This is a place where you can find out about opportunities that are available to your organisation. From funding streams to events and training, The Essex Alliance will keep you informed.
We’re excited to announce Beat Retreat – a free 10-week drumming Music Therapy programme designed specifically for carers living in the Braintree district. Delivered by Ace Music Therapy CIC and funded by Essex County Council, this group offers carers a chance to take time for themselves, connect with others, and experience the therapeutic benefits of rhythm and music.
Why Drumming?
Drumming is one of the oldest forms of music-making and has been shown to support both emotional and physical wellbeing. Many participants report benefits such as:
Improved mood and emotional release
Reduced stress and anxiety
Lowered blood pressure
Relief from tension and pain
Boosted immune function
This group offers a warm, supportive environment where carers can step away from daily responsibilities, unwind, and enjoy the shared energy of group music-making—no musical experience needed.
Session Details
When: Wednesdays, running until 3rd December Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm Where: Earls Colne Village Hall, 12 York Rd, Earls Colne, Colchester CO6 2RN Cost: Free of charge
In September 2025, local Pitsea residents voted on a recycling/upcycling project in their local area. Creative Basildon are looking for an artist to create: “A programme of workshops/activities that target a range of ages and groups across the whole of Pitsea, within the theme of recycling/upcycling.”
We want you to interpret this as creatively as you can. We are interested in hearing about your previous projects that have focused on recycling/upcycling themes. This may look like upcycling workshops, a community clean up with musical performances, or it might explore the invisible waste of the digital age.
**A fixed fee will be paid for the work, not per person. If you are applying as a collective, it is your decision how the fee will be shared. This inclusive fee should be used for all artist and production fees (including but not limited to; planning, delivery, purchasing resources, marketing, administration and evaluation).
This is an exciting and varied role, and we are looking for a proactive post holder who will manage three key aspects of CARA’s service provision:
Manage new referrals into our service, overseeing the work of our team of First Contact Navigators and our Information and Referrals Co-ordinator.
Manage our counselling waiting lists and the allocation of clients to a counsellor, overseeing the work of our Allocations Team.
Act as the main lead and point of contact for managing CARA’s client database and resolving any data queries.
The role will lead a talented and committed team of six, supporting their work and assisting them to develop their key roles. As well as overseeing day-to-day operations of the team, the post holder will be part of CARA’s management team and will have the opportunity to play a key role in CARA’s wider development, working closely with CARA’s Senior Leadership Team and Team Managers.
Application deadline: 9am on Wednesday 26th November 2025
Interviews: Tuesday 2nd December 2025
This post is restricted to women applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.
Click here for Job Description and Person Specification.
Hamelin Trust, a local charity dedicated to supporting people with disabilities across Essex, is expanding its team and currently recruiting for several rewarding roles. These positions offer a chance to make a real difference in the lives of others while joining a passionate, community-focused organisation.
Current Vacancies:
Links Project Co-ordinator Location: Mid & South Essex Salary: £27,398 (37.5 hours per week) Deadline: 7th November Interviews: 18th & 19th November This role supports the growth of Hamelin Trust’s Links project, working closely with key stakeholders to strengthen community connections.
Ability Works Employment Support Co-ordinator Location: Rochford, Basildon & Castle Point Salary: £16,439 (22.5 hours per week) Deadline: 7th November Interviews: 18th & 19th November A fantastic opportunity to help people with disabilities access employment and develop workplace skills.
Volunteer Co-ordinator Location: Mid & South Essex Salary: £21,918 (30 hours per week) Deadline: 14th November Interviews: 25th & 26th November This role focuses on supporting Hamelin’s volunteer network and enhancing community engagement.
Essex County Council is developing a new All-Age Carers Strategy — and we want to hear from you.
As part of our commitment to supporting carers of all ages, this strategy will set out a shared vision and priorities for how carers are supported now and in the future. To make sure it truly reflects the real experiences and needs of carers, we’re inviting unpaid carers to share their views through a public consultation.
A carer is anyone who provides unpaid help, care, or support to a relative, friend, or neighbour who couldn’t manage everyday life without them. We know that caring can be deeply rewarding but also brings challenges — and your insight is vital to shaping how we move forward.
By taking part in the short online survey, carers can help us:
Shape services that reflect carers’ real needs
Improve support for carers across all ages
Raise awareness of the vital role carers play
Influence decisions on policy and funding
Ensure carers’ voices are heard
The consultation is open until 4th November, and every response will help build a more supportive and inclusive system for carers in Essex.
We’d be very grateful if you could share this consultation link across your networks — with staff, community groups, and carers you work with — as well as through newsletters, websites, and social media. The more carers we hear from, the more meaningful and representative the strategy will be.
Together, we can make sure carers’ experiences shape a better future for all.
