This is where we’ll post third sector news and important updates that are useful for your organisation.
Explore local volunteering opportunities on The Essex Map and find ways to make a difference near you.
Take the first step towards a rewarding career in counselling with Renew’s DiplomaHE in Counselling (Child and Young Person), delivered in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University.
This course offers specialised clinical training to prepare you for impactful work with children and young people.
Course Details:
Upcoming FREE online Q&A Session: 26 March at 1pm
For more information, please fill out the contact form here.
You can also reach out to Michelle Allen at michelleallen@renew.org.uk or call 01245 264348.
Join Hearing Help Essex as Our New Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Are you an inspiring leader with a passion for making a difference? Hearing Help Essex is seeking a visionary Chief Executive Officer to drive our mission forward and expand our reach to support even more individuals living with hearing loss across the county.
This is a rare and exciting opportunity for a dynamic and adaptable leader, ideally with experience in the charity sector and a strong connection to the challenges faced by those with hearing loss.
With demand for our vital services growing, you’ll be at the forefront of a dynamic and rewarding environment, balancing strategic vision with hands-on engagement.
In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to:
This position is more than a job – it’s a chance to lead transformative change and improve the lives of thousands of people. As CEO, you’ll work closely with a committed Board of Trustees, ensuring the charity’s continued success within our robust governance framework.
Are you ready to lead a charity with heart, vision, and purpose?
Apply today to become part of a team dedicated to changing lives across Essex.
For more details, including the job description, please click here or email sophie.ede@hearinghelpessex.org.uk
Chelmsford Star Co-op host bi-weekly coffee mornings for their members at the Braintree & Chelmsford Quadrant Stores, bringing people together for a warm drink, great company, and inspiring talks.
They are on the lookout for guest speakers to share their knowledge, experiences, or passions with our friendly community. Whether you have an interesting story to tell, expert advice to share, or an engaging topic to present, they’d love to hear from you!
The Chelmsford Group takes place every other Monday and the Braintree Group takes place every other Thursday (10.15am for a 10.30am start. Lasts up to 1 hour.)
If you’re interested in speaking at one of the sessions, please get in touch.
Email: membership@chelmsfordstar.coop
Find out more here: https://www.chelmsfordstar.coop/community/events/
Looking for mental health training that helps you both at work and at home? The Mental Health Toolkit: The Essentials is for you.
Brought to you by Mind in West Essex, This half-day workshop introduces you to the Mental Health Continuum and the Emotional Needs & Resources approach.
It helps you to better support yourself and those around you – in your personal and professional life.
Places cost just £75 per person. Find out more, see upcoming dates and book your place here: MentalHealthTraining.org.uk/mht-essentials/
Introduction
On Wednesday 5 February, the UK government confirmed that Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council have had their request to be part of the Devolution Priority Programme accepted. This follows the councils writing to the UK government on Friday 10 January requesting inclusion on the programme and committing to Local Government Re-organisation.
We are hosting a webinar on Devolution for Voluntary Sector, Community and Faith based groups across Essex, on Tuesday 25 March at 6pm. We want to start the conversation and share what we know about devolution.
Devolution
What is devolution? Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from UK government to local authority level. It is important because decisions are made closer to local people, communities and businesses they affect. Devolution would provide greater freedoms and flexibilities for councils to work more effectively. This would improve public services and outcomes for residents and businesses.
| Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation: Devolution | Essex County Council
Details about our plans for devolution in Greater Essex |
Watch the short video about Greater Essex Devolution.
| YouTube
Share your videos with friends, family, and the world youtu.be |
Join the conversation
Essex County Council is hosting a webinar on Devolution for Voluntary Sector, Community and Faith based groups across Essex, on Tuesday 25 March at 6pm. They want to start the conversation and share what we know about devolution.
Join the webinar on Microsoft Teams.
Have your say on the Greater Essex devolution consultation
The UK government has launched the Greater Essex devolution consultation.
The consultation seeks your views on the proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority for the local government areas in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.
The consultation invites those who live and work across Greater Essex to share their views on:
Have your say on the UK government’s devolution consultation before it closes on Sunday 13 April 2025.
