LEADERS from the NHS, Salvation Army and other organisations are preparing to set out how health, social care and wellbeing outcomes can be transformed for Essex residents.

The Caring Communities Commission has spent the past three months engaging with frontline workers, service users, local organisations and regional bodies to understand the pressures they face and opportunities for change.

Interactive sessions hosted in Colchester and Basildon saw care groups, hospices, charities and trusts discuss how vital local communities are to improving health, social care and wellbeing.

Around 100 attendees fed back on questions such as:

What are the main barriers to accessing voluntary and community services?
How can different organisations (public, private and voluntary) work together to better support communities?
What existing things are working well within communities to support better wellbeing?
What more can organisations do to support communities and residents?
Wendy Burt, Chief Executive of the Essex Carers Network, said: “This was a great opportunity to network with other Essex-based community organisations who share the passion we have at the Essex Carers Network. To utilise the amazing assets we have in our communities, to support our peers who for whatever reason may be finding things challenging.

“Being with other liked-minded colleagues, thinking about what works well in our communities and sharing ideas we had to make improvements is a great starting point. I look forward to hearing what the residents of Essex add to the mix when they have their opportunity to share their views.”

Drop-in sessions have also been held at County Hall in Chelmsford and Harlow Shopping Centre, giving residents the opportunity to share their experiences of public services.

The 12 commissioners, led by Commission Chair Councillor Beverley Egan, will now collate the wealth of feedback in order to publish its steps for change in the new year.

The upcoming report will focus on building capacity and strengthening connections which have been identified in local communities.

Residents are asked to share their experiences of public services in Essex with the commission by 6 January 2025 at https://consultations.essex.gov.uk/rci/caring-communities-commission

Residents can contact the Caring Communities Commission at [email protected] to hear about future engagement opportunities.

Councillor Egan said: “I am very proud to be chairing this ambitious Caring Communities Commission to identify new and different ways of improving public service outcomes, instead of just looking at how to pay climbing costs.

“We have worked closely with local organisations, frontline workers, service users and regional bodies to identify where change is needed to improve health and wellbeing across Essex.

“The Caring Communities Commission now looks forward to collating all the feedback and setting out steps for change in the new year.”