Hello

Firstly thank you to all who took part and donated during Harvest this year.  

As you all know we are not just a place where people can get a food parcel, we are also making a real difference to those in food poverty get back on their feet.  I would like to take this opportunity to introduce my new colleague Emma.

“Hello I’m Emma and I’ve just joined the Braintree Area Foodbank team and am inspired by all the great work they are doing to help people in the Braintree District. Winter hits people facing hunger hardest and many local people are struggling to put food on the table and we are needing to raise extra funds to purchase more food and essentials so we can be there for more people.  

I am looking to create new partnerships with companies and organisations in the Braintree District in 2026. Whether its fundraising events, such as  sponsored walks, or afternoon tea fundraisers or creative new collaborations we would love to work together and make a real difference for our community and raise awareness too. If you want to make a real tangible difference in Braintree district by supporting our work in some way please do get in touch with me at partnerships@braintreearea.foodbank.org.uk I would love to hear from you.

As one of our previous service users said: “The support I received extended far beyond food; it provided stability, guidance, and hope at a time when I had nowhere else to turn.” Our aim is to provide wrap around support to people in our community to provide food and support and tackle the root causes of poverty. Our Winter Appeal flyer is attached too alongside Vanessa’s shopping list and we would be so grateful if you could print out and put in any communal areas so that other people can also join together with us and help make a difference and end hunger in our district. 

Thank you so much for any support you give. We really appreciate it. 

If you require any further help or assistance regarding Braintree Area Foodbank please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

Vanessa

As I write this I am thinking of how all of us are struggling with the cost of living.  The packet or tin you may have put in the donation box is now needed by yourselves. With winter coming fuel poverty becomes an issue. However, if just one item off this list were donated it really would help.

A client that visited us said

‘Due to illness this would never been hard times. Debt builds up and having kids without food is heart-breaking. God bless the Foodbank team’.  

This is why your donation really helps. People in the Braintree district should not be facing destitution.

Harvest thank you

We are grateful for all the Harvest donations that we have received and thank you all for your donations. Whether a school, church or community group your donations will be gratefully received.  We would also like to thank all of you who invited one of our Foodbank Champions to come and talk to you about the work that we do. 

Reverse Advent calendar

Once again, we are running our reverse Advent calendar.  The reverse Advent calendar encourages people to collect the food items from each day and donate them in time for Christmas.  You will notice that there are no Christmas items on the list this year and this is because we need basic food items for a meal on Christmas day for a whole family. Your donation can be made via one on the donation points on our website or call 01376 330 694 for more donation options.

Donating via JustGiving

We are now accepting monetary donations via JustGiving.  If anyone is interested in making a donation they can click on this link or search JustGiving ‘s website.

Essex County Council (ECC) is reviewing its support for 46 local bus services. We want your help to ensure that our future bus network is ready to meet new levels of passenger demand and is providing value for money. ECC is therefore carrying out this public consultation regarding these local bus services. This consultation closes on Sunday 26 October 2025. 
ECC is undertaking a review of local bus services which are paid for by Essex taxpayers. It does not cover services/journeys 
operated commercially by transport providers. This review covers all 12 districts in Essex with the view of assessing whether to continue providing the service. 
 
