Braintree Partners

Active Essex is the Physical Activity and Sport Partnership for Essex, Southend, and Thurrock. The organization aims to collaborate with partners to build an Active Essex, supporting individuals in enhancing their mental and physical well-being.
My employer is Sport for Confidence, but Active Essex has funded my Find Your Active Navigator role, allowing me to work three days a week in this position, with the remaining two days spent as a coach for SFC.

Helping local people in food poverty through our partnering agencies.

Brave Parents provides self care opportunities to parents who have children with complex medical needs*.

We recognise that many of these parents forget to care for themselves. They work so hard to keep their child well that their own needs always come second.

However, over time this can have an affect on the mental health of the caregivers and whole family unit.

We create opportunities for Parent Carers to have some well needed ‘you’ time to support their mental health and well-being.

From pamper ‘… for you’ and Hospital Boxes to in person events and local meets, we hope to encourage self care and highlight that it is essential, especially through hard times.

*’Complex medical needs’ refers to children who have been diagnosed by a medical professional, with an illness, disability or sensory impairment (sight and/or hearing impairment) that requires substantial daily support from a Parent Carer.

Brave Parents - Registered Charity No. 1204544

We’re here to help!

Our service is free, confidential and open to everyone in the community.  We can help with many issues, including:

• Benefits
• Debt problems
• Employment
• Housing
• Family and relationship issues
• Neighbourhood disputes
• Education and healthcare
• Consumer rights

We will give you the facts and possible outcomes.  That way you can make the decision that’s right for you.  If needed, we can also offer practical support such as help with form filling, writing letters or negotiating with third parties. Sometimes we might direct you to a different organisation that is better placed to help.

We're here for everyone.

Enhanced community engagement: Foster active participation and collaboration among community members through regular town hall meetings, workshops, and volunteer programs. Ensure diverse representation and inclusive participation in decision-making processes.

Strengthened local partnerships: Establish and maintain strong partnerships with local non-profits, businesses, and government agencies to leverage resources and expertise. Collaborate on joint initiatives that address common community goals.

Improved access to essential services: Ensure all community members have access to healthcare, education, housing, and other essential services. Address the needs of marginalised and underrepresented groups through inclusive policies and programs.

Greater resource sharing: Create resource platforms that provide access to information, tools, and support services. Implement skill exchange programs to enhance collective knowledge and capabilities.

Collaborative innovation: Promote collaboration with startups, research institutions, and industry leaders to co-create innovative solutions. Participate in innovation hubs and accelerators to stay connected with the latest trends and ideas.

Agile and adaptive strategies that deliver: Create flexible business strategies that can quickly adapt to changing market conditions and community needs. Encourage a mindset of continuous improvement and innovation.

Crossroads Braintree and Chelmsford provides the following services for family carers in Mid-Essex. 

Respite Sitting Service 

Befriending Service 

Respite Day Care for older people 

We provide emotional, practical support, advice and guidance. 

We provide clients and their carers with support at home and in the community. Encouraging clients to develop life skills, engage in social activities and build their self esteem and confidence, allowing carers time to pursue their own interests or simply time to relax.

Our support is person centered, setting achievable goals with the person we support, working in partnership with local agencies to achieve the best outcomes.

We support clients with the following needs: mental health (depression & anxiety), dementia, social isolation, neurodiversity, brain injury and stroke survivors.

Essex Respite & Care Association (ERCA) provides support covering the following activities: 

• Prompt with self-care tasks.
• Support to achieve personal goals.
• Support to have your voice heard.
• Company and conversations.
• Stimulation of memory.
• Sitting service.
• Support with housework and laundry.
• Meal planning and preparation.
• Shopping.
• Attending appointments.
• Prescription collection.
• Visits to restaurants and cafes.
• Attending plays, cinema, concerts, social activities.
• Walking, yoga, swimming and cycling.

We provide Essex residents (excluding Southend-On-Sea and Thurrock) with access to health checks; stop smoking services; weight management courses; and emotional health and wellbeing support. All of our services are free.

First Stop is a charity helping those who are in need in the Braintree area and surrounding communities.

The aim is to help those who have/or are disadvantaged by: a history of poor mental health, carers, ex-offenders, homelessness, learning needs, senior citizens, single parents, socially isolated, substance misuse, those unemployed (whether on benefits or not) or anyone in hardship needing help.

The help they can get is by accessing:

• Affordable Counselling, 1:1 appointments
• Our Community Fridge (accessing good nutritional food and helping prevent food waste)
• CV Construction
• Education classes: Confidence courses (a choice of 4), Learn my Way (IT), Digital Confidence- using tablets and other devices (including internet safety), arts & crafts and basic skills, including budgeting and maths- all in a professional but informal way
• Accessing impartial Information, Advice & Guidance- to a range of services
• Safe c/o address 

And any other help that may be needed. Our expertise is that as a long established organisation, we can refer on to a range of services to meet an individual's needs.  

We’re more than just a café; we’re a charity with a vision.

At Human Kind, we trust in the inherent kindness and generosity of people, allowing individuals to express the qualities in their own way, knowing the ripple effect of their actions can and will be far reaching.
The vision and purpose of our charity café is to create a world where all experience a lasting sense of belonging, providing safe, welcoming spaces where we support everyone in connecting, sharing, and experiencing kindness.

Our commitment to connecting the Billericay community extends beyond serving great, freshly sourced vegetarian and vegan food.
We offer:
Activities for all age groups, including Mum, baby & bump mornings, after school activities, crafting
sessions and supper clubs.
A “human library” of experts from local organisations, who are able to offer advice, from Mental Health issues, benefits advice, technology help.
Sessions run specifically for those living with long term health conditions such as living with dementia, and their carers.

Come and explore our space, meet new people, and share experience