The Robin Cancer Trust and InColchester BID are inviting local businesses to join them at an upcoming September event, featuring a relaxed afternoon of mini-golf, food, drinks and networking in support of life-saving cancer awareness.
Taking place on 10th September 2026 from 4pm to 8pm at Putt in the Park in Colchester, the Putt & Connect event will bring together local businesses for an informal social, designed to help teams connect, build relationships and support an important cause.
Open to any business or organisation, the event offers an alternative approach to traditional networking, with no presentations, formal introductions or golf experience required. Attendees can enjoy a round of mini-golf, refreshments and the opportunity to meet other local business owners, teams and potential partners in a relaxed setting.
The event has been created by The Robin Cancer Trust and InColchester BID to
highlight the important role businesses can play in supporting their local communities, while raising awareness of testicular, ovarian and germ cell cancers and the charity’s work to educate and save lives.
The Putt & Connect event is open to individuals and teams of four, making it suitable for businesses looking for a summer team social, as well as those wanting to expand their local network.
Attendees will receive:
● A round of mini-golf at Putt in the Park
● A burger and drink included in the ticket price
● The chance to meet and connect with fellow local businesses
● An opportunity to support cancer awareness in the community
Tickets cost £25 per person and businesses can register as a team of four or attend individually.
Toby Freeman, founder and CEO of The Robin Cancer Trust said: “We’re delighted to bring local businesses together for Putt & Connect. It’s a great opportunity for people to meet others in the local business community while helping us continue to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and the importance of early action.”
Vincent Geaves, BID Manager, InColchester BID said: “Putt & Connect is exactly the kind of event we love to support at InColchester BID. It brings people together, showcases a fantastic city centre venue, and creates valuable opportunities for local businesses to network in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. We’re particularly proud to be partnering with The Robin Cancer Trust, helping to raise awareness of their important work while encouraging connections across Colchester’s business community.”
The event takes place at Putt in the Park, Ryegate St Peters Street, Lower Castle Park, Colchester CO1 1HL, on Thursday 10th September 2026, 4pm–8pm.
On Wednesday, 26 November, from 6–8 PM, the Lakeside Theatre at the University of Essex will host REFUSAL, an experimental, one-night-only participatory event bringing together an eclectic group of artists, sound practitioners, filmmakers, and researchers. The evening explores fragmentation, glitch, and disruption as creative strategies—an invitation to step outside normative regimes of spectacle and into a space of exploratory, collective encounter.
Working across sound, moving image, sculpture, performance, animation, and computational experimentation, the participating artists each offer a unique approach to storytelling and media. While their practices vary widely, they are united by a shared commitment to openness, curiosity, and refusal of fixed narratives. Following the performances, attendees are warmly invited to join an informal discussion—an opportunity to reflect on the relationships between media, consciousness, materiality, and the unknown.
Featured Artists
The programme includes contributions from:
Elena Botts Artist and researcher at Essex whose work interweaves glitch, sound-field recording, and site-disarticulation to propose “networked sonic rupture” as a gesture toward other worlds.
E.G. King Creator of semi-improvised sound and movement collages using analogue and digital tools to explore mindful creativity.
Pat Nininger Composer of harmonic and noise-based sound ecologies that dismantle linear listening through rupture and saturation.
Hadiyan Yusuf Kuntoro Yogyakarta-based experimenter and researcher whose interdisciplinary practice bridges scientific inquiry, design, and fine art.
aly,willamina cutler-gear Artist working between statistical linguistics, computation, and composition, here performing with homemade software reanimating dormant Norn lifeworlds.
Rachel Garfield Professor of Fine Art at the Royal College of Art, known for video works exploring lived relationships and shifting subjectivities.
Lu : Lucille : hebe Brownrigg A warm-blooded mammal working with voice, breath, and biological resonance, exploring contamination, melody, and microbial possession.
Yun Lu Animation researcher investigating technical failure, nonlinear temporality, and beyond-human animation
The evening will consist of a sequence of short performances and screenings, including video works, sound performances, talks, and hybrid forms. Each piece offers its own mode of epistemic humility—inviting viewers to inhabit uncertainty, complexity, and the refusal of closure.
Are you a young mum or birthing person in Essex under the age of 25—or do you work with someone who is? We want to hear from you.
We’re running a short, anonymous survey to better understand the needs, experiences, and challenges faced by young mums and birthing people aged 16–25. The feedback gathered will help shape future peer support services, making sure they are relevant, meaningful, and designed around what matters most to you.
It only takes a couple of minutes to complete, and every response will make a real difference.
Why it matters
Becoming a parent at a young age can be both exciting and challenging. By sharing your experiences, you’ll help ensure that services in Essex provide the right kind of support, at the right time.
