With increased domestic fuel costs and unprecedented volatility in the energy market, people on low incomes, including pensioners, people with disabilities and families, face profound challenges keeping their homes warm, dry and conducive to health.
As a frontline worker, you may feel powerless to respond. Still, the need to respond is greater than ever, especially because, as more people move into “fuel poverty”, the number of those who are most profoundly fuel-poor also increases. Government policy and individual action should, in the face of overwhelming need, respond to those worst affected.
Nudging the people you help, towards making changes in how they use energy, engaging in opportunities to improve the energy efficiency of their homes AND making sure they can access the high-quality, intensive energy advice the Citizens Advice service in Essex offers are all ways of responding to these needs.
Our services seek to tackle some of the underlying causes of fuel poverty – not just “hard to heat” homes but also low incomes, issues with benefits and debt.
In this FREE, 90 minute course, delivered by Citizens Advice energy experts, you’ll learn:
What is fuel poverty
What are the causes and effects
Who is most vulnerable
Practical steps your service user can take
Grants and schemes available to improve energy efficiency
The vital role income maximisation plays and how we help including a run down of government support measures
Other ways Citizens Advice can help and how to refer
The role of emerging voluntary and public sector responses such as “Warm Spaces.”
As Essex organisations, we have a shared ambition; to help Essex residents live safe lives.
We’re really pleased to be launching our free partnership tree and networking event which is a chance for us all to connect and grow together. Our aim is for this to become an annual event where we’ll all share information and insights, educate one another and explore how partnership working can benefit our residents.
It’s a simple idea really – a space to inform and be informed for all. So, let’s start a conversation through networking; nurturing existing and sowing new partnerships.
Who’s it for?
We are extending our branches to new and existing partners.
What now?
Book your free place and join us in person at our Headquarters in Kelvedon Park, London Road, Rivenhall, Essex, CM8 3HB on Thursday 23 February from 9am – 4pm.
Sound good but you can’t make it in person? You can also join us online for the opening and first two sessions. Just head over to our online event ticket page to book your place.
As part of our event, we’re also giving people time to browse our marketplace; a dedicated area where we’ll set up tables for people to showcase their organisation. It’ll make it easier for people to find and talk to you as well as give you space to present any materials you’d like to share. Book your table now by emailing [email protected]
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. I really look forward to seeing you there.
The Housing Strategy sets out how the council, along with its partners, will respond to the housing challenges faced by the borough, to provide good quality housing related options and services.
We are currently developing our Housing Strategy for the next five years and the council welcomes your views. We will use the information you provide to further understand:
· Which priorities you feel are most important
· The housing issues that matter most to you
· Any other comments you may have regarding the draft Housing Strategy.
To support the delivery of the Corporate Plan and the Housing Strategy vision we have identified three key priorities that we are seeking your thoughts on. Under each of these priorities there will be an action plan as to how we will meet each priority. The Draft Housing Strategy 2023 – 2028 priorities can be found here: Housing Strategy 2023 – 2028 Priorities(PDF)[99KB]
We are grateful for your input, and in recognition we are offering a prize draw for a £50 gift voucher for all fully completed survey. Only one application per e-mail address.
The consultation will open on 30 January 2023 and close on 26 February 2023.
If you are unable to complete the survey online or require assistance, please contact the customer contact centre on (01268) 533 333 and someone will help you complete the survey over the phone.
Your responses to this survey will inform the development and review of our Housing Strategy and Action Plan. By completing this questionnaire, you are consenting to your responses being used to inform this work. Your data will be processed in line with our privacy policy. Personal data will be maintained confidentially and will not be shared without permission.
The B&Q Foundation supports hundreds of registered charities across the UK every year.
Providing grants for a wide range of charities who are looking for funding to improve or develop spaces that benefit their local communities.
We know that charities are pushed for time and that is why we work with the team at Neighbourly to make the application process as easy as possible. Follow the three-step process below to apply for a B&Q Foundation grant.
Would you like to increase your knowledge and understanding around mental health?
Would you like to feel more confident to have conversations about mental health, look after your own wellbeing and know how to signpost others for support?
Join us for a free mental health awareness training session in Essex, between 10am – 1.30pm, on a date that suits you.
Join the Basildon, Billericay & Wickford Community Exchange and be part of a growing community of people sharing their skills and time with others. Whatever your passion or expertise, everyone has something to offer.
Through the exchange you can:
• Choose when and how often you would like to volunteer
• Offer your skills and spare time to help others
• Support family, friends, neighbours and meet new people
• Bank the hours you volunteer and ask for help in return
How does it work?
1 hour = 1 Credit
For every hour you volunteer, you earn one ‘Credit’. You can then use this to ask for help in return, or donate it to our ‘Community Pot’ where it will be used to help others in the community.
Everyone’s time is valued equally
You can decide what skills you can offer and everyone’s time is equal. So one hour of your time is equal to one hour of someone else’s time.
The Community Exchange is for everyone
It’s free to become a member of the Community Exchange and it’s open to anyone aged 18 or over, regardless of ability, skills or situation and all help is free!
Join us and discover just how rewarding being part of the exchange can be!
