RRAVS | Rayleigh and Rochford District Association for Voluntary Service

Job Vacancies at SCAFT

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:01:30 +0000

Due to the demands of their services, Supporting Carers and families Together are looking for more staff to join their team and support Young Carers aged 6-18 years old. Previous experience working with young people would be an advantage.

Session Worker
Location: Rayleigh and/or Rochford
Hours: Max 3 hours per week – Term time only, Monday evenings

One2One Schools Support Worker
Location: Local Secondary and Primary Schools across the Rochford District
Hours: Hours negotiable – Term time only

Service Delivery Manager
Location: Office located in Rayleigh
Hours: Hours negotiable

To apply: Email info@scaft.org.uk
Closing date: 2nd October 2026

Video – Dementia Information and Support Day

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 10:39:14 +0000

On 16 September Rayleigh Town Council held a Dementia Information and Support Day, bringing together local organisations offering advice, information and support for people living with dementia, their families and carers. Events like this help people find out what support is available locally and, importantly, where to turn when they need help. A big thank you to everyone involved in organising today and to all the organisations giving their time to support our community.
More local support information can be found at https://rravs.org.uk/2024/07/24/groups-meetings-for-those-living-with-dementia-their-carers/

Watch below as Cllr Elizabeth Brewer explains more about the event.

The Good Life Festival

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:51:32 +0000

Hosted by Rochford District Council The Good Life Festival is a vibrant community event dedicated to promoting health, independence, and overall well-being for older residents across the district.

Designed to help locals discover how to stay well in later life, the free festival brings together a wide array of local charities, health services, and activity groups under one roof. Visitors can explore practical guidance on physical fitness, mental health, and active living, while connecting with local support networks. It serves as an accessible hub for social connection, active aging, and community engagement

Tuesday, September 22, 10 AM – 2 PM.
Ashingdon & East Hawkwell Memorial Hall, Ashingdon Road, Rochford SS4 3HF.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

ABCDE (Asset Based Community Development Essex) Workshop

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:36:07 +0000

The ABCDE (Asset Based Community Development Essex) Workshop is an interactive session exploring how a strengths-based approach helps local communities thrive. Tailored for both newcomers to ABCD and those seeking to refresh their knowledge, the workshop covers how to identify local assets, build on community strengths, and support positive change using practical examples from across Essex.

Event Details
Date: Wednesday 21st October 2026
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Venue: The Paddocks, Long Road, Canvey Island, Essex, SS8 0JA
Catering: Lunch is provided
Registration Scan the QR code to register your place or CLICK HERE

Download the poster below.
Supported by Active Essex and Your Essex Community.

Disclosure and Barring Service’s (DBS) annual conference

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 16:24:29 +0000

Registration is now open for the Disclosure and Barring Service’s (DBS) annual conference – a FREE event bringing together the safeguarding community to share expertise and drive better protection outcomes.

This two-day virtual conference takes place on 6 and 7 October and will offer insights from leading safeguarding experts through keynote speeches, interactive workshops, panel discussions, fireside chats, and live Q&A sessions.

Day one explores safeguarding, legislative change and partnership working, including mandatory reporting, safer recruitment, barring decision-making and the role of effective partnerships in protecting children and vulnerable adults.
Day two explores information sharing, digital transformation, and public protection, with sessions covering safeguarding adults, the DBS Strategy, customer experience, and the role of regulators in supporting safer recruitment and safeguarding.

You’ll hear from notable speakers including Dr Gillian Fairfield, DBS Chairman, and Dr Jeff James CBE, DBS Chief Executive.

DBS has also partnered with key organisations in the safeguarding space, including the Information Commissioner’s Office and the Ann Craft Trust, to deliver sessions on regulation, data, and safeguarding adults.

This conference is open to anyone working in or interested in safeguarding, including professionals from statutory services, voluntary organisations, and partner agencies.

If you are unable to attend on the days you can still access all the conference sessions after the conference has finished so, please still register for access.

Browse the full two-day agenda and then register your attendance on the DBS Conference 2026 page and follow DBS on LinkedIn for updates and additional event details.

Up to £20,000 for Local Capital Projects!

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:04:48 +0000

The Morrisons Foundation has launched its Connecting Communities Grant, offering registered charities up to £20,000 for capital projects that revitalise physical spaces, tackle social isolation, and keep essential local services running.

Who Can Apply?
Eligible Groups: Registered charities (e.g., community centres, village halls, youth clubs, SEN facilities, shelters, warm hubs).
Requirements: Must own the property or hold a lease with at least 3 years remaining, and have at least one set of filed accounts.

Key Project Focus
Upgrading, renovating, or revitalizing indoor/outdoor community spaces.
Improving accessibility, security, or fixed equipment (e.g., boilers, ramps, playground equipment).

Deadlines & Timelines
Deadline: No fixed deadline — applications are accepted continuously and processed on a rolling monthly basis.
Turnaround: Decisions are typically delivered within 8 weeks of applying.

Ready to transform your community space? Read the Connecting Communities Grant Policy and submit your application via the Morrisons Foundation Portal

Essex Activity Awards are now live!

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 12:49:39 +0000

Active Essex is bringing back the Essex Activity Awards on Thursday, 3rd December, marking a 20-year milestone of recognising the inspiring people and organisations making a difference through physical activity, sport, and wellbeing across Greater Essex.

The awards celebrate athletes, coaches, volunteers, schools, employers, and partners who work tirelessly to create healthier, happier, and more connected communities. More than an awards night, the event showcases the power of physical activity in boosting mental and physical health, strengthening local partnerships, and inspiring even more residents to get active.