Mind in West Essex is looking for a Sanctuary Support Worker (Part-Time) to join our team supporting the mental wellbeing of people experiencing emotional crisis.
📍 Based in Harlow, with ability to travel across West Essex
⏰ 14–28 hours per week on a 4-week rota (7-hour shifts 4pm-11pm across 7 days a week including weekends and bank holidays)
💷 £12.56 per hour (time and a half on public holidays)
This 3-hour session builds an understanding of the importance of fairness and inclusivity in the workplace and wider society.
Understand the difference between equality and equity
Explore intersectionality, privilege, unconscious bias and discrimination
Discuss microaggressions and how they can escalate without intervention
Consider how collective trauma, cultural trauma and racial trauma can impact wellbeing and good mental health
Reflect on how we can create a more inclusive workplace and society
Whether you’re a team leader, HR professional, educator, or simply someone committed to positive change, this training will help you foster fairness in your community or workplace.
This World Mental Health Day (Friday 10 October), our friends at Renew Counselling, in partnership with Chelmsford City Council, will be creating a calm and welcoming space on Chelmsford High Street (outside Barclays) from 10am–4pm.
Everyone is invited to take a moment for their wellbeing and enjoy:
✨ Mindfulness and self-care activities, including mini massages from The Beauty Room ✨ Opportunities to chat about counselling and mental health support ✨ Fundraising to help keep counselling affordable and accessible for all
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has launched the Common Ground Award (CGA) — a new funding opportunity for voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations that bring people together from different backgrounds.
The Common Ground Award supports organisations that are helping to build stronger, more connected communities through shared spaces and activities. Funding can be used for the construction or renovation of facilities, or to purchase essential equipment that enables community engagement and service delivery.
Key details
Total funding available: Up to £1.7 million (2025/26)
Grant size: Up to £10,000 per successful applicant
Eligible applicants: VCSE organisations based and operating in England with charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic purposes
Application window: Opens 14 October and closes 21 November 2025
Funding awarded: January 2026
Spending deadline: 31 March 2026
Aims of the Common Ground Award
The programme seeks to:
Identify and reward good practice in building bridging social capital
Invest in physical spaces and equipment that support inclusive community activity
Foster a community of practice, encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing between the VCSE sector and government
Eligible expenditure
Capital grants can fund:
New builds, refurbishments, or expansions of facilities that help connect communities
Essential equipment such as laptops, furniture, or other items necessary for running inclusive activities
Following the 2024-25 Healthier Habits Hubs that took place across the County, Essex County Council (ECC) have changed the structure based on feedback from both residents and providers.
From 3rd November 2025, this is your opportunity to get creative.
Do you have an idea for a project? Does your hub have the creativity to run a successful health related project?
If your hub has what it takes, now is your chance. Applications open from 3rd November 2025 for hubs to apply for up to £2,500 (£5,000 if partnering with another) to run a project that aligns to one or more of the outcomes in our Essex County Council Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities Business Plan 2025-2028 (Wellbeing, public health and communities business plan):
Healthy Weight
Smokefree 2030
Children and Young People
Housing and Health
Physical Activity
Inclusive Growth, work and health
NHS 10 Year plan
Healthy Communities
Vulnerable groups
ECC recognise the importance of communities being able to organise events of health importance as well as events that promote community cohesion and integration. Therefore, funding has been made available for communities in Essex to lead and organise events. These can be Health promotion, events that raise awareness of issues that affect the community and or events that bring communities together for collective reflection.
The Healthier Habits Fund will offer financial support to organisations to help deliver new events/projects in the County of Essex.
The fund can be used to book a space or pay for other associated event costs. For each event, a maximum of £2,500 will be made available, or for collaboration between organisations, grants of up to £5,000 will be made available.
ECC are keen to develop an interesting and successful year-round events calendar and would like to encourage new community leaders and groups to come forward. As part of this ambition, we are keen to see new events that will complement existing offers.
Applicants must agree that if my application is successful the money received will be used ONLY towards the project set out in this application and that I will supply evidence as required to the HHH project team in the form of photos and/or feedback from users of the project to demonstrate our impact and appropriate use of ECC funds.
Who can apply?
Registered charities and CICs with sound governance and accountability structures
Individuals affiliated to a registered group that supports Essex can apply where no other registered charity of CIC can be found
Profit companies, constituted groups or religious organisations
How to apply.
Applications for the Healthier Habits Hubs fund 2025/26 will open on Monday 3rd November 2025 and close on Sunday 30th November 2025.
*Please be aware we reserve the right to close the application form early on the basis the funds have been allocated to projects on a first come first served basis ahead of the closing date*
Your application will be reviewed by the Healthier Habits Hubs projects team within 1 week (7 working days) of receiving your application and a response will be sent to you within 14 days of receiving your application.
