Mental Health

ACL Essex
Adult Learning

ACL (part of Essex County Council) offers a wide range of daytime and evening adult learning courses to help you with your health and wellbeing, improve your job prospects, learn a new skill, or simply inspire you. Our ACL Harlow Centre also offers FREE Mental Health Wellbeing and Recovery courses.

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

Adult Mental Health Wellbeing Team

We are a small team of Social Care staff covering the Essex County Council area.We provide early help to adults who have a mental health concern, who are experiencing some form of difficulty with social care, related to their mental health or emotional wellbeing.  

• Feeling able to complete activities of daily living  • Feeling socially active or independent from others • Feeling you have positive and useful contact with your friends, family and wider community • Feeling able to find, or attend work, education or other meaningful activities • Using services in your community • Using public transport or getting out of your home without feeling anxious or stressed.

We will work with other support providers who you may be in contact with.

Alzheimer's Society
Alzheimer's Society, Uttlesford Office

The Dementia Support Service provides support, advice and guidance to people with dementia and their carers.It assists people with dementia and their carers to identify their needs and access appropriate services.

CARA
Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse

We offer a confidential and non judgemental support service for survivors of sexual abuse and violence. This could have occurred recently or in the past and could involve a stranger, a relative or someone you know.

Choices - Open Road
Open Road

Open Road is a charity that provides support for individuals affected by drugs and alcohol. Offering client based recovery with options of one-to-one sessions, structured recovery programmes, family support, M-PACT (Moving parents & children together) and needle/syringe programmes.

cst.today
CST.Today

A social and activity group for people living with mild to moderate dementia, using the principles of Cognitive Stimulation therapy to deliver a fun, stimulating session which runs all day with a hot meal at lunch time. Half day sessions are also available.

CVS Uttlesford
Dementia Cafe

An opportunity for people with dementia and their carers, to meet up for peer support and social interaction.

This is an intiative created by the Dementia Action Alliance

CVS Uttlesford
Essex Shed Network

A community shed offers a safe space where men share the tools, skills, experience and resources they need to work on projects of their own choosing at their own pace. They are places of skill-sharing and informal learning, of individual pursuits and community projects, of purpose, achievement and social interaction.

CVS Uttlesford
Farmer's Cafe

A weekly get together for farmers and retired farm workers. This is a farming social group for those who have worked in agriculture. We meet in a working farm cafe for tea and cake and a chat.

CVS Uttlesford
Green Matters Gardening Project

*** PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE IS A 6-8 WEEK WAITING LIST FOR THIS SERVICE ***

Green Matters is a gardening project aimed at helping the vulnerable elderly (over 65) or disabled residents in Uttlesford, who have lost control of their gardens. 

Through the deployment of teams of locally sourced volunteers, gardens will be fully or partially reclaimed, in order to improve local resident's health and wellbeing and to reduce the risk of trips and falls.

This project is to restore gardens and is not for general garden maintenance. 

Project is only delivered in Uttlesford.

Dig It
Community Allotment

A community project for environmentally responsible food growing, social inclusion and health education. We run regular programmes to assist participants with employment, mental wellbeing and social integration by providing work experience and training in sustainable horticulture. Professional wellbeing help is available on request and Peer Support is actively encouraged.

ECL Saffron Walden
Copy Cats Print and Design

Copy Cats is a social enterprise located within the Saffron Hub. It is a print and design service that adults with a learning disability attend to gain skills for employment and develop their IT and printing skills, including binding books and ensuring that products have been made to a good quality. Once a product has passed all quality checks the next task is to distribute either via a courier or post, again this is another part of the training.

Copy Cats provides print and design for ECL but also works with external companies.

ECL Saffron Walden
Noah's Cafe

Noah’s café  is located within the Saffron Hub and is a social enterprise. Noah’s provides work based training for adults with a learning disability with first steps to gain employment or voluntary work. Our café provides an opportunity for people to develop skills in catering, waitressing, stock rotation, ordering stock, till operation and people skills.

ECL Saffron Walden
Saffron Carpentry

Located within the Saffron Walden Hub, the service is a social enterprise that offers work based training for adults with a learning disability.  Saffron Carpentry design and make products to sell ranging from bird boxes and chopping boards to children’s toys.

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.

Employ-Ability
HeadsUp

HeadsUp provides support, advice and mentoring to people with common mental health problems to help them get back into the workplace. HeadsUp is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund.

Essex County Council
Family Innovation Fund Early Help Services

These Early Help Services have been commissioned by Essex County Council and are for children, young people and parents/carers with low level needs, as detailed in the Essex Effective Support for Children and Families.

Parents and young people (over 13) may self-refer.

http://www.escb.co.uk/

Essex County Council
The Missing Education and Child Employment Service (MECE)

The Missing Education and Child Employment Service (MECE) encourages members of the public to contact us where it appears that a child or young person may not be receiving a suitable education at school or otherwise. MECE will investigate the circumstances and seek to remove any barriers which are preventing the child or young person from accessing a suitable education. Where schools are concerned about absence levels, they will seek to work with parents/carers to address these concerns and where attendance does not improve, may consider referring the matter to the MECE. 

Essex FCN - The Farming Community Network
FCN Essex

The Farming Community Network (FCN) is a voluntary organisation and charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community through difficult times.

Since 1995, we have helped thousands of people deal with a variety of issues, including financial difficulties, animal disease, mental health and family disputes. Our volunteers will "walk with" you and help you find a positive way through your problems - for as long as it is needed.