The awards are a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on the individuals, clubs, schools, organisations, projects and employers helping people across Greater Essex to lead more active, healthy and connected lives.

See the categories and make your nominations here – Please note that nominations close at midnight on 30^th September.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS)

admin — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:08:14 +0000

The Boiler Upgrade Scheme (BUS) is a UK government initiative that provides upfront capital grants to help property owners in England and Wales replace fossil fuel heating (gas, oil, LPG, electric) with low-carbon systems.

Grant Amounts

Air/Ground/Water Source Heat Pumps: £7,500
Off-Gas Grid Uplift: £9,000 for eligible oil/LPG homes
Biomass Boilers: £5,000 (rural, off-gas properties only)

Eligibility
You must own the property (including second homes, business premises, and private lets) and have a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). Standard new-builds and social housing are excluded, but self-builds qualify.

Key Deadlines
Commissioning Rule: The installer must apply for the voucher within 120 days of commissioning the heat pump.
Installation Window: Once approved, installers have 3 months to complete air source heat pumps and 6 months for ground source heat pumps.
Off-Gas Uplift Window: The £9,000 grant rate applies to applications submitted up to 31 March 2027.
Scheme Expiry: The overall scheme runs until 31 December 2027.

Applications are installer-led; an MCS certified installer applies via Ofgem and deducts the grant directly from your invoice.

More information: https://www.gov.uk/apply-boiler-upgrade-scheme/check-if-youre-eligible

Healthy Family Relationships Small Grants

admin — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 09:32:08 +0000

As part of Essex County Council’s ongoing commitment to supporting families, the Healthy Family Relationships (HFR) Grants Programme is now open for applications. This initiative offers funding to community organisations that have completed training in Healthy Family Relationships (HFR), Non-Violent Resistance (NVR), or Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC). Funding will support the delivery of local activities that help families build stronger, healthier relationships and reduce family conflict.

Funding is available through two grant programmes:
Community Grant A
• Up to £12,000 per eligible organisation
• For established organisations with a proven track record of delivering Healthy Family Relationship interventions
• Delivery must be provided over a minimum 6-month period

Community Grant B
• Up to £2,833.83 per eligible organisation
• For newly trained organisations, emerging providers or organisations wishing to test innovative approaches
• Delivery must be provided over a minimum 6-week period
All funded activity must be completed and all grant funding spent by 31 March 2027.

Healthy Family Relationships Small Grants – Now Open
Are you a community organisation passionate about helping families thrive? Essex County Council is offering funding to support local projects that promote healthier family relationships and reduce conflict within families.
If your team has completed training in Healthy Family Relationships (HFR), Non-Violent Resistance (NVR), or Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC), you may be eligible to apply.

Funding can support:
• Healthy Family Relationships (HFR), Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) and Reducing Parental Conflict (RPC) programmes
• Workshops or discussion groups that strengthen communication and reduce conflict
• Peer support groups that build connection and reduce isolation
• 1:1 support to help families embed positive relationship strategies into daily life

What are HFR, NFR and RPC
HFR: Training that helps families build stronger, healthier relationships through early intervention and whole-family approaches.
NVR: A parenting approach that promotes non-violent communication, connection, and parental presence to manage challenging behaviour. RPC: Training that supports parents to recognise and reduce conflict within parental relationships and understand the impact of conflict on children and young people. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the programme period.

Application
Applications submitted by the 15th of each month will be reviewed, and applicants will normally be notified of the outcome within approximately one week. Full details of the funding criteria and application process can be found in the Healthy Family Relationship Grant Prospectus and Application Form.

For further information regarding eligibility or the application process, please contact: HealthyFamilyRelationshipsCommissioning@essex.gov.uk

Application Deadlines
Friday 14^th August, 2026
Tuesday 15^th September, 2026
Thursday 15^th October, 2026
Friday 13^th November, 2026
Tuesday 15^th December, 2026
Friday 15^th January, 2027

Please email HealthyFamilyRelationshipscommissioning@essex.gov.uk to request an application pack

Telling Your Story

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 14:12:08 +0000

Telling Your Story workshop to map pathways from activities to impact, identify assumptions, and align outcomes with strategic goals.
Every local organisation has a story to tell. This practical programme will help you explain yours clearly, confidently and in a way that funders, partners and supporters can understand.
The programme is designed for small charities, community groups, faith groups, volunteer-led organisations, and emerging local projects. No previous experience of evaluation, impact reporting or Telling Your Story is needed.
You will learn how to explain:

what need your organisation is responding to
who benefits from your work
what difference you make
how you can evidence that difference
how to use your impact story in funding bids, reports and planning

The programme includes two half-day workshops and a short piece of work between sessions. Participants must be able to commit to the full programme.

Workshop 1: Thursday 15 October, 9:30am–1:00pm
In-person session introducing practical tools including Telling Your Story, logic chains and evaluation frameworks. You will use clear examples and simple templates to start mapping your organisation’s impact.

Between sessions
You will draft or refine an organisation-level Telling Your Story or Logic model and a project-level model, with light-touch feedback to help strengthen your thinking.

Workshop 2: Thursday 19 November, 10:00am-2:00pm
An online practical review and implementation session to improve your draft models and show how they can support funding applications, funder reports, project planning and conversations with trustees, partners and stakeholders.
By the end of the programme, you will have greater confidence in telling your organisation’s story, clearer language to describe your impact, and practical tools you can keep using.

Please note: A £10 deposit is required to secure your place and will be fully refunded upon attendance, details will be emailed seperately. Please register on both dates. Once your place has been secured, a questionnaire will be sent to you for completion before attendance.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1993133959326?aff=oddtdtcreator