How you can help
If you work with or know young mums and birthing people in Essex, we’d be so grateful if you could share the survey link—or the flyer—through your networks, during appointments, or on social media.
Together, we can make sure young parents across Essex feel supported and understood.
Colchester Gateway Clubs, a registered charity supporting people with learning disabilities, is hiring an Accounts & Admin Assistant to help ensure smooth operations behind the scenes.
Location: Colchester Hours: 16 per week Salary: £12,480 per annum (£15/hour)
Role Overview: This position supports the charity’s financial and administrative functions. Duties include bookkeeping, handling invoices, managing petty cash, assisting with budgets, and maintaining charity records. The role also supports compliance with GDPR, health & safety, and other operational policies.
Who We’re Looking For: Candidates should have experience in bookkeeping, strong IT and communication skills, and the ability to manage deadlines independently or in a team. Familiarity with accounting software like Sage or Xero and knowledge of the charity sector are a plus.
Why Join Us? Be part of a positive, flexible, and professional team committed to making a difference in the lives of people with learning disabilities.
Join MIND Mid and North East Essex for an important and welcoming morning focused on men’s mental health at the upcoming Men’s Wellbeing Event, taking place on Tuesday 10th June 2025 at Colchester Rugby Club (Raven Bar), CO4 5YX.
🕗 Event Details:
Date: Tuesday 10th June 2025
Time: 08:00am – 10:30am
Location: Colchester Rugby Club (Raven Bar), CO4 5YX
Tickets: £5 per person
Includes: A breakfast bap and hot drink
Let’s Talk About Men’s Mental Health
This event provides a space for men to come together, share experiences, and start conversations around mental health in a supportive environment. Whether you’re looking to open up, listen, or simply connect with others, this is a valuable opportunity to prioritise wellbeing.
🎟 Book Your Place
Tickets are just £5 and include breakfast. Spaces are limited, so book early to secure your spot.
Our friends at Mid and North East Essex Mind are recruiting!
They’re looking for a passionate and experienced Service Manager to help lead their North East Essex Sanctuary — a vital out-of-hours mental health support service.
In this role, you’ll:
✔️ Support and manage a dedicated frontline team ✔️ Oversee daily service operations ✔️ Work closely with local partners to ensure people in crisis get the right support
If you’ve managed mental health or crisis services and care about making a real difference, this could be the role for you.
The Compassionate Colchester Network is thrilled to confirm that our next Meetup is being hosted by RAMA at RAMA House, 31 Elm Lane, Colchester on Friday 6th June, and we hope that you can join us?
🫶 Compassionate Community Meetups are an opportunityto be part of a special group of people, places and projects who are helping build networks of support for others experiencing life’s biggest challenges.
🌞 We will start with a cuppa at 10am and intro’s from RAMA and The Cinnamon Trust, who will share how they are supporting local communities and collaborating with community ambassadors.
👟 A group wellbeing walk will start at 11am for those who wish to participate.
❤️ These really are fantastic events that bring communities together, and we encourage you to invite others who can bring kindness and compassion to Colchester.
Ticket price: £5pp includes a hot breakfast bap and hot drink
Join us for our Time to Talk About Men’s Mental Health Event at Colchester Rugby Club to raise awareness of men’s mental health, with guest speakers, local support services, and resources for men’s mental wellbeing. This event is in collaboration with The Colte Partnership.
Join the OutHouse on Saturday, 14th June, for a joyous celebration of Pride Month as we mark the 45th birthday of The OutHouse, our wonderful charity supporting the LGBTQ+ community. The event will take place in the beautiful gardens of The Minories, a stunning venue that provides the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of fun, community, and celebration.
From 12 noon until 8pm, the gardens will be the heart of this special occasion.
This special day will honour The OutHouse’s incredible journey and the positive impact it has had over the last 45 years, all while celebrating the diversity and unity of the LGBTQ+ community.
Don’t miss this unforgettable celebration! It’s the perfect way to come together and enjoy a sunny day in the garden with friends, family, and allies. We look forward to seeing you there!
Join us at St Andrews Church, Greenstead, Colchester for a Compassionate Community Meetup…
🫶 Compassionate Community Meetups are an opportunityto be part of a special network of people, places and projects who are coming together to support others during life’s most difficult moments.
🌞 We are starting with a cuppa at 10am with intro’s from the St Andrews team and Safe Harbour Project at St Helena, who will describe how they are supporting local communities and collaborating with community ambassadors.
👟 A group wellbeing walk & talk will start at 11am for those who wish to participate.
❤️ These really are fantastic events that bring communities together, as you can see from the pics below from our April Meetup
