Kelvedon & Feering Health Centre

13/01/2026

Read Easy UK (https://readeasy.org.uk/) is a national charity which works to help adults learn to read through a programme of free, confidential, one-to-one, volunteer-led reading coaching. Read Easy’s vision is that "every adult who wants to learn to read, can.



One of Read Easy UK’s affiliated groups is Read Easy Harlow & Chelmsford. They are continuing to offer free, in-person reading coaching to any adults who live within the Chelmsford or Harlow Council areas. In addition, from 2026, they will be offering remote (online) reading coaching to any adults living within the Essex County Council boundaries, opening the opportunity for many more Essex adults to learn to read if they want to.

I would like to remind partners that if you want to refer someone to receive support from Read Easy Harlow & Chelmsford, please email their Referrals Networker Kay Pountney on hcnetworker@readeasy.org.uk or make a referral via the Essex Frontline https://essexfrontline.org.uk/. For an initial discussion feel free to telephone one of their coordinator on 07424 142585 or 07771 928496.

If you want to enquire about volunteering, please get in touch :)

13/01/2026

Please read more below about the COLCHESTER SOS BUS run by Open Road (drug and alcohol services)
Helpline: 0844 499 1323 if someone needs the SOS bus.

The SOS buss provides emergency first aid and medical care
with our partners, ‘Remote Medics UK’ so fewer
people end up in A&E or in hospital.

Reduces anti-social behaviour, violent crime
and fights caused by drug and alcohol misuse

Supports vulnerable people at risk from
theft, violence, mental health issues, abuse, homelessness and harassment

They work closely with pubs, clubs, the Police, Street
Pastors and other organisations to provide on
the spot support and help diffuse trouble

Colchester SOS bus are always looking for VOLUNTEERS, so if you are interested please contact them:
Ask for the SOS Bus Coordinator:
T: 01206 369782
E: volunteering@openroad.org.uk

22/12/2025

CHESS Homeless - if you want to volunteer for 'CHESS' which is a homeless charity that work in partnership with Salvation Army please see poster below...

They are hosting a volunteer evening for anyone interested!

7 January 2026
6pm
Salvation Army, 26-28 Rayne Road, Braintree.
Parking is available at salvation army or george yard shopping centre.

RSVP: lynne.dejoodt@chesshomeless.org

22/12/2025

SPOTTING TRAPS, SCAMS AND MISINFORMATION online training -

*Please share with anyone vulnerable to scams who can access online or get help to access online*

Its free

Content tailored towards older adults living in Essex.

90 minute workshops to fit around busy schedules

Contact them on: info@connectfutures.org if you are interested in booking on to this.

16/12/2025

Please share with anyone who might be on their own this Christmas.

Thank you

15/12/2025

Find Your Active is here to support you in taking your first steps to a more active lifestyle!

Please follow Find Your Active Braintree/Chelmsford page if you are looking to get active!

Callum is our local 'Find your Active Navigator' for Active Essex.

His main aim is to promote local clubs and activities in the Braintree district and Chelmsford, encouraging people to get involved. He tries to capture videos and photos of himself taking part in the activities and engaging with both participants and providers.

Callum helps promote upcoming clubs and activities looking for promotion to help them build an audience.

If you need guidance to find a local exercise club, you can contact Callum directly. Please see his contact details on his page

As part of the Essex Transitional Age Mental Health and Physical activity project, Team Kinetix are offering free memberships to young people aged 17-25 to access a range of non competitive sport and physical activities including Parkour, Acrobatics, strength & conditioning to support their mental health and wellbeing.

This sounds like an amazing project and membership.
Please contact me if you are interested in this for yourself, a family member or friend, I am happy to help.

Email -callum@sportforconfidence.com

15/12/2025

Please read more below about Bags of Taste if you want to save money and cook better than the takeaway.

To Register:

Phone or text 07751 890 912
or Email: braintree@bagsoftaste.org
or you can sign up online:
https://bagsoftaste.org/students

15/12/2025

Please see below some information on The Social Supermarket (run by Maldon CVS and funded by our Cost of Living Fund)

For anyone who doesn’t know, the Social Supermarket offers food at a discounted rate to help with the Cost of Living and to bridge the gap between major supermarkets and foodbanks.

There is no criteria to use the Social Supermarket and support is offered at the locations to find and connect people to other services.

***********************************************************************

There are two Social Supermarkets running within Braintree District Coucnil:

1) White Colne Village Hall in White Colne, CO6 21A.

2) The White Lion Pub, Sible Hedingham, CO9 3NS

They also run social supermakets in Maldon, to find out more look at their website:
https://maldoncvs.org.uk/activities-projects/social-supermarket

09/12/2025

Please see below a useful website to find 'warm spaces' near you this winter. Share with anyone vulnerable who needs to stay warm this winter and would benefit from this information.

website:

https://braintree.essexfrontline.org.uk/

just search for 'warm' and your postcode

🌟 Finding Warm Spaces near You 🌟

🌟 There are lots of ways you can find spaces to visit this winter in order to get warm, share refreshments and meet new friends and here is how to find them....

🌟 Frontline is a a website where you can search 'Warm' and enter your postcode and it will give you a list of places to visit. go to www.essexfrontline.org.uk
🌟 Our Partners at Community360 are compiling a list of places that are available around Colchester
🌟 Our partners at Community Voluntary Services Tendring also have a list of spaces available. As do Braintree District Council and - if you give them a call they can provide you with a list of locations.
🌟 And don't forget about the social groups we offer at Age Well East, all the details for which can be found on our website at www.agewelleast.org.uk or by calling 0300 37 33 333.

Age Well East - Empowering You To Age Well

03/12/2025

Please help share this post.
Our health coach Sharon is running a 'DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP' in Halstead (Halstead community shed)

*** Please note, this has now moved from weekly to monthly group meetings.

This support group is for anyone living with type 2 diabetes (plus family/friends) most welcome. A lovely friendly group with a cuppa and a lively chat always included!

They have some great speakers lined up, including recently booked Dr Hena Haque, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Prevention of Diabetic Retinopathy and Ruth Messham, Advanced High Risk Podiatrist. All details here: https://www.colnevalleypcn.nhs.uk/diabetessupport/

or scan the Q-R code below for more information - thank you!

03/12/2025

******* PLEASE CONTINUE READING BELOW.

Please see below the opening times of Braintree area foodbank this Christmas. The main thing to note being that Witham will be opening on Christmas Eve.

*******

If you need a food bank voucher to help you throughout the winter, please use the TRUSSEL TRUST to request an emergency voucher:
https://www.trussell.org.uk/emergency-food/find-a-foodbank

*******
If you struggle to do this, please contact the GP surgery to ask for social prescriber to help with this. There may be other support social prescriber can offer to you including recommending you for a full benefits check, debt support, budgeting courses and much more.

02/12/2025

Please see poster below. Please help share this post to get the message to as many young carers as possible - thank you!