Disability & Sensory Impairment

Accuro
Parenting Support Project

The Parenting Project supports parents/carers of children with a disability, providing home visits, specifically designed parenting workshops including emotional, sensory and behavioural issues, a nationally recognised parenting programme, and a support group. We also have a wealth of knowledge on other agencies and resources.

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 8 to 18)

Support for young people aged 8 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

Age UK Essex
Toenail Cutting Service - Uttlesford

We offer a toenail cutting service to anyone who is unable to cut their own toenails. Our team of trimmers will help you remain mobile, avoid becoming isolated and housebound, reduce the likelihood of falls and avoid the discomfort of long toenails.

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
Help to Claim Universal Credit

Uttlesford Citizens Advice 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 will be able to get support from the charity as they submit their Universal Credit application until they get their first full payment. Help will be tailored to individuals and is available face-to-face at our offices in Saffron Walden and Great Dunmow (call 01799 618840 for an appointment), by calling a national helpline number, 0800 144 8 444, and online, through webchat and advice content at citizensadvice.org.uk

Citizens Advice Uttlesford
Keeping Warm in Uttlesford

A cold home is bad for everyone's health. If you are in need of help with high fuel bills, low income, switching, draughts, mould, damp, broken boilers or heating - please get in touch.

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
Winter Warmth Handy Man Service

As part of our contribution to UDC Winter Warmth Initiative, CVS Uttlesford are piloting a Handy Person service that will support Uttlesford residents who are struggling to keep their homes warm, or need additional equipment installed to reduce the risks of trips or falls.

Through a series of quick fix measures, we will improve our elderly, vulnerable, ill or disabled residents situation during this time, to feel warmer, safer and secure in their homes during the winter period.

We can supply and fit a range of items such as draught excluders, key safes and conduct other work that will improve the home environment.

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

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.

Epping Forest District Council - Private Residential
Private Sector Housing

We help people who have concerns about the condition of their home, which is affecting their health and safety (e.g. poor heating, damp and mould, disrepair, overcrowding). We can also help tenants who rent their homes and are experiencing harassment or illegal eviction by their landlords.

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.

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 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.  

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. 

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. 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.

Headway Essex
Community 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 in Uttlesford
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. A safe space to 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.

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 - Private Counselling
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
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.

Saffron Walden 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 Saffron Walden and the surrounding areas.

Self Management UK
Self-management Training for People with Long-term Conditions

Self Management UK provides a free self-management course for people with ANY long-term conditions, including diabetes, arthritis, heart problems, mental health issues, COPD, among others. The course helps people develop skills to cope with daily challenges; improve wellbeing and become more confident in managing their health.

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 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
Information Advice & Support Service

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 Carers

Support 4 Sight is a registered charity with a service for the Carers of partially sighted and blind people in Essex. The service provides emotional support and advice to anyone who cares for a loved one with visual impairment, at no matter what stage of their journey. We encourage all members to talk and share information with each other to better their and their loves one's day to day living.

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.

Uttlesford CAB
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.

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.

Volunteer Centre Uttlesford
Dementia Cafe - Saffron Walden

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