Active Essex is the Physical Activity and Sport Partnership for Greater Essex. It was formed in 2013 and continues to deliver a lasting legacy to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In June 2017, Active Essex launched a new four year strategy to tackle the issues around inactivity and change 1 million lives by getting Essex active.  Currently 22% of the population across the county are classified as inactive at a cost to the NHS of £58m a year. To achieve these ambitious targets we will focus on four main priorities: to drive and sustain participation in physical activity; improve health and wellbeing amongst specific groups who are currently inactive; develop the people and organisations who work or volunteer in the sector and strengthen local partnerships and networks. Essex has been selected by Sport England to take part in a new pioneering programme aimed at increasing participation in sport and physical activity and supercharging people’s attitudes to make being active ‘the norm’.

Age Concern Colchester and North East Essex is dedicated to making life better for those in later years. They do this through befriending in the home, their advice service support and friendship clubs. The Veranda is set up to run clubs to combat social isolation and loneliness and it focuses on Health in Mind, Health in Body, Emotional Support, Education and Information. Health in Body includes Yoga, Keep Fit, Chairobics, Chiropody and Line Dancing every week. Their advice service works with health professionals to refer for support, complete blue badge applications to improve mobility and our goal is to take people who are lonely and inactive and to connect them back into community and becoming active. They work closely with other partners in North East Essex in promoting their activities through their events page.

Basildon Borough Council is committed to improving the lives of all residents across the borough. Basildon was designated a new town in 1949 to cope with the growing population of East London and is the second largest district in Essex by population with a population size of over 181,000 people living across five towns located around stunning green spaces. It is our promise to work together with the community and partners to shape a borough that has strong, safe and healthy communities, encouraging residents to live well.

Braintree District Council is working to improve the well-being of people and communities in the Braintree District now and for future generations through the livewell programme.  The Braintree District lies at the heart of beautiful rural Essex, the current population is 149,108 and this is set to grow significantly over the next decade.  92% of the 612sq kilometres in the Braintree district is classified as green space – it is our priority to protect and enhance our historic towns, villages and attractive countryside to enable people to improve their mental and physical health and live well.

Brentwood Borough Council is working to support the health and wellbeing of residents through the livewell programme. Although Brentwood has an urban heart, the borough is also surrounded by beautiful large areas of woodlands and farmland. The population size of Brentwood is roughly 76,100 however is likely to significantly rise in future years.  Brentwood Borough Council is committed to meet the needs of local people and aims to work in partnership with the whole of the Brentwood community to make Brentwood an even better place to live and ensure future wellbeing of our borough.

Castle Point Borough Council is working to improve the well-being of people and communities in the Castle Point area, now and for future generations through the livewell programme.  The current population of the Castle Point borough is 86,608 and this is set to grow significantly over the next decade. More than 50% (27.070 square kilometers (10 sq. mi) of the borough is green space: a mixture of agricultural fields, natural marshland and sports grounds/courses and it had the second lowest area in England covered by non-domestic buildings.  It is our priority to protect and enhance our historic towns, villages and attractive countryside to enable people to improve their mental and physical health and live well.

Chelmsford City Council aims to support its residents and encourage public health improvement through the livewell programme with support from key partners. A key priority of Chelmsford City Council is to provide high quality open spaces as it is important to create environments conducive and supportive to healthier and active lifestyles. We recognise that public spaces directly affect the quality of life of our residents and Chelmsford is proud to be a regional leader in providing parks and green spaces of high quality. Situated at the heart of Essex, the city consists of two main urban areas, the county town of Chelmsford and the town of South Woodham Ferrers, along with other villages and rural areas with a population projected to grow to 192,000 by 2020.

Colchester Borough Council is committed to ensuring children and families get the best start in life and working collaboratively with partners to enable positive health and wellbeing through the livewell campaign. Colchester borough has over 2000 years of history and architecture and the Norman Castle, sits in the heart of the town. Alongside this is a wide variety of greenspace and countryside sites. Colchester is the largest district in Essex with a population of 184,000 residents and is also the fastest growing. By working together and sharing visions and priorities Colchester aims to improve health and wellbeing and create resilient, safer, stronger and mentally healthy communities for our rapidly growing town.

Epping Forest District Council is committed to promoting the importance of health and wellbeing for local residents so that they are able to live healthy, long and fulfilling lives. The Council wants individuals and communities to take responsibility for their own health wherever possible and to be supported by a genuine partnership of local stakeholders. The Epping Forest district is a mixture of rural and urban areas and stretches northward from its boundary with Greater London right into the heart of rural Essex. The key population centres are the commuter towns of Loughton, Chigwell and Buckhurst Hill, as well as the market towns of Epping, Waltham Abbey and Ongar. The district is projected to increase from 128,100 people to 155,700 by 2035 and the number of residents living in the district who are aged 65 and over is expected to increase from 25,000 to 37,900 by 2035. With an ageing population and a number of wards affected by deprivation, it is important for all residents to have good health and wellbeing in order for them to live well in the Epping Forest district.  Local health and wellbeing priorities include 1. Physical Activity and Mental Health, 2. Healthy Relationships, 3. Age Well.

“Striving to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for children and families in the community, for the community, with the community.”

Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service is provided by Virgin Care in partnership with Barnardo’s. Our mission is to provide first class universal public health and care and specialist community health services to the children, young people and families of Essex. We are dedicated to delivering safe, accessible, effective, and professional child and family health and wellbeing services with integrity and accountability using outcome focussed, evidence based care. Our aim is to work wherever needed to improve the lives of children, young people and families and the communities in which they live by helping to enable them to:

• Promote their own & their family’s physical & mental health & wellbeing
• Create home & community environments where children, young people & their families are safe & can learn, grow & thrive
• Be resourceful, self-supportive & supportive of others in order to build resilience & be future proof Our Vision Statement

We strive to improve, build and develop; aiming to give the very best of ourselves to the families and communities we serve to enable them to thrive. We will do this by providing joined up services that are ‘without walls’.

