Category: UCAN News

Ukraine Welcome Hub operation draws to a close

Since May 2022 we have supported over 20,000 people fleeing the war – mostly women and children – and made them welcome in the UK

Yesterday marked our last shift at Stansted Airport welcoming refugees from the Ukraine Conflict

Since May 2022 we have supported over 20,000 people fleeing the war – mostly women and children – and made them welcome in the UK. Help given has ranged from addressing immediate needs for food and water, to seeing travellers safely onto trains and coaches to other areas of the UK, as well as booking and providing overnight hotel accommodation for those unable to continue their journey. We have distributed thousands of sim cards with six months of data kindly provided by Vodafone, and express our gratitude to the food retailers in the airport – Burger King, Costa Coffee, M&S and others who have issued food vouchers and additional kept our volunteers fed and watered.
We are especially indebted to these many, many volunteers – who have manned our help desk 18 hours a day, 7 days a week during this period, for their thousands of hours given freely to help people in need. There are not sufficient words to express our gratitude.
Although our welcome desk operation has been stood down, we continue to support the many Ukrainians who have settled in Uttlesford, as well as host families and the local authority to process housing applications.
We stand with Ukraine.
A formal thank-you event for UCAN staff and volunteers, and other supporters of the Ukraine Welcome Hub in Uttlesford is being hosted by Essex County Council on 11th January 2023, and we are grateful to all the aid and assistance ECC has provided during both the Ukraine and Sudanese crisis.

Luxury Hamper Winner

We were delighted to present Pamela Phillips with our luxury hamper raffle prize

We were delighted to present Pamela Phillips with our luxury hamper raffle prize, following a very successful funding campaign run over eight weeks during operation of the Covid Vaccine Centre in the Lord Butler Leisure Centre Saffron Walden.

All funds raised will support UCAN’s ongoing work supporting isolated and vulnerable people in Uttlesford.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

The Hats have been donated!

At the Jubilee Hub Saffron Walden we distributed over 400 hats, scarves and hand warmers knitted by volunteers between four charities – thank you to all those knitters who donated.

At the Jubilee Hub Saffron Walden we distributed over 400 hats, scarves and hand warmers knitted by volunteers between four charities – thank you to all those knitters who donated.

This project was run by our enterprising UCAN Volunteering Ambassador, Ann Holloway with assistance from volunteer Pat.

Volunteers knitted and donated, some of whom had knitted in the past but had stopped for whatever reason and this project encouraged them to re-start, providing a new hobby, enjoyment and purpose, knowing that the items were needed by the charities involved. The project benefited both the volunteers who were knitting and of course the charities who were given the items. Over 400 items were knitted.

We will continue to donate any knitted items to these charities, so if people would like to continue knitting, please do so and drop them in to the Jubilee Hub (3 Hill Street) Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm.

Interested in Volunteering?

Are you interested in volunteering but don’t know where to look?

Are you interested in volunteering but don’t know where to look?

UCAN Volunteer Centre are hosting a Volunteer Showcase Event to highlight voluntary organisations and their opportunities. Come and find out more!

What does UCAN do? UCAN strengthens communities

You asked for it, and we listened!

The delivery programme of workshops, activities and socials at the Jubilee Hub Saffron Walden will continue to grow and evolve, as the needs of our community change. This is our offer for the next few months. We have created a schedule for everyone – and focused on additionality – providing more, and not just the same as is already on offer elsewhere in the area.

Collaboration is key – and working with Saffron Walden Town Council (who negotiated the lease and manage the building) and Enterprise East (who bring expertise on inclusion, diversity and training) creates a powerful and strong partnership with the experience and passion to deliver for our #community.

What does UCAN do? We use our insight, experience and our partnerships to create better opportunities and happier lives for people in #Uttlesford.

UCAN strengthens communities.

What does UCAN do?

This week we were thrilled to hand over to the people of Barnston a beautiful new community #garden and shelter that we created for ECVYS – Essex Council for Voluntary Youth Services in memory of Sharon Sellens

This week we were thrilled to hand over to the people of Barnston a beautiful new community #garden and shelter that we created for ECVYS – Essex Council for Voluntary Youth Services in memory of Sharon Sellens

This wonderful new community asset increases opportunities for young people in Barnston to spend time together in a safe environment where they can be themselves, and know they are wanted and have somewhere to belong.

Thank you to the funders, volunteers and sponsors who made this dream a reality. This includes UDC Youth Fund, The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and Anglia Land Drainage.

What does UCAN do? UCAN builds communities.

Job Opportunity: Acute Social Prescribing Link Worker – PAH Harlow

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Ticket Home team, supporting patient discharge from hospital

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Ticket Home team, supporting patient discharge from hospital

This post will operate within the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust as part of the Complex Discharge Team to facilitate and expedite hospital discharges. Employed within the Voluntary sector this exciting role is intended to work with individual patients and their families to support effective discharge planning. This is new role intended to act as an expert in voluntary care and in leveraging community voluntary services in support of post-acute hospital care.

