Community voluntary sector support

The local VCS plays a vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities.

There is a new support programme launched in April 2025, which the VCS has helped to design, this is made up from different elements which are:

• An e-portal providing information and practical resources.
• Support to help with community participation, including toolkits and case studies to enable organisations to involve local people.
• Peer support networks to strengthen collaboration between organisations and ensure a more connected and effective sector.

A fourth element is in development. This will focus on introducing a strategic approach to maximising the resources and funding available to the VCS. The programme will also continue to grow and evolve depending on need.

The new support is available to VCS organisations of any size and based in any location in Essex.

Providers will work under a new identity (Your Essex Community) so there is a recognisable brand for the new programme. This will help to build trust among residents and communities.

• Accesss the new support
• Find more information about the new VCS support and how it works