Braintree Partners

Gamblers Anonymous is a unjudgemental safe space for anyone suffering directly or indirectly from gambling harms

At Heads2Minds, our mission is to create a world where everyone facing mental health and wellbeing challenges feels safe, understood, and respected. We are experts in our field, driven by lived experience and a deep commitment to making mental health care accessible and inclusive for all.

Through our holistic, person-centred approach, we provide individuals with a comprehensive toolkit designed to strengthen their mindset, improve resilience, and empower them to take control of their mental health. Our focus on somatic practices ensures that both the body and mind are nurtured in the journey to recovery.

We are dedicated to providing early intervention services, helping individuals address challenges before they escalate, and reducing the stigma surrounding mental health. By focusing on prevention and education, we create opportunities for individuals to recognise the early signs of mental health struggles and take action for their wellbeing.

At Heads2Minds, we are passionate about amplifying stories of hope, resilience, and recovery. Our work is about more than just support; it's about creating inclusive communities where mental health conversations are welcomed and accessibility is a priority. We are committed to fostering a society that not only understands mental health but actively works to make it a safe, open, and accessible topic for everyone.

"We save lives."

By empowering individuals to speak openly about their mental health and providing the tools for lasting change, we are working towards a world where everyone has the support they need to live healthier, happier lives.

Our current projects and ways we can support people are:
- Empowered Wellbeing Programme for Primary Schools: We offer either a full-day of age-appropriate workshops or termly support for a whole school year
- Young Adults Projects (various):
- Calm the Chaos online workshops on undertanding anxiety and learning the tools necessary to grown and thrive.
- Rise Up! An initiative supported by the Essex Violence and Vunerability Unit
- One-to-One support offering holistic therapies working with experts within our trusted community of practitioners
- Pet Therapy within care homes, mental health units, and community spaces (within the Essex area)
- Mental Health First Aid Training workshops and courses
- Lived experience talks and events to build awareness

Join us in our mission to create a more inclusive space for people to talk about mental health, receive holistic support, and access the resources necessary to thrive.

We provide free and confidential services to support people who are currently experiencing, or have previously experienced domestic abuse.

We are passionate about ensuring that every person has the opportunity to live their life free from domestic abuse.

Our staff and volunteers are trained to provide support at the highest possible standard, informed by the trauma the individual has experienced and led by their needs.  We provide immediate support and advice to promote safety and reduction in risk of harm and longer term support to promote emotional recovery and practical support wherever it is needed to enable planning for a safer future.

Community Support
We support people who are experiencing domestic abuse and don't feel able to or need to leave their home.  We are able to work with individuals in a community setting and can provide access to the same emotional and practical advice and support to promote safety and recovery for a safe and happy future.  We currently are able to offer services to individuals living in the local authority areas of Colchester, Tendring, Braintree, Chelmsford, Maldon and Uttlesford.

Refuge Accommodation
Our purpose-built accommodation provides a temporary home for up to 12 women and children who have reached crisis point. The flatlets are modern and well equipped.  Each new resident receives a practical “starter pack” when she arrives.  A key worker will support her and her family right from the beginning of their journey. When she leaves, we support her to begin her life’s next chapter.

Domestic abuse is rarely a single issue and many residents arrive needing specialist support to deal with substance misuse (drugs and alcohol). In our residential house, with nine flatlets, we provide professional, specialist support focused on the identified needs of women who are battling with this type of addiction to help them with their recovery journey.

Children & Young Persons Service
Children and young people are affected by domestic abuse too.  Our Children’s and Young People’s Team include Pre-school Practitioners, Creative Therapist and Children’s Support Workers.  We can provide a range of services including emotional support for children and young people, parenting support, family work, pre-school education, school holiday activities.  We also undertake some work in the community in partnership with local schools and other agencies.

Raising awareness of domestic abuse is a very important part of our work. In primary and secondary schools as well as in higher education, we talk to young people about healthy relationships and how to recognise the signs of abuse.

The core aim of the Change Project is to promote personal wellbeing through enabling people to have healthy relationships in families, between individuals, and in the community.

The Guiding Light Mental Health Charity is dedicated to illuminating the often unseen struggles of those battling mental health challenges. Founded by Ben Holmes, a recovery advocate and neurodiversity champion, the charity aims to offer hope, connection, and fulfilment to individuals facing mental health issues. Through raising awareness, building genuine connections, and providing support, The Guiding Light strives to break down stigma and empower individuals to rediscover meaning and joy.

In addition to its core mission, the charity has recently launched a new support group, expanding its reach and resources to better assist those in need. By fostering a compassionate community, The Guiding Light ensures that no one has to face their mental health journey alone.

The charity is also actively campaigning for improved mental health support and accessibility. They have initiated a petition calling upon Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Rt Hon Wes Streeting to take immediate action to address the mental health crisis by implementing stronger policies, increasing funding, and ensuring accessibility to mental health services for all. Every signature amplifies the call for meaningful policy changes, sending a clear message that mental health can no longer be overlooked.

For more information or to get involved, please visit guidinglightcharity.org.uk.

Trusted was established to alleviate the effects of the cost-of-living crisis on the community by bringing together individuals and guest professionals.

Using a structured programme it leads individuals through different aspects of money and recognising their attitudes towards it and impacts of their decisions.

Rather than giving advice, we actually share knowledge through our programme and that is achieved by listening and learning from the individuals that attend over the six week period.

Key to the success of Trusted is its belief that community have the solutions and by bringing people together we can all benefit.

This method of building knowledge and confidence has meant that, on average, wellbeing improves by around 70-80% per programme. It has proved to be massively beneficial to a wide range of individuals, whether or not they initially come along with wellbeing issues.

It has delivered programmes resulting in individuals improving their annual financial position by an average of £2,500 per person. All in just 12 hours spread over 6 weeks.

A recent participant said “I’ve grown in confidence during this programme, due to the support in a friendly, non-judgemental way. You feel that you belong and it’s so good to be able to talk openly”

That’s a very quick summary – please do get in touch for a more rounded view of Trusted – it’s not teaching and it’s not preaching – it’s all about taking ownership as an individual – with community support.