1st May 2025
Your Essex Community Launch
A new support offer for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Essex is now available. This is an important milestone in our efforts to create a strong and thriving VCS in Essex, now and in the future.
The local VCS plays a vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities. However, a review showed there was some variation in the previous support available to them. It also highlighted a growing need to make sure the VCS could remain sustainable in the long-term.
The aim of the new support offer, which the VCS has helped to develop, is to improve consistency, collaboration and build resilience within the VCS. The offer is made up of different elements designed to work together to achieve this. These are:
- an e-portal providing information and practical resources
- support to help with community participation, including toolkits and case studies to enable organisations to involve local people
- peer support networks to strengthen collaboration between organisations and ensure a more connected and effective sector
A fourth element is in development. This will focus on introducing a more strategic approach to maximising the resources and funding available to the VCS. The programme will also continue to grow and evolve depending on need.
The new support is available to VCS organisations of any size and based in any location in Essex. We would encourage you to share information about it with your communities. The support is being delivered under a new, shared identity – Your Essex Community – to highlight the new, cohesive offer.
The new support can be accessed here: www.youressexcommunity.org
A video explaining how it works is available to view here: VCS Support Programme, Your Essex Community – Essex County Council