Disability & Sensory Impairment

Accuro

Accuro provides social and leisure opportunities for children/young people and adults from the age of 8 plus. We aim to increase, confidence, self esteem and independence through a range of clubs and activities in Uttlesford, Harlow and Epping. Please contact us to find out what is available in your area

Action for Family Carers
Young Adult Carers (ages 16 - 24)

If you're aged 16 - 24 and are feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, tired, or just missing out on opportunities your friends take for granted, we can help. We provide Young Adult Carers support and information when it is needed through social opportunities, while providing support for your family.

Action for Family Carers
Young Carers (ages 6 to 18)

Support for young people aged 6 to 18 who help to care for a family member. This person may have a long term illness, a physical or sensory impairment, mental health problems or a drug or alcohol addiction

Active With Parkinson's, Uttlesford

A totally independent and self supporting group serving the Great Dunmow and Saffron Walden areas led by very experienced Neurological Rehabilitation Therapist Paul Goddard. Weekly exercise class developed to improve mobility, posture, balance and flexibility. Classes also available for members in Tai Chi, Nordic Walking and Singing Therapy at no extra cost.

During the Corvid-19 lockdown, exercise classes and Tai Chi are being held weekly via Zoom.

By joining a group of other people with Parkinson’s who are actively combating the effects of the condition the participants will feel increased self-confidence and less isolated. 

British Lung Foundation
Breathe Easy

Breathe Easy Saffron Walden is a support group for people with breathing problems including Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Emphysema, Asthma, Lung Cancer, Bronchiectasis, etc., and their carers. We arrange for speakers to attend some of our meetings, both medical and nonmedical, quiz afternoons and occasionally entertainment. There is always a raffle followed by tea and biscuits or cake. We organise midday lunches and an annual outing and Christmas lunch.

British Red Cross
Mobility Aids

We provide a range of mobility aid equipment for loan and sale. Equipment includes wheelchairs, commodes, highback chairs, raised toilet seats and walking aids.

CanalAbility

Provides fully adapted and accessible canal boats to enable people with disabilities to enjoy relaxing and uplifting holidays and day trips on the river. Our boats are adapted not only so that people with mobility difficulties can get on to and around the boats, but also offer facilities such as hoists and remote steering.

Citizens Advice Uttlesford
Citizens Advice Disability Home Visit Service

We check eligibility for disability benefits, such as: Attendance Allowance (AA); Personal Independent Payments (PIPs); Disability Living Allowance (DLA); and Carers Allowance. If we believe that you are eligible, a trained volunteer will help you complete forms. We can also help with appeals if we feel that an error has been made in a decision. We also offer winter planning advice.

Citizens Advice Uttlesford
Help to Claim Universal Credit

We run a service called “Help to Claim” for those who need help to apply for Universal Credit, the new benefit that combines six benefits, including Jobseekers Allowance and Working Tax Credits, into one. People can get support from the charity as they submit their Universal Credit application until they get their first full payment.

Citizens Advice Uttlesford
Warm Homes Essex

A cold home is bad for your health. Warm Homes Essex is a new service set up by Citizens Advice to provide practical advice and support to people who are finding it hard to heat their homes and keep warm and well.  So, if you have high fuel bills; a low income; need help with switching your electricity or gas supplier; have a home that suffers from draughts, mould or damp, or you have an old or inefficient boiler or heating system, please get in touch.

The Warm Homes service can help in a number of different ways – for example by checking your benefit entitlements; helping you to manage fuel debts; advising on emergency fuel payments and grants for home improvements; offering energy saving ideas and making sure you are getting the best tariffs for you.

Community Agents Essex

Supporting independent living through social inclusion: getting out and about; increase confidence to go shopping, visit neighbours or other places; mobility in the home; adaptations for ease/safety; meeting people; local groups/activities to make new friends; healthy eating/living; practical support/information.

CVS Uttlesford
Safer at Home

A combined handy-man and gardening service offered to make sure the most vulnerable people in our community are able to live safely in their homes.

We have a small team available to help residents feel safer in their homes, by undertaking tasks such as installing key safes for secure carer access, handrails and making sure steps at entrances are level and safe.   We want to reduce trips and falls, which can have a huge impact on a person's wellbeing, as well as helping them to be better connected to the community through using digital equipment such as video doorbells and computer tablets to make calls, order shopping and repeat prescriptions.

Deafblind UK
Deafblind Organisation

The Deaf Blind Organisation offers support and guidance to deafblind people, their carers, family and friends, as well as professionals working with people who have a loss of both hearing and sight.  We also offer The Befriender service for those who are feeling lonely. We’re also keen to help those recently diagnosed, using the befriending process as a means to prevent social isolation.  Our popular Peer Support & Social Groups provide those with both sight and hearing impairments plus their carers an opportunity to meet people and make friends.

