B&Q Colchester (Tollgate)

To relieve the condition of disadvantaged persons in mid-essex experiencing difficulties with homelessness, joblessness, substance misuse, physical and mental health problems, learning difficulties by the provision of support services to assist them in maintaining normal relationships with and within their community.

From August 2021, we welcome 32 families who came from Afghanistan after the Taliban problem in Kabul. We work with the local churches and local community groups to support us with donations for newly arrived families. The churches have been very supportive for the mission. St. John the Baptist church at Mt Bures, Hope Community Witham, Castle Methodist church, Fordham church and most of the local community groups in Colchester. We visit the newly arrived families after they got home from the refugee centre, which they provided them with basic items such as: fridge, freeze, washing machine, cooker, sofas and a bed. We are involved with these newly arrived families to provide them with all their needs, like: clothes, shoes, toys for the children, food in a weakly basis, kitchen devices, beddings, gardening tools, hoovers, mirrors and hair driers and we visit them regularly to support them and give them advise for education and NHS and the rest of the rules in UK. We also connected them with families through churches, so they can befriend them rather than being isolated. All of our services to our clients are provided free of charge.

Essex Dementia Care is a small local Essex based charity with over fifteen years’ experience helping people with dementia continue to live active and fulfilling lives, keeping them out of full time care for longer. As part of the service, EDC also provide valuable support and respite to family carers. Our One2One ‘Memory Companion’ service is tailored to the individual’s personality and needs, enabling them to maintain a sense of well-being and independence for as long as possible. We also run several activity groups that are designed to support different stages of the dementia journey within a social setting. Our services have also proven invaluable for providing care givers with much-needed respite. Our One2One ‘Memory Companion’ service is tailored to the individual’s personality and needs, enabling them to maintain a sense of well-being and independence for as long as possible. We also run several activity groups that are designed to support different stages of the dementia journey within a social setting. Our services have also proven invaluable for providing care givers with much-needed respite. The ’Every Day Counts’ groups support people in the earlier stages of dementia whilst the Oasis groups have a gentler schedule suited to those whose dementia has progressed further. Activity groups are held at Bradwell, Braintree and at Sandon, Broomfield, Writtle and Chelmer in Chelmsford. Although EDC do charge for services, the charges do not cover the full cost of providing the service and EDC do ask for support with surplus food and donations to assist with the cost of providing the services. We offer a FREE ‘Taster Day’ for new clients at our activity centres and alternatively a FREE two hour One2One session so that people can see if service is right for them.