We know that buses are important to many people.  For example, they help people reach employment, education, visit friends and to get to health appointments. The majority of the bus network in Essex (around 85%) is run commercially. The remaining 15% of services are not commercially viable and the transport providers will therefore not run them. As Essex’s local transport authority, when no commercial service is provided, the County Council has a duty to consider whether one is needed, and if, in the Council’s view it is, then to provide it. 
How the Council decides whether a service is needed and what services it will support are set out in its Local Bus Service Priority Policy, which can be found on www.essexhighways.org/bus-strategy .  The Local Bus Service Priority Policy now forms part of the Bus Service Improvement Plan so has been extended from 2020 to 2026. 
ECC has a strong record for supporting local bus services and ECC remains committed to supporting an effective and efficient bus service network offering value for money to the taxpayer in the services it provides. 
However, the strong financial pressures on all local government funding means that ECC must look very carefully at how it will provide all its services to make sure that the limited funding available is focused where it will be of most benefit to the public. 
The services provided under this policy are paid for by Essex taxpayers. The supported network mainly operates in rural areas, and at less popular times for travel, such as in the evenings and on Sundays. At present ECC spends around £10m of taxpayer’s money on 
these services each year. The local bus service priority policy includes a value for money measure to ensure that taxpayers are not funding services that are not used much or have a high cost. This measure is currently valued at £5 per passenger journey. If the cost to the taxpayer is over £5 per journey made, then ECC will review the service. The value for money measure was suspended during Covid-19 because of changing government advice on travel during the various lockdowns and then because ECC wanted to 
allow services time to recover. Patronage has indeed been increasing. But there are several services which were either struggling to attract passengers even before Covid-19 or where passengers have not returned. ECC is not proposing to re-introduce the £5 measure immediately because there is still some growth in patronage. However, there are several services which are substantially over the £5 measure – in fact they are costing taxpayers more than £10 cost per passenger journey to support. 
These services are detailed later in this document alongside details of any changes or proposals. 
What are we Consulting on? 
We are consulting on: 
• Continuing services as they are now. 
• Redesigning services to better reflect how they are used (for example the days of operation; routes; the number of journeys and/or the timetable); or 
• Returning some services to commercial operation. 
We would expect to make an announcement on the outcome of the consultation later this year. This means we will be using the most up to date passenger data available in any final decisions. 
The outcome of the consultation may differ from the proposed changes specifically listed in the consultation tables following analysis of the response from the public. 
Why your views matter? 
In order for us to consider your views, we are seeking your responses on these proposals. ECC will collate all the responses from the survey and summarise them as part of our report. This report will be used to help decide whether the proposal should be implemented. We will not identify individual people and your name will not be mentioned in any reports we write for this purpose. You do not have to take part if you don’t want to – this is a voluntary activity. 
Together, we can create a transportation network that is efficient, accessible, and tailored to the diverse needs of passengers. Thank you for your valuable contribution in helping us shape the future of public transport. 
Please note the following consultation only covers ECC supported services as specified in the tables on the following survey pages.

Parents and carers in Essex can now apply for primary (reception) school places. The application window is open between 10 November 2025 and 15 January 2026.

Children are entitled to start primary school in the September after their fourth birthday. Parents and carers of children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 can apply now.

Applications can be made online at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions.

Those received after the 15 January deadline will only be considered once all on time applications are determined.

This means applying late could reduce the chance of parents getting a place for their child at their preferred school.

Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “Starting primary school is an exciting time for children and their families. The application process is the first step.

“Applying on time and making sure you use all of your preferences will help to ensure there is the best possible chance of securing a place at your preferred school next September.

“It is also important that parents consider how they can best prepare their child to start in reception. I would like to take this opportunity to signpost parents to www.startingreception.co.uk which has a range of resources that may be helpful.”

Further information about the admissions process and individual schools can be found at www.essex.gov.uk/admissions.

Cllr Peter Schwier  ISEP

Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste Reduction & Recycling

Chair, East of England Regional Climate Change Forum

Young people across Essex are invited to join the We Rise Business Mentoring Programme, helping 16–25-year-olds gain insight into the world of work, raise aspirations and develop employability skills with top employers.

We Rise is a youth movement led by young people, for young people, with support from Essex County Council.

The mentoring programme was developed in response to feedback from We Rise members, who identified the need for ongoing support, a better understanding of the labour market and opportunities to build confidence.

The mentoring programme is part of the Essex Year of Opportunity, a £1.33 million campaign by the county council which creates projects and partnerships to remove barriers to essential skills for all ages.

In partnership with local and global employers, such as c2c Rail and Microsoft, the programme now has 50 mentors signed up, and 30 young people have already taken part.

