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 ESSEX CARERS' FORUM

Since 1996 the Essex Carers Forum has provided an opportunity for voluntary organisations that have contact with Essex carers to come together and share mutual ideas of good practice and to take common issues to statutory providers. This role of representing the carers of our large county has proved beneficial for the organisations, the Health and Social Care providers and of course family carers.

There are two lists below. The first one is a comprehensive list of organisations that work together through the Essex Carers Forum with links to their own websites. The second list describes the current committees and consultation groups that members of the Essex Carers Forum attend in order to ensure that carers' voices are heard.

Organisation within Essex Carers Forum

The following list of organisations is limited to those who have been in contact with the Essex Carers Forum recently and have a website that can be accessed.

  • Accuro

  • Action For Family Carers (aka: Maldon Carers)

  • Alzheimer's Society
    Go to "Local Information" and then select your local branch (Epping Forest, Harlow, Tendring, Uttlesford, etc)

  • Audrey Appleton Trust

  • Avenue Carers Centre - Westcliff

  • Carers UK

  • Essex County Council Carers Leaflet
    This contains useful information about voluntary and statutory organisations that can help Essex carers.

  • Caring For Harlow Carers

  • Clacton & District Stroke Association

  • Colchester Carers Centre For Children

  • Colchester Catalyst Charity

  • Community Voluntary Services - Tendring

  • Council for Voluntary Service - Basildon, Billericay & Wickford

  • Council for Voluntary Service - Brentwood

  • Council for Voluntary Service - Chelmsford

  • Council for Voluntary Service - Colchester

  • Council for Voluntary Service - Thurrock

  • Council for Voluntary Service - Uttlesford

  • Crossroads Schemes throughout Essex

  • Dengie Project Trust

  • Dove Centre

  • Essex Carers Support

  • Essex County Council - Carers Support

  • Essex Respite Care Association

  • Essex Volunteer Centres

  • Families In Focus

  • Family Support - Brightlingsea

  • Family Support - Clacton

  • Great Bentley Good Neigbours

  • Halstead Day Centre

  • Harlow Stroke Support Group

  • Harlow, Epping & District Young Carers

  • Headway - Essex

  • Help for Children, Young People & Families in the Basildon, Billericay & Wickford District
    This comprehensive directory contains information on such support organisations as PATCHES

  • MIND - Brentwood

  • North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust - Carers Support

  • SAFE - Supporting Aspergers Families in Essex

  • SCOPE
    A large and useful website well worth searching

  • SNAP - Special Needs And Parents

  • Southend Carers Forum

  • Stroke Association - Essex (East of England)

  • Uttlesford Carers



    Committees attended by Essex Carers Forum

    PARTICIPATION NETWORK FORUM
     A group of over twenty organisations in Essex that represent the views of disabled people and their carers. The collective knowledge is used to advise Essex County Council and other public authorities on removing barriers in the community.

    NEW DEAL FOR CARERS
     We attend meetings staged by the Carers Strategy Team within Essex County Council. The remit is to apply the principles of the national paper "New Deal For Carers". Issues include: An emergency plan for carers, Help and information, Links between Health and Social Care and an Expert Carers Programme.

    E-PAG (Essex - Participation Advisory Group)
     Within the Participation Network Forum we work closely with representatives of all disability and impairment groups. These meet regularly as E-PAG. We often share information and debate common issues.

    ADVOCACY ALLIANCE
     The Advocacy Alliance brings together the professional advocates in Essex who support people with disabilities and their carers. A large proportion of the work that carers' support groups perform can be defined as advocacy. The Advocacy Alliance allows advocates to share good practice and to discuss common issues.

    COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND OLDER PEOPLE BOARD
     Essex Carers Forum occasional attend and remain on the mailing list of this important group. It comprises of senior managers within Essex Adult Health & Community Well-being (Social Services) and discussions relate to the practical implimentation of policies and guidelines.

    CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES STRATEGY GROUP
     Parents of disabled children are well represented at this important group. The national initiative entitled "Aiming High For Disabled Children" is high on the agenda of the CWD Strategy Group who are currently setting up processes to address the issues relating to the project. The Essex Carers Forum (ECF) liaises with parent carer member organisations as well as attending as the ECF.

    RELATIVES & RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION (ESSEX)
     This is part of a national project to advise and support people going into residential care or who are already in care. Their relatives are also acknowledged as needing help and advice. This is a hitherto unaddressed area. Lord Hanningfield, Chairman of Essex County Council, has adopted this work as one of his priorites. Essex Carers Forum will increase its input into this project as it grows.

    CARERS MULTI-AGENCY STRATEGY GROUP
     Many voluntary organisations receive funding from the local authority (Essex County Council). The Carers Multi-agency Strategy Group brings them together to discuss mutual issues alongside their funding managers.

    EAST OF ENGLAND REGIONAL CARERS SUPPORT GROUP
     This group is hosted by the Princess Royal Trust and brings together representatives from carers support organisations working in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

    INTERVIEW PANELS
     Essex Carers Forum is called upon to represent the carers of the county on numerous interview panels for appointments relating to social care.

    You can E-MAIL the Essex Carers Forum at:

    mrb@carersten.freeserve.co.uk