We are looking to recruit an Operations Manager to support the development and management of MDCVS charity activities and services with a particular focus on the operational delivery and strategic development of community-based projects. The operations manager will be responsible for developing and delivering projects that further the mission of Maldon and District CVS to create thriving, connected and healthy communities. This will include considering the strategic direction of MDCVS and working in partnership with communities, cross sectors, the MDCVS director and trustee board to create
projects and opportunities that benefit the community and contribute to the sustainability and impact.
To apply, please complete the application form.
Deadline date: Monday 7th April 9am
For full job description, click here Operations manager
Social Community Supermarkets are community-led initiatives which provide access to nutritious food for a fraction of what these items would cost in a regular supermarket. They enable people on low incomes to stretch their budgets further each week, helping to prevent crisis situations from arising in household finances resulting in the need to access food bank style support.
The Project Officer – Social Supermarket will support the delivery of a mobile Social Supermarket in the districts of Maldon and Braintree. The role will include supporting the smooth running of supermarket sessions alongside supporting tasks such as managing stock and supporting promotion.
To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to peter@maldoncvs.org.uk
Deadline date: Monday 24th March 9am
For full job description, click here Social Supermarket Project Officer JD March 2025
Maldon and District CVS are always looking for dedicated community minded people to join our projects team. Project officers will support the delivery of projects and activities that further the mission of Maldon and District CVS to create thriving, connected and healthy communities. This support will include working in partnership with communities and sectors to offer opportunities for physical activity, digital inclusion, mental wellbeing, peer support and crisis response.
As part of the projects team the role will involve organising and promoting activities, undertaking administration task and supporting and encouraging individuals to connect with services and activities.
For full job description here: Community Project Officer
If you would like to be part of our volunteer team find our current opportunities here.
If you would like to apply to be a MDCVS trustee read more here.
Mental health Study by Mind in West Essex
The University of Manchester, local Mind charities and Tend VR are conducting a study exploring an innovative way to deliver mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), an approach to helping people with depression and/or anxiety. We are recruiting adults who have experienced recent anxiety or depressive symptoms to test this innovative approach over a 10-12-week period. The delivery of this mental health innovation will be at Mind in West Essex, 45 Stortford Road, Dunmow and 10-11 Corner House, Bushfair, Harlow.
If you would like to take part, we will be asking you to complete questionnaires and possibly an interview to provide feedback on your experience receiving this innovative approach to MBCT delivery. The programme and the VR equipment will be provided, free of charge but you will need to have access to a smart phone so that you can download a mobile app that accompanies the MBCT programme.
If you are interested in participating in this mental health study and advancing the progress of VR to improve mental health, please complete the Expression of Interest Form (EOI): https://form.jotform.com/250412035857352
If you have any questions after you have looked at the EOI then please email research@tend-vr.com. You can find a taster video of the immersive VR programme here:
On behalf of the NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB), Healthwatch Essex have launched a project focusing on ‘Children’s Oral Health Experiences in West Essex’.
As part of our project, we have designed a survey to find out about your child’s experiences of using local NHS dental services.
To take part in the survey, click the pink box on the right: https://healthwatchessex.org.uk/2025/02/childrens-oral-health-experiences-in-west-essex/
Following the survey, participants can also share their experiences in an optional one-to-one interview. Anyone can sign up to take part via our contact form through the webpage above.
(All participants will be kept anonymous and any information you provide is strictly confidential. To be able to participate you must live in or near West Essex.)
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any aspects of the project further, please don’t hesitate to contact me at lily.boag@healthwatchessex.org.uk.
The Hertfordshire & West Essex VCFSE Alliance is hosting a key event for voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations in West Essex.
This session is designed for senior staff and trustees who want to help shape the Alliance’s future and strengthen the sector’s role in the local health and care system.
Event Details
📅 Monday, 10th March 2025
⏲ 12:00 – 15:00
📍 The Link, Harlow
Why Attend?
This workshop is an opportunity to:
📌 Help shape the Alliance’s vision, values, and governance
📌 Contribute to a communications plan that meets sector needs
📌 Inform the Alliance’s key priorities and work plan
How to Register
Register here by 3rd March 2025, to secure your place.
For more information, please contact: amanda.wilson@vcfsealliance.org
This is your chance to make a difference and ensure the VCFSE Alliance truly represents organisations in West Essex.
We hope to see you there!
