Local Website Links
Accuro
Accuro provides a range of services in West Essex, which includes Harlow, Epping and the Uttlesford District.
Click here to view more information about Accuro.
ADAS
Alcohol and Drugs Advisory Service (ADAS)
ADAS' services are open to drug and alcohol users, their relatives, including children affected by parental drug or alcohol use.
Click here to view more information about ADAS.
Aiming High for Disabled Children
Aiming High for Disabled Children (AHDC) is a central government programme to help disabled children, young people and their families get the support and chances they need to live ordinary lives.
Click here to view more information about Aiming High for Disabled Children.
Anti-Bullying
Bullying presents itself in many different forms and unfortunately occurs in many primary and secondary schools.
Children who are being bullied often find it very difficult to tell anyone, because they believe things will get worse if the child doing the bullying finds out. They can feel ashamed and embarrassed about what is happening and this is what the bully relies on.
The Essex Anti Bullying Steering Group defines bullying as "any behaviour which is perceived by the targeted individual or any other person, as intending to hurt, intimidate, frighten, harm or exclude. It is usually persistent and an abuse of power, leaving the targeted individual feeing defenceless."
Click here to view more information about Anti-Bullying.
Autism Anglia
Autism Anglia is the new name for The Essex Autistic Society (EAS), NACHA (Norfolk Autistic Community Housing Association) and Norfolk Autistic Society (NAS). The Essex Autistic Society took over the running of NACHA on 1st March 2008 and following their AGM on 28th March 2008 the new name was formally agreed. NAS then merged with Autism Anglia on 28th August 2008.
Click here to view more information about Autism Anglia.
Billericay Parents Forum
Billericay Parents Forum is a registered charity that offers support to local families. The organisation is run solely by parents, but works in close partnership with local schools, health and other professionals and many other organisations in the area.
Click here to view more information about Billericay Parents Forum.
Bosom Buddies
Bosom Buddies is a network of Peer Supporters working on a voluntary basis in conjunction with NHS Central Essex Community Services and local Children's Centres. Peer Supporters are mums who have breastfed their children and feel passionately about supporting other mums
Click here to view more information about Bosom Buddies.
Brighter Opportunities through Supported Play
BOSP stands for Brighter Opportunities through Supported Play Ltd, formerly known as Brentwood Opportunities for Special People. It is a registered charity and was formed in 1991 by parents of children with special needs. In 2005 BOSP changed its name and acquired limited status.
Click here to view more information about Brighter Opportunities through Supported Play.
Chelmsford ADHD Support Group
Chelmsford ADHD Support Group is run by volunteer parents of children with ADHD who want to have the opportunity to help each other and professionals learn more about the condition and cope with the day to day struggles.
Click here to view more information about Chelmsford ADHD Support Group.
Chelmsford Mencap
CHELMSFORD MENCAP is a registered charity (No.245421) established in 1951 that helps children and adults with learning disabilities who may also have life limiting and terminal illnessess. The disabilities of our members are wide-ranging including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, sensory impairment, speech and language difficulties.
Our aims are to inform, encourage and support social inclusion to our members and their families, so that they can grow in strength, knowledge and confidence.
Click here to view more information about Chelmsford Mencap.
Choice Advice
Choice Advice is a free, independent, statutory service for parents or carers who need information about schools and how to apply for a place. Advisers will be happy to answer questions, and tell you all you need to know and make everything easier to understand.
Choice Advisers can tell you about different schools or where you can find out more. Explain how to apply for a place. Make sure you know when you need to apply. Help you to fill out the application form. Tell you where you can get information in a different language. Direct you to other services which may be able to help, such as the Parent Partnership Service, Special educational Needs, education Welfare Service and School Transport.
Lines are open 9am to 5pm - Monday to Friday
Tel: 0845 603 2200 or 01245 437622
Alternative line for people with hearing impairments: 0845 758 5592
By email: choice.advice@essex.gov.uk
Click here to view more information about Choice Advice.
Connexions
www.essexconnexions.co.uk/parents If you click on ‘What is Connexions?’ you will find out how Connexions informs parents with information, advice and guidance to support their teenage son or daughter. Parents can register for a quarterly e-newsletter from the homepage. The parents’ area mirrors our parents and carers booklet ‘Helping you to help your son or daughter’ which is directly mailed to parents of year 9 and 12 students.
Connexions also have a section for young parents www.essexconnexions.co.uk/young-parents which provides information to returning to work/education, experiences of young parents and information on Care to Learn.
Click here to view more information about Connexions.
Essex Choice Advice Service
Choice Advice is a free, independent and confidential statutory service for parents and carers of all children applying for a school place in Essex and its neighbouring local authorities. Our adviser can inform and support parents and carers to enable them and their child to consider which schools they prefer. The Choice Adviser can organise group sessions within the school setting and/or individual meetings, if required. We want to be sure that you get the help you want knowing that it is totally independent. If your child has a statement of special educational needs, you can obtain specialist confidential and impartial support from the Parent Partnership Service.
Click here to view more information about Essex Choice Advice Service.
Essex Libraries
- Library opening times and locations
- Catalogue and online ordering
- Books and Reading
- Information and Enquiry services
- e-books and e-audio to download
- Online renewals
Click here to view more information about Essex Libraries.
Essex Life
essexlife is an online directory of community and voluntary groups in Essex, and beyond, covering a range of services and activities.
Click here to view more information about Essex Life.