Participants are matched with mentors who offer tailored support, including:

• insights into different industries
• career advice and CV support
• interview preparation
• personal development

Amaia, mentee and We Rise member, said: “When I first heard about We Rise, I knew it would be a great way to gain experience and be part of something that truly supports young people. My mentor, Alice, gave me everything from interview tips to personal advice – and even connected me with professionals in communications, which helped me figure out the career path I want to follow.”

Alice Shimali, Head of Communications at c2c Rail and Amaia’s mentor, said: “I’ve been proud to take part in this important programme and support Amaia as she navigated the next steps in her communications career. A real highlight was her becoming the first person on her university course to secure an internship for her placement year, demonstrating her unwavering drive to succeed and develop.

“At c2c Rail we want to support the next generation of talent in our communities, both in the rail industry and beyond, so We Rise is a programme we are proud to support.”

Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “We Rise’s fantastic mentoring programme provides an essential connection between young people and employers – helping them build confidence, skills and ambition. This is exactly what our Essex Year of Opportunity campaign is all about: opening doors to careers which young people may not have considered or felt were within reach.

“I want to thank the employers who are serving as mentors so young people can gain real insight into the world of work.”

Councillor Louise McKinlay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Economic Growth and Prosperity, said: “I’m pleased to see major employers like c2c Rail providing invaluable opportunities through the We Rise Business Mentoring Programme. Getting on the career ladder can be daunting and this level of support can make a real difference.

“I strongly encourage young Essex residents aged 16 to 25 to join the programme and start developing their skills for employment with expert guidance.”

Young people aged 16-25 in Essex can now sign up to join the programme and be matched with a dedicated mentor.

Find out more and register at www.essexopportunities.co.uk/we-rise/

Cllr Peter Schwier  ISEP

Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste Reduction & Recycling

Chair, East of England Regional Climate Change Forum

Essex County Council is marking Carers Rights Day 2025 (Thursday 20 November) by making unpaid carers aware of the rights they are legally entitled to, including support from the county council.

The theme for Carers Rights Day 2025 is ‘Know your rights, use your rights’. It encourages carers to understand and act on their entitlements.

Many people who care for a loved one, friend or neighbour do not realise they are carers and have the right to financial support, flexibility at work and more. This includes:

• One week of unpaid leave per year since 2024
• The right to request flexible working arrangements
• Council tax reductions and carer allowance
• A carer’s assessment from Essex County Council
• Protection from discrimination

There are an estimated 124,000 unpaid carers in Essex according to the latest census, though the true number may be higher.

Essex County Council launched its All-Age Carers Strategy in 2022. It has worked with carers and partners to improve support, such as through enhanced social work practices.

This includes the newly released Hospital Discharge Guide, supporting carers with the challenges they can face when looking after someone who is leaving hospital. A refreshed Carers Strategy, shaped by carers themselves, is also due in spring next year.

Councillor John Spence, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Adult Social Care, Public Health and Integration, said: “Unpaid carers carry out an extraordinary role, often quietly and without recognition.

“We want every carer in Essex to know they are not alone and that they have rights—at home, in the workplace and in the community.

“We are committed to making sure carers get the support they need when they need it most. Whether it’s through practical guidance like our new Hospital Discharge Guide or support from our partners, help is always available.

Three retailers have been found guilty of selling nicotine inhaling products to someone under the age of 18 following multiple Essex Trading Standards investigations.

Cihan Medet Topal, director of The Red Shop Harlow Ltd in Town Centre Market, was fined £461 and must pay a victim surcharge of £184 and £5,000 in costs. The company was fined £769 with a victim surcharge of £308 and £4,696.80 in costs.

Mallikarjuna Reddy Devi Reddy, director of Arjun Traders Limited on Colchester High Street, was fined £323. He must also pay a victim surcharge of £129 and £4,000 in costs. The company was fined £538 with a victim surcharge of £215 and £4051.90 in costs.

Aznibaan Limited on Braintree High Street was fined £133 and must pay a victim surcharge of £53 and £11,200 in costs.

Essex Trading Standards began their investigations following complaints by members of the public about age-restricted products being sold to children.

Each retailer received advisory visits in early 2025 before Essex Trading Standards carried out underage test purchasing operations in April 2025.

