Citizens Advice Essex is offering a focused 90-minute session to raise awareness about pensioner poverty and equip attendees with practical tools to support older adults facing financial and energy-related challenges.
Pensioner poverty is a growing issue, affecting the health, wellbeing, and independence of older people. Many struggle to afford essentials, miss out on financial support like Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance, or face tough choices as living costs rise. This session will explore the causes of pensioner poverty, practical steps to reduce fuel bills and improve income, and ways to identify and support those in need.
Whether you’re a frontline worker or work behind the scenes, this session will provide actionable insights to make a difference in your community. Delivered by experts from Citizens Advice Essex, it will include real-world examples, referral tips, and practical strategies to ensure the most vulnerable get the help they need.
Ace Music Therapy have received funding from Essex County Council, meaning they are able to offer FREE drumming music therapy sessions for Carers in the local community!
Drumming is a powerful tool with physical and emotional benefits such as:
Ace Music Therapy have recently received funding from Chelmsford City Council & The Health Inequalities Fund to run a FREE 8 week music therapy group for people that live with chronic health conditions.
The sessions will include, amongst other things, breathwork, meditation, sound healing, gentle yoga, movement, music-making, relaxation and talking.
These sessions are suitable for those who manage any long term health conditions, affecting both physical health & mental health.
📆 The group will run weekly on a Monday, starting on the 3rd of Feb, for 8 weeks. Between 1-2pm at the Langton Scout Hall in Melbourne. ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/KdMa1c2vdKbArYGn9 )
Upcoming CPD for Counsellors and Trainees: Cyber Trauma and Online Harms
Join Renew Counselling and Training for an insightful Cyber Trauma and Online Harms Introduction Seminar with leading expert Catherine Knibbs.
Renew is a local counselling charity with over 120 years of experience, with a mission to make counselling accessible and affordable. This seminar is part of Renew’s commitment to equipping counsellors with the tools to address the evolving challenges of therapy in the modern world.
This one-day seminar is ideal for counselling professionals and trainees who want to develop their knowledge and skills in addressing the critical issue of online harms in therapy.
Key Details:
Date: Saturday 15th February 2025
Time: 10:00 – 16:00 (6 CPD Hours)
Venue: Sadlers House, Chelmsford
Cost: £40
What You’ll Learn:
What cyber trauma is and why it matters in therapy
How to identify signs of cyber trauma in clients through clinical observations
Safeguarding strategies to promote online safety for children and young people
This seminar is an excellent opportunity to learn from Catherine Knibbs, a leading voice in cyber trauma and online harms, with a wealth of experience in trauma psychotherapy and online safety.
Chelmsford City Racecourse are supporting Dementia UK and families facing dementia.
They are hosting a ‘Time for a Cuppa’ event to raise vital funds to support Dementia UK and their specialist Admiral nurses, and inviting you and your loved ones who are living with this condition to a cuppa and a piece of cake.
Join Chelmsford City Racecourse in a safe space with Dementia UK on hand for advice and support, meet a horse and join in an activity.
At just £5 per person, all profit will be donated to Dementia UK.
Date: Thursday 20th March 2025 (Booking Essential)
Venue: Chelmsford City Racecourse, Great Leighs, CM3 1QP
Time: 14:30 – 16:30
To book, please email [email protected] or call 01245 360300 by Friday 14th March.
Join Hearing Help Essex as their new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Are you an inspiring leader with a passion for making a difference? Hearing Help Essex is seeking a visionary CEO to drive their mission forward and expand their reach to support even more individuals living with hearing loss across the county.
Role Summary:
To deliver the charity’s strategy and annual business plan as approved by the board of trustees
To inspire, lead and develop our employee and volunteer team in order to meet our plan objectives
To enhance the public profile and reputation of Hearing Help Essex with all stakeholders, partners and media
To strengthen the charity’s resilience through new and diverse sources of income
Salary: £45,000 – £50,000 per annum, depending on experience
Holidays: 25 days inclusive of 5 public holidays (Easter, May and August). In addition, there is a two-week office closure over the Christmas and New Year period. The three Christmas and New Year public holidays are within the closure period and the other closure days are additional to the above annual entitlement. Dates of closure and reopening are at the discretion of the trustees).
