Chelmsford 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.

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

Chelmsford CVS is an independent charity set up to champion, support and strengthen local charities, voluntary and community groups.

We offer specialist information and support to enable local people to develop the skills needed to run successful voluntary groups; we spread good practice, encourage joint working, and promote equality and diversity by fostering a wider understanding of the needs of disadvantaged and under-represented groups. We help public bodies to engage effectively with the local voluntary sector, and ensure policy makers understand the needs of local voluntary organisations and community groups.

Through the Chelmsford Volunteer Centre we support local organisations, and broker safe and impactful volunteering opportunities for local people.

Chelmsford CVS is in regular contact with hundreds of voluntary and community groups, clubs and charities that work directly with some of the most vulnerable and hard to reach in the local community.

To find help, please contact the Centre on 01245 351888 to discuss the options available. You can also browse our public database: Chelmsford Connects - https://chelmsfordconnects.org.uk/

We also work with a variety of partners to develop and host local projects to help strengthen communities and meet identified needs. Our projects include:

Chelmsford Volunteer Centre
Chelmsford Response Helpline & Hub
NHS Social Prescribers
Chelmsford Men’s Shed
LiveWell Community Garden Network
Chelmsford Community Craft Group
Chelmsford 4 Good Charity Shop
Chelmsford 100
Computer Club with the IT Man
Winter
SWOT

We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That’s why we provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis. We are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by Trussell, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. We provide emergency food parcels to people who live in or near the Chelmsford District who have been referred to us by frontline care professionals.

City of Chelmsford Mencap is a local, independent charity supporting people with a learning disability throughout mid-Essex.

The Charity provides a lifelong learning service, The Outreach Academy (open five days a week fifty weeks a year), social clubs, specialist services, and information and support for members and their families and carers.

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. 

The Daily Bread Café is open 3 days a week, Tues, Wed & Fri with various inclusive clubs and activities for all to enjoy. Thursday is our Little Fishes Group which is for parents and carers of pre-school age children.

The café aims to help reduce social isolation, improve mental well-being, and give meaningful activities to our visitors, we also have a pay it forward board.

The Daily Bread Food Hub provide free bags of shopping which can include fruit, vegetables, fresh and frozen food and also store cupboard essentials. Our team of volunteers collect from over 200 supermarkets each week. This prevents tonnes of food waste from going into landfill. The Food Hub is open 5 mornings a week.

Food Hub Open: Tues to Fri 10-12 & Sat 9.30-11.30 .

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 are a community organisation that supports people by raising awareness of spiritual care in Mental Health recovery.

An important part of this work includes promoting respect for people’s beliefs and practices from faith traditions other than their own. This includes those beliefs of people who claim no religious affiliation.