News

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 April 2023.

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

Support for Ukraine: Can you help?

If you or anyone you know would like to offer a home to people fleeing Ukraine or for guests who cannot stay with their current host beyond the initial six-month period, please consider becoming a sponsor as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

The support so far from Uttlesford residents for those affected by the war in Ukraine has been been heart-warming

If you or anyone you know would like to offer a home to people fleeing Ukraine or for guests who cannot stay with their current host beyond the initial six-month period, please consider becoming a sponsor as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

You can register your interest on the GOV.UK website.

If you would like any advice, guidance or are interested in speaking to people who are already part of the scheme, please get in touch with our Communities Team at communityresponse@uttlesford.gov.uk

Please also share this information with friends and family who may be able to help.

Photo ID now required when voting at polling stations

From Thursday 4 May, when voting at a polling station you will be required to provide a valid form of photo identification

From Thursday 4 May, when voting at a polling station you will be required to provide a valid form of photo identification

Valid forms of Voter ID include a passport, drivers licence, blue badge, older person’s bus pass, or a number of other forms of Voter ID.

If you don’t have an approved ID, you will need to apply for a free ‘Voter Authority Certificate’ (VAC) to take with you when you vote.

Voter ID is not required if you vote by post.

You can also be ready for voting this year by ensuring you are registered to vote. If you need to apply you must do so before midnight on Monday 17 April.

Dunmow Community Fridge is open

Our Community Fridge is open Mon – Fri between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. It will be restocked each day with donated fresh food items.

The Great Dunmow Community Fridge – a joint project of UCAN and St. Mary’s Church aims to reduce food waste and enable people in need to benefit from free fresh food

We are delighted to announce that the Community Fridge in Great Dunmow has been officially opened today. Staffed by a team of local volunteers, and funded by UCAN and St. Mary’s Church, Great Dunmow, the community fridge is a repository for donated fresh food items, being supplied by Dunmow Coop. The items are close to date or have a best before date that is recently passed – but they are still all too good to waste! This join venture aims to reduce food waste and get food to people who can make use of it.

Sophie Davis, project lead for UCAN said “We are excited to open the fridge today, and it wouldn’t have been possibly without the support and goodwill of the Dunmow community. The Coop have been fantastic in providing the food, and our team of volunteers will operate the fridge day-to-day keeping it stocked, rotating the food and cleaning, as well as checking the temperature and making sure everything is running well. We are sure the fridge will be a great new resource for the community.”

Food in the fridge is free to people who can make good use of it. The Uttlesford Community Hub at 45 Stortford Road, Great Dunmow is open Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. No appointment needed. Please bring a bag.

You can also donate in support of the Community Fridge by clicking here

UCAN is a community charity serving the residents of Uttlesford. We provide a range of support services including the Community Response Hub, Ticket Home hospital discharge and the Essex Shed Network. We also provide outreach services through our Mobile Community Hub, Drinks with Community Links mobile coffee trailer and will shortly be opening a new Community Hub in Saffron Walden, in partnership with Enterprise East and Saffron Walden Town Council.

Vacancy: Community Responder – Fixed Term (6 months)

Uttlesford Community Action Network has a fixed-term vacancy for a Community Responder to support residents with requests received via our Community Response Hub

Uttlesford Community Action Network has a fixed-term vacancy for a Community Responder to support residents with requests received via our Community Response Hub

Covid-19 has affected all aspects of our society along with the current cost of living crisis. There has been profound disruption to people’s lives and livelihoods and a significant impact on people’s physical, and mental health as well as their wellbeing.

Uttlesford Community Response Hub has been established in response to these needs and we are therefore looking for a highly motivated, practical individual to provide support, signposting, and engage with residents and communities in specific tasks whilst connecting them with health, the voluntary sector and other social services or support such as
volunteers to ensure that all Uttlesford residents in need get the support they require.

The successful candidate will be working alongside our other Community Responder. We are looking for someone who has good practical and people skills. This role would suit someone with a hands-on approach and will involve driving to different locations across West Essex, so access to own vehicle is essential. Training will be given to those unfamiliar
with the health, social care and voluntary sectors.