ECL Saffron Walden
ECL Saffron Walden Hub

Our service provides support for adults with a learning disability and/or physical disability aged 18 plus. We aim to empower and encourage people to be independent in making choices of activities within the service and attend groups in the local community. We work in a person-centred way and tailor our support to benefit individuals.

ECL Sensory Service

Face-to-face delivery of this service is temporarily suspended.  But if you wish to speak with us regarding any sight or hearing loss issues then please call us on 03330133262 or email:  sensoryservices@essexcares.org 

We are a team of sensory specialists delivering needs-led and person-centred services to people with sight, hearing and dual sensory impairments, their families, carers and the wider community. Our high quality services are focused on early intervention, improved wellbeing and maximising independence.

EPUT - West Essex Macmillan
Cancer Information and Support Service

Support and information to anyone who has concerns about cancer, their relatives, friends and carers. We offer befriending and respite support in your own home. We can provide details of other local and national cancer support agencies and services and benefits advice. We provide a supporting service to allow patients, relatives and carers to access suitable national and local information about cancer, cancer prevention and local services.

EPUT - MS Nurse Specialist
MS Nurse Specialist

The MS Nursing Service offers support and guidance for people with MS from diagnosis onwards. I offer advice regarding treatment options, symptom management, general support for the patient and their family, onward referral to appropriate services and liaison between the community team and acute services.

EPUT - Single Point of Access
Single Point of Access

The Single Point of Access service (SPA) is the referral coordination centre for Community Services.  

Provided by community nurses, case managers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians, respiratory nurses and palliative care providers.

Open 8am to 9pm, 7 days a week, including Bank Holidays. 

Essex County Council - Library Services
Mobile Library - Uttlesford

The Mobile Library service visits many places around Uttlesford fortnightly. It carries a range of popular stock, including fiction, non-fiction and audio books, for adults and children. There is a selection of title in large print. The vehicle is wheelchair accessible. Items can be requested and will be brought out on the vehicle when available for collections.

Essex County Council Educational Psychology Service (West Essex)
Parent-4-Parent Support Group

Parent4Parent is a parent and carer support group for those whose children (aged 0-25) have social communication difficulties (with or without any diagnosis) or who experience difficulties coping with interaction and the social world. We aim to address the isolation that parents and carers often feel over a welcoming tea or coffee.

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service
Home Safety Visits

We provide the occupier with general fire safety advice such as electrical and kitchen safety, as well as offering guidance on night time routines and a fire action plan. This will include how to summon the Fire Service and how to escape the property should a fire occur. Smoke alarms are also provided and fitted, at no cost to the occupier, if it is deemed necessary.  

*** During the COVID-19 outbreak home visits are limited to those people most at risk in their community.  We are able to provide telephone advice and guidance to less vulnerable people during this period ***

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service
Safe and Well Visits

Our trained Safe and Well Officers can provide advice and guidance in relation to fire prevention and home security, as well as signpost you to additional advice and support if you need it.  To keep yourself and your family safe at home, we recommend booking one of our free, personalised Safe and Well Visits. 

*** During the COVID-19 outbreak home visits are limited to those people most at risk in their community.  We are able to provide telephone advice and guidance to less vulnerable people during this period ***

Essex Restorative Justice Hub
Essex Restorative and Mediation Service

The Essex Restorative and Mediation Service works with people who have been involved in conflict, including criminal offences and anti-social behaviour. Restorative processes use communication between people who have been harmed, and have caused harm, to allow them to work towards positive outcomes in a safe environment.

Essex Safeguarding Adults Board
Social Care Direct Helpline

You can call us for anything from straightforward information and advice about the abuse and the safety of adults in Essex; to the disclosure of a specific concern about your own safety of somebody that you know. Should you wish to report maltreatment of an adult in Essex we will take your concern seriously and ensure that it is investigated appropriately.

Help us to keep adults safe across Essex. Remember, ignoring abuse is not an option - Any person with knowledge of, or suspicion that a vulnerable adult may be at risk of abuse or is being abused must report their concerns.

Call the Social Care Direct line on 0345 6037630

Families in Focus

Families in Focus aim to support children and young people with disabilities (aged 0-19) and their families by providing them with a range of services in West Essex. We provide helplines and advice to guide and support you as much as we can. Educational, DLA (Disability Living Allowance) Applications, and Social/Respite opportunities are included.

