experience with themselves and/or those they care for not having their views heard, and provide information on how to access for carers you support who might need this service.
Employers support for carers: Friday 13th June 1 – 2pm
Supporting carers to continue providing care and to participate in everyday life through employment is in everyone’s best interest. Employers have a responsibility to develop an inclusive workplace where carers are enabled to work, recognised, respected and supported, which helps to retain valued members of staff. This webinar by Employers for Carers will cover things employers should consider to support carers in the workforce, including tools and resource templates available.
Chelmsford City Racecouse are delighted to be supporting for the fourth consecutive year, the Eden Project Communities “Month of Community” in June. As part of this initiative, they are holding an Unpaid Carers Raceday on Thursday 12th June at Chelmsford City Racecourse.
The Community Dementia Support Service by the Alzheimer’s Society across Essex are now hosting new community groups. These community groups are for people with dementia or memory issues and their carers and friends. All groups are free of charge to attend, in accessible venues, have availability for new attendees and are warm and safe for everyone who attends.