Download our Job Description and Person Specification

Please call 01371 878400 for an informal conversation about the role. No CV’s will be accepted, please email jacqui.davies@ucan.org.uk to request an application form.

Please return your completed application form to the above email by 17:00hrs on the 21st of December 2022. Interviews will commence the week beginning 9th of January 2023.

Please be aware that this role will require an Enhanced DBS check and two satisfactory. References are to be provided and the completion of a 2-month Probationary period. This role will also require the ability to drive and have access to a vehicle for use at work (Mileage will be paid).

Charity Fashion Show

On Friday 10th December high fashion will hit the runway at Saffron Walden Town Hall, in a charity evening being organised by the students and team from local voluntary organisation Enterprise East.

Join the team from Enterprise East and Café Cornell for an evening of fashion, talent and style – all in a good cause!

On Friday 10th December high fashion will hit the runway at Saffron Walden Town Hall, in a charity evening being organised by the students and team from local voluntary organisation Enterprise East.

Tickets are £20 each and include a glass of bubbles and canapes on arrival and a Christmas gift bag.

To buy your tickets please visit: https://www.enterpriseeast.org/christmas-fashion-show/ or call the team on 07535 609248. Email info@enterpriseeast.org

Event starts at 7pm. We hope you can make it!

Mind in West Essex and WECAN are looking for a Digital Inclusion Facilitator

WECAN – West Essex Community Action Network is the lead provider of digital inclusion work in West Essex. Together with project partners we are working to ensure that everyone can access the help and support that is available online

WECAN – West Essex Community Action Network is the lead provider of digital inclusion work in West Essex. Together with project partners we are working to ensure that everyone can access the help and support that is available online. We do this by providing refreshed IT equipment, data, access and skills development to enable vulnerable members of our community to get online and participate.

Mind in West Essex are hosting a Digital Inclusion Facilitator as part of this initiative, with a focus of working with people who have experience of mental ill health.

Base – Office Base – TBC – travel throughout West Essex essential

Hours – 22.5 hours per week

Salary – £12.73 per hour, this a fixed term contract for 5 months (with the hope of an extension)

Please see the attached job description here

To apply for this position please visit https://www.mindinwestessex.org.uk/vacancies and complete the form by the closing date of Thursday 10th November 2022 

Shortlisting – 11th November

Interview date – 17th November 2022 via zoom 

The Zero Carbon Communities Grant is a new funding scheme to support community groups in Uttlesford to take action on climate change.

Non-profit groups or organisations, including any town or parish council within the district, can apply for funding for new projects that are focussed on carbon emission reduction, community engagement in climate change, or ecological enhancement in the community

Non-profit groups or organisations, including any town or parish council within the district, can apply for funding for new projects that are focussed on carbon emission reduction, community engagement in climate change, or ecological enhancement in the community

Community projects might include:

• Community buildings – for example, energy conservation or efficiency measures

• Sustainable transport – for example, community cycle parking or electric vehicle charging points

• Nature and biodiversity projects – this could include community allotment projects, or the restoration, creation or enhancement of a community nature area

• Other projects – such as waste reduction projects, or community initiatives that promote sustainable lifestyle choices

Grants of between £1,000 and £35,000 are available.

Find out more and how to apply here: https://www.uttlesford.gov.uk/zero-carbon-communities-grant

Interested town and parish councils and community groups that want to find out more about the fund and how they can apply are very welcome to join our webinar on 15 November, starting at 7.30pm.

To register, email climatechange@uttlesford.gov.uk to receive the Microsoft Teams joining link.

FREE Suicide Awareness Workshops

Mind in West Essex have a FREE workshop consisting of two 2 hour sessions

Mind in West Essex have a FREE workshop consisting of two 2 hour sessions

These cover:

  • Suicidal feelings
  • Risk factors
  • Why suicide?
  • Myths
  • How to help

On completion of the 2 workshops you will receive continued online follow up support sessions:

  • Informal (a chance to offload)
  • Formal 1:1 support

To book on to one of the courses, please click below:

https://www.suicideawareness.org.uk/book-a-course