Family Solutions
Children and Families Hub

Family Solutions is a team within Essex County Council that provides a variety of support for families who are experiencing difficulties.  Family Solutions approach is to work alongside families on issues that they want to change, so the work undertaken varies from family to family.  We often support with issues such as family dynamics, parenting and the impact on families of things such as domestic abuse, mental health difficulties and substance misuse.  Most work is carried out in the community, often in family homes.  Family Solutions also runs several group work programmes.

The duration of the work undertaken varies according to need.  The average current length of work is 5 months.  Family Solutions’ work with a family never exceeds a year.

Fledglings Family Services
Product Solutions for children with additional needs

Fledglings specialises in finding product solutions for children with additional needs. In some cases, we refer clients to appropriate organisation. If a need is so unique that a product is not easily identified, we search for a solution. We hope to support your child's development and inclusion and give relief to families as carers.

Frontline
Advocacy Factsheet Uttlesford

This fact sheet gives details of advocacy services. An advocate is someone who can speak on your behalf or who can support you to speak for yourself, especially in formal situations or when you don't feel very confident.

Advocacy doesn't always have to be provided by paid professionals. Often people take a friend or family member with them to important meetings to give moral support, and to speak for them if required.

Advocacy services give priority to the most vulnerable people, or those with the most complex issues who have no other appropriate form of support. If an advocacy service is unable to help, they may suggest other local organisations who can provide assistance.

Frontline
Befriending Factsheet Uttlesford

This fact sheet gives details of local and national befriending services.  These services provide conversation and companionship in order to reduce isolation and loneliness.  Some services may also offer specific support to people managing long term illness or disability.

Frontline
Complaints Factsheet Uttlesford

This fact sheet gives details of how to make a complaint about a health or social care provider; for example if you are unhappy about the care you have received from a doctor, dentist, optician, pharmacy, social care service, hospital or care home.

Frontline
Dementia Support Factsheet Uttlesford

This factsheet provides information on a wide range of dementia services. 

Contact details are given for organisations that provide emotional and practical support and resources for people with dementia and their carers. 

Information ranges from carer support, independent living and keeping safe, to befriending and social activities.

Frontline
Support for the Housebound

This fact sheet gives details of services in Uttlesford that support people who are housebound as a result of illness, disability or age.

Frontline
Travelling Options in Uttlesford

This fact sheet gives information on transport options in Uttlesford, including non emergency transport to hospital and medical appointments. It also provides information on the help available to pay for travel to medical appointments. 

Harlowsave Credit Union

We are a not for profit community bank offering accessible banking services, savings accounts and affordable loans for people living or working in Essex or East Hertfordshire. We specialise in helping people in financial difficulty by offering money management advice and affordable loans.

We also offer budgeting advice via our SMARTAdvice project and a debt referral system.  This service is available to Harlow residents only.

Headway Essex
Support for Adults with Traumatic and Acquired Brain Injury

We are able to give informed practical advice or facilitate more expert support as required. Support workers provide direct, emotional or practical support and informal counselling. We aim to educate the person and the carer about brain injury. We identify the individual and family needs and facilitating actions through Headway Essex resources or external agencies or professionals to ensure equipped support.

Healthwatch Essex
Healthwatch Essex Information Service

We provide information about health and care services in Essex. We also help people to find out about, access and navigate health and social care services.

Healthy Minds (NHS Psychological Therapies)

Healthy Minds provides access to a wide range of talking therapy treatments for adults with common mental health problems, including: depression, anxiety and long term conditions. Healthy Minds help clients to better understand their emotional difficulties and develop new ways of thinking and coping based on agreed individual goals and needs.

Hearing Help Essex

A quarter of a million people in Essex have some degree of hearing loss, nationally that amounts to one in six of the population. Hearing Help Essex exists to alleviate the isolation and loneliness that hearing loss can bring. Our services include: 

• Practical help with NHS hearing aids
• Information, advice & guidance
• Assistive equipment demo & loan
• Hearing loss seminars & training
• Drop in sessions and events
• Signposting to other organisations

Home-Start Essex
Well-being Group

Our Wellbeing Group is a therapeutic led programme for parents affected by/or at risk of developing mental health difficulties. Each week, be introduced to new self-care activities including mindfulness, arts and self-esteem building. This service is delivered ONLINE where you can meet, share and support each other.

Jessability Dance

'Jessability Dance' classes will provide participants with excellent opportunities to increase important aspects of their health, self-esteem and overall wellbeing, and to gain valuable life, social and communication skills through a range of individual and group dance experiences.

The exciting exercises and musically-based routines include interactions with a range of colourful and motivating resources to promote expression through dance.

