VOLUNTARY organisations, faith groups, schools and more will receive over £120,000 for projects to improve the health of residents in Essex, thanks to a £7.5 million public health grant scheme.

Children’s mindfulness sessions, water-based exercise classes and support for those at risk of homelessness are amongst the latest projects to benefit from Essex County Council’s Public Health Accelerator Bids (PHAB) small grants programme.

PHAB was set up as part of the council’s commitment to reducing health inequalities, and support the aims of the Essex Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities Business Plan.

In the latest round, 11 organisations will receive a total of £120,521 for projects designed to improve the mental and physical health of residents in Essex.

The 11 successful organisations are: 

• CVS Tendring: to launch Beat the Street, as mass participation behaviour change programme, in Harwich and Dovercourt, which hopes to increase physical activity levels and connect residents with their community
• Wickford PCN: to engage young children with mindfulness techniques taught as “superpowers”, assisting with the transition to primary school
• The Batic Partnership Trust, Castle Point: to expand its existing counselling sessions across a consortium of schools to include staff wellbeing and health, family intervention and activities for families struggling with mental health
• Integration Support Services, Harlow: to set up a women’s health club in Harlow, supporting female refugees, asylum seekers and migrants to try physical activities, health talks and meditation
• Places Leisure, Maldon: to run a six-week aqua exercise programme, delivered in conjunction with GPs, hospitals and physiotherapists
• Basildon Mind: to host weekly exercise and talk sessions, combined with light touch support and social sessions
• Essential SEND Consultancy CIC, Essex-wide: to support children with Special Educational Needs to give them the skills and knowledge to become peer educators promoting a positive lifestyle within their settings and the wider community
• Hatzola Canvey Ltd, Castle Point: to run a programme addressing critical health issues in the Orthodox Jewish Community, focusing on diabetes, heart disease, obesity and mental health
• The Deanes, Castle Point: to run activity club for local over 60s in the area, including a cross-generational games club one afternoon a week
• Trinity Methodist Church, Tendring: to support those at risk of homelessness with their mental health and wellbeing with the provision of a safe space for socialising, mentoring, developing skills and confidence
• Tendring Specialist Stroke Services, Colchester and Tendring: to provide those who have had a stroke with specialised support to improve their confidence, health and mental wellbeing

Councillor John Spence, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care and ICS Integration, said: “Our PHAB small grants programme has already supported dozens of unique and innovative public health projects based across Essex, many of which are aiming to address some of the health inequalities which exist in the county.

“I look forward to seeing things progress on all of the successful projects, and the impact these will have in our communities.”

Lucy Wightman, Director of Wellbeing, Public Health and Communities at Essex County Council, said: “Through PHAB there are opportunities to support residents with a huge range of health issues and I would urge organisations across Essex to consider whether a grant could benefit them.”

The Public Health Accelerator Bids (PHAB) programme offers organisations the opportunity to bid for funding across two grant funding streams – small grants and major grants over £15,000.  

Small grants are worth up to £7,500. These have now supported more than 30 projects since PHAB launched in September 2023.

Find out more and apply for a PHAB grant.