This role is part of ambitious plans for transforming care and ensuring timely and appropriate discharge arrangements. The post holder will be expected to operate flexibly and collaboratively with all stakeholders, demonstrating practical skills and excellent communication and co-ordination. The role will be part of a multi-disciplinary team and will be central to the delivery of supported hospital discharge and post-acute care.

The post will be employed by Uttlesford Community Action Network (UCAN), which is working in partnership with the health and social care system to deliver high quality patient care. This role is critical to supporting the systems ambition to optimise hospital discharges and to support effective post-acute care.

The focus of the role will be to support patients admitted to hospital, making decisions for themselves rather than being more dependent upon others. The post holder will be asking ‘What do you need help with?’ and seeking to find solutions that help maintain independence. By having knowledge of community and voluntary support groups and focusing on ‘what matters to me’ the post holder will take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.


The aim of the role will be to help to strengthen personal resilience, to reduce health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health and wellbeing and to provide practical support to achieve a safe and timely discharge from hospital. The post holder will work with all patient groups, but particularly with patients that are vulnerable and those with complex care needs which affect their ability to maintain independence.

Download Job Description and Person Specification

To apply

Download and complete our application form, and return with a covering letter. Please note that we do not accept CV’s.

This post will require an Enhanced DBS check and references.

Closing date for applications is midday 20th June 2023.

Please send completed applications to clive.emmett@ucan.org.uk

UCAN Vacancy: Mobile Hubs Coordinator

We are a local charity, looking to employ an enthusiastic and self-motivated person to coordinate the outreach work we undertake to engage with local residents.

We are a local charity, looking to employ an enthusiastic and self-motivated person to coordinate the outreach work we undertake to engage with local residents. Our work includes delivering different initiatives relating to Loneliness and Isolation, Digital Exclusion, Health Promotions and other awareness raising or signposting events.

We have a Mobile Community Hub and a Mobile Horsebox Café, allowing us to connect with people in the more remote and rural areas of Uttlesford.  We also take the mobile units to various events with a variety of partners. Your role will be to coordinate the deployment of these vehicles to locations throughout the district on a regular route so that residents know when to expect them, and how to access help and support in their location. These are multi-agency events, so in addition to ensuring the vehicles are ready, staffed, and the locations are suitable and risk assessed, you will also be liaising with partners within the voluntary sector and statutory services to ensure their awareness, readiness and participation.

UCAN Mobile Community Hub – in deployment mode

Our coffee trailer is a converted horse trailer and is towed by our company vehicle. The mobile hub is a completely self-contained former mobile police station so has all the facilities we need to provide services to the community. Due to the class of the vehicle, there are restrictions on who can drive it. You will need to be able to drive a Class B1 vehicle. You can check this on your photo driving license by looking at the reverse, which will have dates against B1 if you are able to drive this type of motor on your current driving license.

The candidate will need a full clean driving license, and will preferably have experience of towing trailers, however full training will be provided for the successful candidate.  You will be able to recruit and support volunteers, plan rotas, and take a hands-on practical approach to ensuring our fleet is ready for deployment to events and in crisis situations.

Fixed term contract for 9 months.

Two days per week.

Salary £12.82 per hour.

For a job description of the role please email connect@ucan.org.uk

We look forward to hearing from you.

Line fault at our Dunmow Offices

A BT OpenReach fault is causing disruption to comms at our Dunmow location

A BT OpenReach fault is causing disruption to comms at our Dunmow location

Due to a line fault in our area, there is disruption to our telephone and internet service at our Dunmow site today. We apologise for any inconvenience.

OpenReach are working to resolve the issue.

UCAN responds to the crisis in Sudan

The voluntary sector has played a vital role in repatriation of British citizens, meeting their immediate needs for shelter, food and medical attention. Working with colleagues from UDC we are now finding housing for the hundreds of people who were evacuated, while continuing to support them on a daily basis.

Last week we were contacted by DLUHC and asked if we could help with the evacuation of British citizens from Sudan

Twenty-four hours later we had established a Humanitarian Aid Centre (HAC) operating twenty hours a day, manned by UCAN staff and volunteers, supported by the British Red Cross. We were later joined by St. John’s Ambulance and Re:Act.

The HAC provided a welcome point for the hundreds of evacuees arriving at our International Border in Stansted. Once processed by Border Force, our team on the ground welcomed the British and Sudanese citizens, triaging their immediate needs and transporting them to the HAC where food, clothing, shelter and supplies were immediately available to the men, women and children. Emotional support was provided by the Red Cross – with many of the evacuees having experienced a traumatic journey to safety. Once assessed, travellers were supported with hotel accommodation and transport, onward travel to destinations across the UK where they had family, friends or homes, and we acted as a point of liaison with local authorities across England who were going to receive an influx of people who would need emergency accommodation.

The voluntary sector has played a vital role in repatriation of British citizens and their families. Working with colleagues from UDC we are now finding housing for the hundreds of people who were evacuated, while continuing to support them on a daily basis.

We also want to acknowledge everyone who supported us and looked after us on the ground, from the airport, to the hotels, bus drivers, cab drivers, retailers and everyone in between. Huge gratitude to the Emergency team from ECC who fought for what we needed, when we needed it.

We are one community working together for good.

Thank you.