If you are you are interested in joining our Community Exchange and would like to speak to one of the team for further details please contact us on 01268 294420 or send us a message, we would love to hear from you.
Before you leave this page why not check out some of our volunteering opportunities with some of our amazing community organisations in our 2020 virtual volunteer fair on our YouTube page.
The East of England Cancer Alliances Patient Participation Group is looking for new members.
The next meeting will be held on 1 March 2023 6.30 to 8.30 pm.
If you, or someone you care about has had recent experiences of cancer services in this area and you are keen to have your say on how services could be changed for the better, then we are the group for you.
We meet monthly, online, for two hours. The meetings consist of interesting talks from experts in their fields, and the opportunity to use your experiences and views to influence how cancer services can be improved in our region. We are also involved in a number of change projects, including looking at quality of life following cancer treatment, methods for new testing and diagnosis, developing patient information, and many more. Often these projects are suggested by members of our PPG then our teams will help to set-up a task group to take the project forward.
If you would like to talk to someone about our Patient Participation Group then please call Ayse Casey on 07702436696 or Jane Parker-Coulson on 07718130493 or email [email protected].
Social Prescriber – Triage (Full-time – Job Share considered)
(Engagement Officers Band 1) – Colchester
£22,700-24,981 per annum
Why would you want to work as a social prescriber? Here’s why….
To truly make a difference to people’s lives
To use your listening skills and empathetic nature to unpick complex issues
To feel like you belong to a forward thinking company with passion
C360 pioneered social prescribing in Essex so you are joining an established team with a great reputation
You want a job with real purpose
To use excellent administration and IT skills
This role is based in Colchester, working together as part of the Social Prescribing Team. The main duties include data processing, monitoring inboxes and triaging, updating, and providing monitoring from our bespoke AideCRM database, super user for clinical systems (System1 and EMIS), general administration, updating Asset Mapping, overseeing Social Prescribing referrals (this list is not exhaustive).
You will bring:
A passion for helping people to self-care and self-manage their health and wellbeing whilst having our values at the heart of what you do
Experience of working with people with complex needs (we would welcome candidates with a mental health working background)
Strong communication skills
Empathy and emotional resilience
Ability to work in a team environment
Flexibility with working hours and location
Excellent administration and IT skills
What you can expect:
A base in Colchester but there needs to be flexibility with working location (GP surgeries, hospital etc)
28 days holiday (including bank holidays)
An extra day’s holiday for your birthday (after passing probation)
Five extra days holiday (pro-rata) after five years’ service
Up to three days volunteering per year (after passing probation)
A group of leisure centres is offering a free hot shower to people to help them through the rising cost of living.
People living in parts of mid and south Essex can use the facilities if they go to reception and and ask for “Tommy.”
The initiative is being run by the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System alongside local authorities and more than 25 people have already used the scheme.
Managers said more leisure centres would join the scheme in the coming weeks and say there is no criteria or judgement required to access “ask for Tommy”.
Shaun Beagle, area manager at Everyone Active, said: “It is a great initiative for those in the local community that are struggling in the current economic climate and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.
“We have had over 25 members of the local community use our facilities for a shower through the scheme so far, which is fantastic.
“Please share this service with someone that you know is struggling at the moment.”
Tiffany Hemming from the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board said the scheme was a great way to help the local community in the winter.
“We realise the challenges that our residents are currently facing in this economic climate and it is vital that we do what we can to help them keep up good levels of health and hygiene. Access to hot showers will allow people to do this,” she said.
“The benefits of a shower also don’t stop at getting clean – showering has many benefits for mental wellbeing also.
“I look forward to seeing more leisure centres join in the coming days and weeks.”
The leisure centres taking part include:
Basildon:
Basildon Sporting Village (SS14 3GR)
Eversley Leisure Centre (SS13 2EF)
Wickford Swim and Fitness Centre (SS12 0AG)
Brentwood:
The Brentwood Centre (CM15 9NN)
The Hartswood Pavilion at King George’s Playing Fields (CM13 2FD)
The Young Essex Assembly is the elected youth council where it gives young people across Essex the opportunity to have their voices heard, represent the voices of other young people and influence decisions that affect them and their local district. As well as being representatives for their district, young people will have the opportunity to plan, develop and deliver projects that will have a positive impact in their local community and across Essex.
The Young Essex Assembly is organising a cultural day in partnership with the Chelmsford Star Cooperative to celebrate and explore the different cultures that enrich our communities. As members of the Young Essex Assembly, we are running this event where external providers from cultural organisations are invited to represent their cultures. We aim to have a range of diverse and different cultures from the around the world to attend this event to make it as inclusive as possible.
We are pleased to invite you to attend to our Cultural Day where you can represent your cultural heritage by running their own stands, activities, and workshops for the local community to participate and engage in.
The set date for the Cultural Day will be on the Saturday 1st of July 2023 from 10-2pm. The venue will be at Galleywood Centre, Watchouse Rd, Chelmsford CM2 8PT.
If you’re attending this event, please contact the Young Essex Assembly youth support worker Laloona Amjad to ensure you are put on the invitee list. Please email – [email protected]