Essex Restorative Justice Hub

The Essex Restorative and Mediation Service offers Restorative Justice and Mediation to residents in Essex who are, or have been, involved in crime or conflict. We arrange safe communication between parties (those who have been harmed, and those who have caused the harm, or others in dispute such as neighbours).

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.

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
Victims of Crime Factsheet Uttlesford

This fact sheet gives the details of national services that offer support for victims of different types of crimes. This may be one-to-one support with drop-in sessions, counselling, therapy, or community orientated organisations that provide practical help.Anti-Social Behaviour and Hate Crime, Anti-Slavery and Trafficking, Child Services, Victims of Stalking, Sexual and Domestic Abuse Advice and Support, Traffic Victim Support, Support for Victims of Murder and Manslaughter, Forced Marriage Victim Support, General Victim Support

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.

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 Living Healthy Lives CIC
Chat, Connect, Create

Social get together for anyone in the community. At time to chat, craft, play board games - make new friends and acquaintances

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.

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.

Mind in West Essex - Adult Mental Health Clinical Triage
Adult Mental Health Clinical Triage Service

Mind in West Essex provide the Clinical Triage Service for Adult Mental Health services in the West Essex area. Referrals from GP surgeries and other health professionals should be directed through this service to access the correct support for thier patient.

Mind in West Essex - Befriending
Befriending - Reducing Loneliness

The Reducing Loneliness Project aims to find innovative ways to reduce loneliness in our community and improve health and wellbeing in isolated people across the county.

If you've stopped doing things you used to enjoy or would like some companionship while you try something new then we can match a befriender to you and get things going.

If needed befrienders will visit people at home or call for a chat.

Mind in West Essex - Futures in Mind
Futures in Mind

We run community groups and activities that allow adults 18+ who are recovering from Mental Health issues to meet others who are also recovering and feel included in friendly, sociable activities. The Peer Support Volunteers who run these groups are all people who have experienced mental ill health.

Mind in West Essex - Keep Growing
Keep Growing

Keep Growing is a new volunteer project providing opportunities for gardening, and working on a vineyard in a beautiful, peaceful rural setting. This unique setting provides opportunities for taking part in relaxing outdoor activity all year round, with the aim of boosting physical and mental wellbeing. We'll be working in a small group and NO previous gardening experience required!

Mind in West Essex - Life Management Skills

Our Life Management Skills service is ideal for anyone experiencing anxiety or worry, stress, anger, depression and low self-esteem. You will get to understand how and why you think and behave and develop new skills to manage these problems more effectively.

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.

Mind in West Essex- Wellbeing Assistant
Wellbeing Assistant

A Wellbeing Assistant can provide you with practical and emotional support to improve your wellbeing. The support costs £15 per hour. You could have help with a particular task that causes you anxiety  such as preparing to move, filling in forms, or writing letters, or more regular weekly help such as managing your shopping or going to social events.

Miscarriage Association
Miscarriage Association Advice Service

The Miscarriage Association offers support and information to anyone who is affected by the loss of a baby due to miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy or molar pregnancy.  We have a staffed helpline, a network of support volunteers, information leaflets, website, online support and placs for remembrance. 

Please note that this is a signpost only service and that the client must contact the service directly.

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

Open Door

Open Door has been commissioned by Essex County Council Family Innovation Fund to provide: Coaching (14yrs+) and Mentoring (8yrs+) as an early intervention with the purpose of improving outcomes by reducing and/or preventing: • Negative behaviour • Risky behaviour • Aggressive behaviour • The breakdown of relationships • Social isolation

Open Door Counselling Service
Open Door Counselling

Open Door is a free and confidential service based in Saffron Walden for young people living in Uttlesford and the greater surrounding area aged 13 - 26. We are an independent charity, operating under British Association of Counselling guidelines. Our counsellors are volunteers and are either fully qualifiedor in the last stages of their Diploma training.

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
Care Navigation Service

The service helps people over 16 years of age who have social in addition to health needs, and would benefit from support with non-medical issues such as:

• Help to access community activities
• Lifestyle management
• Identifying volunteering opportunities
• Increasing personal resilience, boosting self confidence and decreasing any feelings of social isolation
• Referring to appropriate other services

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.

REAL part of the Ethan Rees Linwood Memorial Fund
REALfriends

REAL friends provides a structured, long term, support program designed exclusively for young people currently enduring bullying. REALfriends will equip young people with a toolbox of practical skills which will empower and help them deal with the effects of being bullied.

Safer Places
Accommodation and Outreach support to victims of domestic abuse

We provide outreach support to victims of domestic abuse across Essex, through our community-based services. Safer Places is an independent charity which provides a comprehensive range of services to adults and children affected by abuse who live in West Essex.

Saffron Hall
Music & Dementia groups run by Saffron Hall & Anglia Ruskin University

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.

Spark
Spark Counselling

A counselling service available to young people age 11-19. Instant access to a qualified and experienced counsellor at a subsidised rate, and free if needed. Donations to the work of the charity are accepted.

Spark
Spark Mentoring

One to one mentoring support for young people aged 11-16. Mentors can bring significant support, encouragement, advice and guidance to young people through this non-judgmental partnership based on respect.

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.

The Change Project
Relationship Counselling

We offer Relationship Counselling for Couples, Families, Teens and Children.

Whether you’re looking for help here and now or long term, we have a service to match.

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 Benefits
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.

WE ARE THRIVE

Our expert team of counsellors, psychologists and complementary therapists offer a friendly, caring and experienced service to help your mental health and wellbeing. We are affordable and accessible - subsidised sessions are also available for those who are unable to justify the spend. Visit our website for more information.

YCT

Free, confidential one to one counselling service for 11 - 18 year olds.