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.

Mental Health Wellbeing and Recovery Programme.

Please contact for additional details.

BOSP supports children and young adults with complex disabilities or life-limiting conditions, and their families, by providing high-quality, fun, educational activities, respite, peer support and counselling.

Caring and supporting people with a learning disability, their families and carers in the Braintree District which includes Witham, Halstead and surrounding villages.

We offer a wide range of leisure and educational classes for adults with a learning disability. Our Gateway Club runs every Thursday and is a social gathering of around 100 people, with a different activity every week.

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.  

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.