If this sounds like something that you would like to get involved in or you know someone who would enjoy the sessions, please get in touch with us. 

Jobcentre Plus
Social Justice Team

For customers in receipt of Working Age benefits (Jobseekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support) who face barriers preventing them from engaging with the labour market. The Social Justice Coach will work intensively with the customer to help them move forwards towards their goal.

Lambourne End Centre for Outdoor Learning
Food for Thought

A health and wellbeing project, engaging people in meaningful activities, learning new skills, keeping fit and developing confidence in calming surroundings. Individuals work on the land planting, nurturing and harvesting fruit & veg. This improves their self-esteem, mental and physical well-being and self-worth, ultimately assisting with their integration into society.

Leonard Cheshire Digital Inclusion
Digital Inclusion

Supporting disabled people to access digital technology. Leonard Cheshire’s Discover IT programme supports disabled people, and those working with disabled people, to access the digital world; providing training and support together with the latest in accessible technology.

Lions
Appliance Short Term Loan Scheme

We provide wheelchairs, commodes, walking frames plus various other mobility and home aids on a short term basis, usually two months. It is intended to help those people that suddenly find that they need help following an injury or medical treatment and are in need of a short term loan of a wheelchair etc. on a temporary basis while the long term solution is being arranged through the NHS or Social Services.

Mind in West Essex
Fee Paying Counselling

Our counselling service provides you with the opportunity to explore worries, concerns or mental health difficulties that you may be experiencing. It can enable you to use your own insights and resources to work towards resolving the issues you face. The Mind in West Essex counselling service compliments services provided by NHS.

Morelife Ltd
Morelife

MoreLife is a Tier 3 service that delivers a 12-month FREE specialist group programme. There are 12 weekly group sessions, each lasting for an hour and a half, followed by maintenance sessions. The MoreLife programme provides:

• Specialist nutritional assessment & support

• Advice around physical activity

• Psychological understanding of losing weight & support

Parkinson's UK
Parkinson's Support Group Uttlesford

We meet in Saffron Walden and Dunmow. We offer people with Parkinson's (and their spouses or carers) the chance to meet and share their experiences at monthly meetings. Tea and coffee are provided. We have speakers, quizzes, craft sessions, a Christmas Lunch and Spring and Summer outings.

Peabody Trust
Essex Floating Support Service - Uttlesford

We help people with sustaining their accommodation but helping them address: rent or council tax arrears; benefit claims; budgeting; priority and non-priority debts; evictions and re-possessions; health, wealth and well-being; sign posting service; and assistance with tribunals and benefits.

As part of a recent merger - services delivered by Family Mosaic are now branded as Peabody.

Provide
Essex Welfare Service

Essex County Council has set up a new service to help vulnerable people in our community who are staying at home and in need of support during the coronavirus period. The Essex Welfare Service is for people who are unable to access the support they need at this time.

Essex Welfare Service is specifically for those people who are not able to get any support from either family or friends or from their local district area support groups. This service is not an alternative to existing services which may be overwhelmed with extra demand resulting from the effects of Government’s stay at home advice.

Provide
Smart Life

Smart Life aims to improve health and wellbeing and keep people independent in their homes. If you are struggling with any aspect of daily living and need support, we will make referrals to other services.

Royal Association for Deaf People
RAD Deaf Law Centre

RAD will offer free advice in the following areas: • Welfare Benefits • Debt • Housing.

If you need advice about applying for benefits, worried about PIP, issues relating to your housing situation, bedroom tax, rent arrears, or any other debt issue, we can help.

Saffron Walden Stroke Club

A friendly, welcoming group for people who have suffered a stroke, or are carers for someone that has.

Come along and join us and continue your journey to a more fulfilling life!

The Saffron Walden Stroke Club offers help to local people who have suffered a stroke, with their rehabilitation and reintroduction into the community.  Assistance is offered with a wide range of rehabilitative exercises, all performed under the guidance of Registered Exercise Professionals. 

We also hold a social hour during which we encourage members of the club, and their family/carers to meet and talk together.

Sophie's Fund Uttlesford
Sophie's Fund

An unexpected change, such as illness, job loss, rent rise or relationship breakdown can tip people over the edge financially; in this situation a small grant can sometimes make all the difference. Sophie’s Fund can help cover the cost of necessities such as fresh food, kitchen equipment, gas or electricity top-ups, travel to appointments, medicines, nappies, clothing and emergency accommodation.

SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity
SSAFA Uttlesford

SSAFA have been serving the Armed Forces community for over 130 years. We aim to meet the needs of servicemen and women, veterans and their families. SSAFA works in partnership with other military charities and organisations to ensure that those who turn to us for help get the support they need.