Each operation saw a nicotine-inhaling product being sold to a 14-year-old volunteer without ID checks being carried out.

Mr Topal sold a Hayati Pro Max Juicy Peach 4000 Plus vape with 20mg/10ml nicotine. This was also an oversized vape which is illegal to sell in the UK.

Mr Devi Reddy sold a Vuse Go Blackcurrant Ice disposable vape with 2% nicotine, while Aznibaan Limited sold a Big Bar Lemon & Lime Vape with 2% nicotine.

Councillor Mark Durham, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Trading Standards at Essex County Council, said: “Vaping is worryingly accessible and appealing to young people. Although for adults it can be a way to stop smoking, it is highly addictive, introduces chemicals into the lungs and not at all suitable for children.

“Sellers of age-restricted goods, including vapes, must ensure they are vigilant and always ask to see proof of age before making a sale to a young person.

“They must have robust processes in place, including staff training, to guard against any illegal underage sales.

“These prosecutions show how seriously we take this issue. Businesses which break the law in Essex will be targeted by Trading Standards.”

Cllr Peter Schwier  ISEP

Cabinet Member for Environment, Waste Reduction & Recycling, Chair, East of England Regional Climate Change Forum

Hedingham Division, Essex County Council

Renewal, Equality & Ambition

Safer, Greener, Healthier

This year not only do we have the shopping list attached, but also the ability to supply resources to churches and religious organisations to help you make the most of your celebrations.  To find out more please call 01376 330694 and asked to speak to Sarah.

The bare facts are that we are 17% down on donations this year and have had to spend well over £20,000 so far on food to be able to supply the parcels needed to meet demand.  Any donations made from the list will help someone in need. To view the latest list please click HERE.

If you know of someone who may need help please call 01376 330694 to speak to one of our Outreach team.

In case your organisation wanted to make a financial donation, we are now on JustGiving

This year all we ask is that if someone can make a donation, that they understand how amazing they are for helping someone facing destitution and food poverty.

Thank you all sincerely for your help

Vanessa

Communications Manager 

Councillor Beverley Egan, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Early Years said: “We were so pleased to see John Lewis feature a foster family this year in an advert which will resonate with our foster carers across Essex.  While fostering is not always easy, our carers tell us that it is hugely rewarding and lifechanging. If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, please get in touch and find out more.”

Fostering is incredibly rewarding, offers great flexibility and puts family at its heart. Carers are welcome from any background, including single, married, LGBTQ+ or retired. 

Essex County Council matches children to your family, offers all foster carers excellent local training with an active network of support groups providing opportunities to meet and learn from other foster carers. It also offers 24/7 local support, a dedicated social worker and access to a clinical psychologist and mental health coordinators. Families can receive on average £483 per child, per week to help with the costs associated with raising a child.

To find out more about fostering visit: https://www.essexadoptionandfostering.co.uk 

Information events are held regularly with the next events on 26 November and 3 December.

You can also call 0800 801530

Essex Police are Recruiting

Essex Police are currently recruiting for active citizens in the Braintree District.

Active Citizens play a vital role in making the area in which we live, work, or visit, safer and less vulnerable to crime and antisocial behaviour.

They do this by working with the community and through supporting community policing teams in distributing crime prevention advice.

They advise people on what they can do to secure their homes, protect their belongings, and prevent becoming a victim of crime.

They’ll also support our community policing teams with proactive days of action and lend their administrative skills and support to those organising the events.

Many of our Active Citizens work with our community policing teams, but there are also opportunities to work alongside some of our specialist teams too.

These include our Fraud Prevention Team, Hate Crime Team, Management of Sexual Offenders and Violent Offenders (MOSOVO) Team and our Cyber and Digital Forensic Team.

 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER TO WORK WITH ESSEX POLICE AS AN ACTIVE CITIZEN

TO HELP REDUCE CRIME PLEASE SEND YOUR FULL DETAILS AND EMAIL ADDRESS TO active.citizen@essex.police.uk

Or for more information contact PC James Draper