Essex Parent Partnership Service
The Essex Parent Partnership Service provides information and support for parents and carers of children with special educational needs by working with parents and carers, voluntary organisations and support groups, Local Authority (LA), school staff and other agencies, such as Health Services and Social Services.
Click here to view more information about Essex Parent Partnership Service.
Essex Safeguarding Children Board
The ESCB is a statutory multi agency organisation which brings together agencies who work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in Essex.
The ESCB site provides information for professionals, parents/carers and children and young people on the work of the Board and on safeguarding in general.
Click here to view more information about Essex Safeguarding Children Board.
Extra - Support for Families
Extra- Support for Families helps anyone caring for children in the Tendring district to meet the challenges of parenting.
They offer local opportunities for parents to meet at fun days, one-off workshops and a range of parenting programmes.
Click here to view more information about Extra - Support for Families.
Families InFocus (Essex)
Families InFocus (Essex) are a leading independent parent led registered charity providing holistic support to families of children with disabilities and special needs (aged 0 to 19) across Essex, who require advice, information and support, particularly at times of change, challenge and crisis.
Our service is accessible to all families from Essex whatever their background, as long as at least one child or young person in the family between the age of 0 to 19 has a disability or special need.
We aim to give caring, practical and confidential support whilst empowering families, in a non–threatening way, to consider the choices available to them and make the best use of available services.
Our services are seen as essential, invaluable and tailored to meet the needs of our families in an accessible, proactive and positive way.
Click here to view more information about Families InFocus (Essex).
Farleigh Hospice
At Farleigh Hospice we care for people with cancer and other life limiting illnesses. At a time when it can feel that nothing may be the same again we are there to help. We recognise that our patients not only experience physical symptoms, but also have social, emotional and spiritual needs. We are here for the patient and also their families and friends.
Click here to view more information about Farleigh Hospice.
Harlow Education Consortium
HEC is an education improvement partnership of 50 learning providers
HEC is unique in the UK, being both the largest education partnership in the country and a group which supports learners at all ages and stages of learning.
Click here to view more information about Harlow Education Consortium.
Marsh Farm Country Park, South Woodham Ferrers
Marsh Farm Country Park is owned and managed by Essex County Council. It provides an enjoyable and educational day out for all the family.
Marsh Farm is a working farm where children can get close to farm animals and play safely in our adventure play areas. There is also a Country Park, which boasts excellent coastal walks and superb views of the River Crouch.
Visitors to Marsh Farm Country Park will enjoy a jam-packed day full of family fun and entertainment where children can get up close to the farm animals and play safely in the adventure play areas.
An exciting array of activities and experiences await visitors including tractor and trailer rides, a bouncy castle, ride on tractors, craft activities, and a magic show. In addition to these activities, young farmers will discover life on a working farm, as they get to see young piglets, cuddle a bunny, feed the sheep, and watch the cows being milked. They can also ride on a pony or donkey and then you can relax in a deckchair, whilst the children play in the sandpit or large outdoor play area.
After all that you will have worked up an appetite, so why not try the delicious food in our farm tearoom. Visitors have recently told us how friendly and helpful they have found the staff to be and how the food is much nicer and better value for money than they would normally find at a Visitor Attraction.
Click here to view more information about Marsh Farm Country Park, South Woodham Ferrers.
PARC
PARC is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee which was established in 1997 (Our Registered Company Number is 3372665.)
Braintree District Council have long term leased us an area of land on the Country Park which has a wonderful outlook where the PARC facility is based, just next to the by-pass on the A131.
The centre is easily accessible to families across Mid-Essex and has a wide catchment area covering the whole of Essex.
Click here to view more information about PARC.
Parents' Aid
Parents’ Aid offers preventative services, designed to preserve the integrity of family life, to families at risk of social exclusion. We seek to help families overcome difficulties that may lead to a child being taken into care or prevent the reunification of already accommodated children. Our services of advice, advocacy, befriending, parent-teenager mediation, parenting and anger management provide opportunities for concerned individuals to assist parents who are vulnerable or struggling to cope. These services are delivered direct to the home by appointment or at local venues offering us the facility for service provision in a neutral environment.
For a flyer of existing services click here:- Parents' Aid Services.doc
Click here to view more information about Parents' Aid.
Relate
Through their team of experienced counsellors, Relate offer relationship counselling, sex therapy, family counselling, consultations, youth counselling and anti-bullying programmes, family support and advice, life skills training courses and therapeutic mediation.
Click here to view more information about Relate.
SNAP
Special Needs and Parents (SNAP) is a registered charity (No.1077787) that helps Essex families who have children aged 0-25 years with special needs and disabilities. The children's disabilities are wide-ranging including autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, sensory impairment, speech and language difficulties and learning disabilities.
Our aims are to inform, encourage and support parents, so that they can grow in strength and knowledge and become better equipped to give the best possible help to their children. We do this by providing various services the details of which are given on this website.
If you are an Essex parent of a child with a special need or disability please get in touch with us by email or phone; our helpline is open 8.30am to 5pm.
Telephone: 01277 211300
Email: info@snapcharity.org
Click here to view more information about SNAP.
St. Luke's Hospice
St. Luke’s Hospice aims to provide the highest standards of care for people who have specialist palliative care needs and live in the Basildon & Thurrock districts.
Support for patients, relatives and friends is provided during the illness and after death without discrimination.
Click here to view more information about St. Luke's Hospice.
The Monkey Tree Magazine
The Monkey Tree Magazine is a comprehensive on-line source of information for parents and carers of children from birth to teens in West Essex, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and surrounding areas.
Click here to view more information about The Monkey Tree Magazine.