Voluntary and community groups, charities, higher education institutes and not-for-profit groups are invited to bid for free pre-owned Samsung Galaxy tab A tablets.
These devices have been returned to factory settings and can be used by people with minimal technology skills and could be used to connect older people, people with disabilities, people with physical or sensory needs or to improve mental health.
Each organisation in the Essex County Council area can bid for up to 50 devices for the use by adults over 18. Bids will open from 1 August and close on 31 August 2021. Bidders should demonstrate how they would use the devices to promote one or more of the following:
• Digital inclusion
• Digital skills
• Prevent, reduce, delay social care need
• Tackle social isolation
An evaluation of the bids will be undertaken by a panel and successful bidders will be notified week commencing 20 September 2021.
Devices will need to be collected by the successful organisations from an agreed location and organisations will be required to provide a case study within three months illustrating how the devices have been used to benefit users.
Councillor John Spence, Essex County Council’s Cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Health said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for organisations and individuals to benefit from technology which will really make a difference to your community. They could be used to reduce social isolation and loneliness or to improve digital skills. We would love to hear your ideas!”
For more information email [email protected]
Due to Covid-19, physical activity is now positioned as essential to health and wellbeing, Active Essex and Essex County Council are taking the bold step of creating a major new campaign called Find Your Active to ensure physical activity is a top priority for everyone.
The ‘Community Connector’ role will provide the eyes and ears on the ground for Active Essex. Working within local communities and alongside United in Kind Coaches, to map physical activity where it already exists and help facilitate it where it doesn’t. The post is fixed term for 12 months.
To apply for either post email your CV and covering letter outlining how you meet the job specifications to [email protected] by 6th August 2021
Do you have a proven track record of community coordination and developing community relationships? Would you like to
deliver an exciting new project in West Essex over the next year?
If you have previous experience of working in the health and wellbeing arena and understand the benefits of building community
interventions, we would love to hear from you.
This exciting new role will build partnerships that tackle health inequalities through a series of projects over the next twelve months.
To apply for either post email your CV and covering letter outlining how you meet the job specifications to [email protected] by 6th August 2021
Rainbow Services are looking to recruit another enthusiastic member of
staff into our Community Builder Team. Working to reduce loneliness and
social isolation, this post will have a particular focus on people living with,
and carers of people living with Dementia.
We are looking for someone that has a passion for supporting people and
increasing dementia friendly, social activity.
The Essex Map is a FREE tool designed to bring our communities closer together by helping you to find the services, groups and activities available in your area.
It was created to promote the work of organisations and individuals who work hard to make our communities better, rather than just looking to make a profit.
To add your FREE listing on to The Essex Map please register here.
Already listed on The Essex Map
If your organisation is already listed on The Essex Map, please ensure the information on your listing is kept up to date.
You can do this by logging into your account OR if you see your organisation is currently listed you can ‘claim’ this listing as your own.
If you have any further questions or enquiries please email [email protected]
The coronavirus pandemic has changed life for everyone in the UK, but older people are amongst the hardest hit. Despite the challenges they are facing, organisations working with older people have been keeping vital services running, providing advice, support, opportunities, and practical help.
Since May 2020, we have made 277 grants totalling just over £3.3 million across five rounds of funding, supporting many different communities of older people and a wide range of work.
Find out more on how we’ve helped charities rebuild services for people in later life and the difference our grants have made to three organisations, here.
If you have queries about the Grants Fund, please email [email protected].
To apply for this position please download and complete the three-part application form at the bottom of this page and send it to [email protected] by the closing date of 10th August 2021. Interviews week commencing 16th August 2021
The key feature of our Suicide Awareness Hub is a free two part course that has two aims:
Prevent suicides
Give anyone the confidence and skills to be able to have supportive conversations with people who may be feeling suicidal, to know what to say (and what to avoid) and to help the person get the right support for them.
Generally we rarely talk about suicide, it’s often only when we hear about or know someone who has died do we talk about it. This lasts all too briefly and then the topic usually goes quiet.
There are some understandable worries people have about talking to someone who may be feeling suicidal that stop them having open conversations. Worries such as “If I ask them if they are feeling suicidal, that will put the idea into their minds, they will go and make an attempt and it’ll be my fault” (this isn’t true, if someone says yes, they will have been thinking about it before and you are not responsible for their actions) or “If I ask them and they say they are feeling suicidal I won’t know what to do next” (you will after attending our course).
Community360 is celebrating after taking delivery of a new community minibus. They have been helped to continue to operate a safe and responsive community transport service thanks to extra funding from the Essex County Council Covid Response
Fund.
Essex County Council has received funding from the Department of Health and Social Care to support the increased demand on voluntary and community sector services during the pandemic. £44,000 has been awarded to Community360 to fund
a new minibus as well as to help develop its valuable transport service to the community.
Tracy Rudling, CEO at Community360 said: “This vital funding support will enable us to continue to offer enhanced Community Transport services for our beneficiaries. So many people in our community struggle to get to places through lack of
accessible transport, this new minibus will have a huge impact on what we can offer
and will greatly enhance our ability to provide services for those disadvantaged in our area.” She added: “Voluntary and Community Services really stepped up during the pandemic to provide support to communities. We helped people to stay connected and provided first line, self-organised community support to those in need.
We also provided transport to Clinically Extremely Vulnerable people to vaccination appointments in Colchester and Maldon. Moving forward we want to continue and improve our transport offering and this crucial funding will really help us to do that.”
“We are very pleased to have been able to support Commuity360 with funding for a replacement van and other necessary equipment.” Said, Cllr McKinlay, Deputy Leader of ECC and Cabinet Member for Community, Equality, Partnership and
Performance. She added: “They have done a fantastic job, which has included providing transport to those who are particularly vulnerable and need to be more isolated when travelling. We are very grateful to the staff and volunteers for the valuable service
they provide.”
As well as offering help with shopping trips and medical appointments, their social excursions for Community Transport members will also now recommence to encourage people to re-engage socially, helping to combat loneliness. With more minibuses on the road, to help with social distancing, staff and volunteer drivers have also been issued with recognisable uniforms to increase passenger assurance and to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. C360 have also launched a new recruitment campaign and looking for volunteer transport drivers.
“Unfortunately, many of our drivers stepped down during the pandemic for various reasons, and some have returned to work from being furloughed.” Said Tracy. “Our volunteers play such an important role in being able to offer this service. Therefore, if you are considering volunteering or have some spare time, please come forward. It will be rewarding, fulfilling and give you a real sense of purpose.”
For more information on volunteering contact: https://www.community360.org.uk/services/volunteering/
Charities and councils have long worked together to provide local communities with the services they need to flourish. When communities were facing the worst of the pandemic, local organisations were able to mobilise to achieve better outcomes for the people who needed the most help. As the recovery process continues, it will be of paramount importance for the charity sector and local authorities to realise the true potential of working together to deliver public services such as health, social care and education.