Greenfields Community Housing is a community-centred housing association with around 8,500 homes. Their main office is in Braintree, Essex. They provide safe and secure homes with a range of tenures, including properties for rent, shared ownership and leasehold. They aim to own and manage up to 9,000 homes by 2020.They are one of only four Community Gateway Associations in the country, meaning that their residents are empowered to make key decisions about their homes and housing service, if they choose to. They pride themselves on being more than a landlord.  They recognise that we have a significant stake in our communities and they want to help residents to grasp the opportunities that will enable them to live healthy and happy lives in safe and vibrant communities.

Harlow Council is committed to making Harlow a great place to grow older with people living happy, healthy and independent lives whereby Harlow residents have good health and wellbeing. The health of people in Harlow is varied compared with the England average and life expectancy for both men and women is similar to the England average. As our population grows and changes, this means that Harlow’s health needs are increasing, both in terms of access to services and also where they are located. Being healthy and well for a lifetime includes much more than good health and care services. It also means not needing health and care services. In addition, National research highlights poor child emotional well-being, diet, inactivity and mental health can have a lasting effect into adulthood. This is why physical activity, good emotional and mental health is fundamental to the quality of life and productivity of individuals, families and communities as it is associated with improved learning; increased participation in community life; healthy relationships,  reduced risk-taking behaviour and improved health outcomes. In order to help people live well in Harlow local priorities include: 1.Physical Activity and Mental Health, 2. Healthy Relationships, and 3.Age Well.

The Maldon District is situated in the east of Essex and whilst it is the third largest District geographically in Essex, it is one of the least densely populated. The District is home to 30 parishes and towns, with over half of the population, concentrated in the towns of Maldon, Heybridge and Burnham on Crouch. The population of the District is estimated to increase from 62,743 to 64,751 by 2021 which will coincide with an increase in average resident age. As our population grows and changes, this means that the Districts health needs will increase both in terms of access to services and also where they are located, facilitated and delivered. We are actively working towards ensuring that the District is a great place to live, work and enjoy and we want to empower our residents to ‘live well’.  To help us achieve this we have some key objectives and a collaborative approach with our partners and local organisations to prioritise delivery of key services. This will help us to provide opportunities and support to the community so improved health and wellbeing can be achieved and maintained. Our ‘live well’ priories in the District include: reducing obesity in children and adults, promoting activity for all ages, tackling rural and social isolation, supporting residents to age well, increasing  mental health awareness and improving educational attainment.

They want everyone in mid Essex to Live Well, for them, this means making sure that you, your family and loved ones have high quality health services that support you to stay well throughout your life. Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is part of the NHS and they are responsible for planning and buying local health services. This process is known as ‘commissioning’.
They have an annual budget of approx. £447 million to spend on healthcare for people living in the districts of Maldon, Braintree and the City of Chelmsford. The health services they buy include:
– Community services such as district nursing, speech and language therapy, podiatry, community hospitals and stroke rehabilitation.
– Mental health services including psychological therapies, children and young adult mental health support and learning disability services.
– Non-emergency patient transport.
– Continuing health care for people requiring ongoing NHS support.
– Some additional services provided by local GP practices.
– And, jointly with other CCGs, acute hospital services, integrated urgent care including NHS 111 and emergency ambulance transport.

Rethink Advocacy provides services under the Care Act, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, and in other situations where advocacy is not a legal right. We support people of all ages, including those who live with mental illness and learning, physical and sensory disabilities. We usually work with people who need support relating to their care and treatment, and don’t currently have a family member or friend to help them.

Rochford District Council is working to improve the well-being of people and communities in the Castle Point area, now and for future generations through the livewell programme.  The current population of the Rochford District is about 43 miles (69 km) from Central London and approximately 21 miles (34 km) from Chelmsford, the County Town of Essex. The current population is 84,800. The Rochford district is projected to increase from 84,800 people to 94,200 by 2035. 80% of the district is defined as green space.  It is our priority to protect and enhance our historic towns, villages and attractive countryside to enable people to improve their mental and physical health and live well.

Sport for Confidence is a pioneering unique model which places allied healthcare professionals into leisure centres to provide sporting opportunities to people who face barriers to participation. The sessions are fun, inclusive and active. Reasonable adjustments are made to break barriers within mainstream facilities to ensure physical exercise and activity is available to anyone. The role of the health professional works closely with the coaching team and leisure staff to share knowledge and expertise and ensure a person’s first visit to a leisure centre is a positive one.

Tendring is a coastal district within North East Essex that comprises predominantly rural areas and urban centres around a coastal fringe. Tendring District Council’s Corporate Plan 2016-2020 puts Community Leadership at the heart of everything we do. It is from this central role that we undertake services or work with partners and the community with the aim of tackling key health and wellbeing challenges in the district. The Council is committed to promote healthier lifestyles and wellbeing as well as support improved community health for residents and visitors.

In Uttlesford, we are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our residents and communities by working collaboratively with partners and local organisations and ensuring people feel empowered to achieve and maintain good health. The local population is predicted to increase significantly over the next ten years, with an estimated 12,000 more people and 32% rise in over 65s between now and 2025, which will affect local health needs. Uttlesford Health & Wellbeing Board has identified five local health and wellbeing priorities, with a focus on preventative healthcare, as set out within its Strategy: 1. Reduce overweight and obesity, 2. Increase physical activity for all, 3. Enable people to age well in Uttlesford, 4. Combat rural and social isolation, 5. Combat winter pressures and fuel poverty.