Hours: Full time 37 hours per week. There is some out of hours work predominantly in support of fundraising events, run either directly by Hearing Help Essex or by third party supporters.
Location: Office-based, in central Chelmsford with ample free parking, with opportunity for occasional limited home working, with travel across the county as required.
Critical Requirements:
Two satisfactory references
Pass DBS checks satisfactorily
Full UK driving licence
Access to a car that is insured for business purposes in connection with the charity
For more information and the full job brief, click here: HHE CEO Job Brief.
To have an informal conversation about the role prior to applying, please contact Sophie Ede via email at [email protected].
To apply for the role, send your CV with a covering letter explaining how you feel you meet the job requirements, to Sophie Ede via email at [email protected] by Friday 14th February 2025.
Schools in Tendring are being offered a free Youth Mental Health First Aid Refresher workshop.
As a MHFAider®, you will need to take the MHFA Refresher course every 3 years to ensure your continued membership of the Association of Mental Health First Aiders®, which provides ongoing development and support plus confidence to fulfil your role.
The workshop is taking place on the following dates:
Online, Tuesday 21st January 2025 from 9:15 – 13:30
Online, Wednesday 12th February 2025 from 9:15 – 13:30
Online, Thursday 6th March 2025 from 9:15 – 13:30
A Zoom link will be sent to you after booking your place.
InterAct are delivering a workshop on Developing Resilience and Wellbeing for Parent Carers Raising Children with SEND & Challenging Behaviours.
Learn how to:
Develop a positive and empowering relationship with yourself and others
Discover the power of self-care and self-acceptance
Find new ways to prioritise your mental health and wellbeing
Practice and rehearse strategies for building your skills and strengthening your resolve to journey on
Share and explore your travels so far
Take note and celebrate the skills you have acquired along the way
Taking place every Wednesday evening from 19:30 – 21:00, starting on 29th January for 6 weeks (except 19th February, as this is half term). Please note the course takes place online via Zoom.
£500 micro-grants are available to help fund waste-reducing projects across Essex.
Calling all waste-reduction enthusiasts! Essex County Council’s Love Essex team is offering £500 micro-grants to support innovative projects and ideas that reduce household waste.
Since 2019, the council has supported 157 community projects through the Love Essex Fund. The micro-grants are intended to help organisations, individuals, and schools with both new and existing projects. This year, up to £20,000 is available to support projects that encourage residents to reuse and repair items.
Last year, funding was awarded to more than 30 projects, including:
repair cafés
refill shops
textiles and toy redistribution groups
bike, furniture, and electronics repair organisations
clothes swap events
Councillor Peter Schwier, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste Reduction and Recycling, said:
“I am delighted to announce that the Love Essex Fund has returned for 2025. In line with the Waste Strategy for Essex, we have committed to support activities that promote repair and sharing of pre-loved items.
This is the perfect opportunity for us to help the fantastic community projects that reduce waste and encourage reuse and repair in our area.”
To apply for a micro-grant, visit the Love Essex Fund webpage. Applicants will need to provide a brief description of the project and a breakdown of how they plan to spend the micro-grant.
Don’t miss out! Applications close on 9 February 2025.
A unique opportunity has become available supporting the administration of a well established local charity. Home-Start Harwich is looking for a special person who shows empathy for the needs of families and has experience of administration, book keeping, finance, spreadsheets, database recording, Microsoft (including Excel) and general office duties.
The successful candidate must be an excellent communicator, work well as part of a team and have good time management skills. Based in our main office, Bathside, Harwich, the role includes working closely with the manager and is 28 hours per week worked over 5 days from Monday to Friday.
If you think this role could be for you, get in contact today to find out more or check out www.homestartharwich.org.uk or go to the Home-Start Harwich Facebook page.
The closing date for applications is 27th January 2025, with interviews taking place on 3rd February 2025.
Email for more information and an information pack: [email protected] or call 01255 556230