St Clare Hospice - CNP
Compassionate Neighbours Project

We match based on common interests, lifestyle & life choices, location and more. It will be with someone in their community to ensure it is sustainable and we ask each contact be around 1 hr per week. This can be by phone or face to face.

Please note:  We take great care to match referred people to volunteer neighbours, and sometimes there may be a delay in a volunteer being available.   We will acknowledge your referral and add in the notes what the status is, to keep you informed.

St Mary's Church, Wendens Ambo
Wenden Neighbours

This is a "good neighbour" scheme which aims to give assistance with transport, visiting, hospital visits, shopping, collecting prescriptions and laundry.

Stroke Association
Stroke Association Support Coordinator

Our service can provide practical assistance, essential information and emotional support. It might be that you just need someone to talk to who will understand your situation, or help with form filling or signposting. We can work with you to look at secondary prevention, or set your own goals and help achieve them.

Support 4 Sight
Befriending Service

An Essex-wide Befriending service for people with a sensory loss. Each person will be matched to a dedicated Befriender who will be in regular contact with them.

Support 4 Sight
Support 4 Visually Impaired People and their families

A registered charity helping people with visual impairment. Providing emotional support; advice; equipment; information; assistance with visual aids/equipment; social drop-in sessions, coffee mornings (Saffron Walden, Dunmow, Braintree, Witham, Epping, Harlow, Chelmsford); social trips; Carers group; regular equipment supplier days and exhibitions.

SWAN Inclusion Netball
Inclusion Netball

The sessions are for anyone 16+ using adaptive equipment suitable for all needs (physical and/or learning disabilities) run by our qualified coaches and inclusion specialists Bernae Ellis and Sam Wickens.

Thaxted Centre for the Disabled

The Centre for the Disabled in Thaxted provides free creative activities in a pleasant and caring environment for the benefit and enjoyment of physically disabled people in and around Uttlesford.

The Fragile X Society
Fragile X Information and Support

Fragile X Syndrome is the most common known cause of inherited learning disabilities. It can cause a wide range of difficulties with learning, as well as social, language, attentional, emotional and behavioural problems. It is a complex condition and can be very wide-ranging in its effects. Our Family Support Workers will be very pleased to give individual, tailored support, advice and information that is specific to particular requirements of both families and professionals.

Upwards with Downs

Upwards with Downs is a registered Charity based in Harlow. We offer support to adults and children with Down syndrome throughout Essex, Hertfordshire and adjoining counties. 

Becoming a member of Upwards with Downs is free, a membership will give you the opportunity to meet other parents, of children and adults with Down syndrome. Parents who can share their stories, help with your questions or just listen if you need someone to talk to. We hold a weekly preschool group on Thursday's for Children under 5 with Down syndrome, this is a great way for your child to make new friends, take part in Pyjama Drama and learn Makaton and Sign Language.

We also supply occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and 1-1 speech therapy and support the children with transition to school, when that time comes. 

Uttlesford District Council - Council Tax and Revenues
Council Tax Advice Team

We can advise you about your Council Tax charge and provide information or application forms for all discounts, exemptions or reliefs that you may be entitled to claim. We can also offer payment advice and find solutions to keep you on track with your monthly instalments.

Uttlesford District Council - Lifeline
Lifeline Service - Community Alarms

Lifeline is an emergency telecare service which provides clients with the ability to call for assistance in an emergency 24 hours a day. Users can be connected to a call centre that will contact a relative/friend for them. It allows clients to remain safe and independent in their own home for longer.

Uttlesford Health
Exercise for Life

Supervised exercise sessions to improve your balance, strength, co-ordination and mobility.  Advice and support given by an experienced, knowledgable and fully qualified instructor.

Uttlesford Health
Strength & Balance Service

A FREE 12-week programme of activity to help you build strength, improve mobility and help sustain your day to day activity levels. Located at various venues in and around Saffron Walden, Great Dunmow, Stansted and more, with class sizes limited to 5 people max. You are guaranteed personal gentle instruction to achieve a more active, social and independent life.

Available to adults living or registered to a GP's practice in Uttlesford. Click the GREEN 'Refer' button below and the team will contact the enquirer with more information on venues, dates and times.

Uttlesford Talking Newspaper
Talking Newspaper for the visually impaired

We provide a service to all visually impaired persons, who wish to be kept in touch with local news and views in Uttlesford.

Volunteer Centre Uttlesford
Dementia Cafe - Saffron Walden

Owing to Covid -19 unfortunately this service is closed until further notice.

An opportunity for people with dementia and their carers, to meet up for companionship, support and activities.