Community
Epping Community Hub
The new Civic Offices is much more than just a place to access your district council services.
The Epping Community Hub is a one-stop shop for residents to access a wide range of services for help and advice.
How it works
There will be set times and days when each organisation will be based at the Epping Community Hub. This is to ensure a range of services is available, there is space for private interviews and to observe social distancing.
For most services in the hub, you will need to book an appointment with the service you require. All contact details are below.
Social spaces in Epping Forest
Social spaces will be open in the hub on Monday from 1pm to 4pm to provide a free, safe, warm and comfortable space for those who need it. Find out more:
Services at the Epping Community Hub
Alzheimer’s Society
Dementia Connect, from Alzheimer’s Society, is a personalised dementia support service for anyone affected by dementia. It’s free, easy to access and puts you in touch with our dementia advisers. They will connect you to the support you need, from local face to face help, to phone and online advice.
At the hub
- Wednesday 10am to 2pm
Contact Dementia Connect at Alzheimer’s Society
- Call 0333 150 3456
- Email dementia.connect@alzheimers.org.uk
- Visit the website
Barclays
Following the closure of the Barclays Epping branch, they will now be assisting with banking enquiries and any banking digital support. Note that they will not be able to assist with cash transactions.
At the hub
- Wednesday 9.30am to 4.30pm
- Thursday 9.30am to 4.30pm
- Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm
Contact Barclays:
- Book an appointment via the Barclays website
- Call 0345 7 345 345 ( Barclays customer services)
Citizens Advice Epping Forest District
Citizens Advice offers free, impartial, confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person. The issues they cover include housing, immigration, work, benefits, debt and money, family and consumer. They have specialist advisers covering employment, benefits and debt problems and can refer to other specialist services if they are unable to advise on the presenting problem.
Citizens Advice will be offering initial conversations with people who come to the Hub. An appointment would be scheduled if further help is required.
At the hub:
- Thursday 10am to 1.30pm
Contact Citizens Advice Epping Forest District:
- For general advice call 0808 278 7855
- Visit the Citizens Advice website
Changing Pathways
Changing Pathways provides advocacy and support to survivors of domestic abuse.
At the hub:
- Friday 10am to 3pm
For advice call 0330 3337 444 (open from 8am to 8pm weekdays and 8am to 1pm weekends)
Contact Changing Pathways:
The Change Project
The Change Hub provide 1-2-1 interventions and advice to any resident over the age of 16 who want to make positive changes in how they behave in their relationships with others, whether this is with a partner, ex-partner or family member.
At the hub:
- Monday 2pm to 5.15pm
Contact The Change Project:
- Visit the The Change Project website
- Email tcp@thechangeportfolio.org
- Call 07519 103069
CHESS Homeless
CHESS works to ensure that people who find themselves homeless in Essex are supported in ways that enable them to move forward purposefully and in good health. They provide accommodation, support and sign-posting services to homeless adults.
At the hub:
- Friday 1.30pm to 4.30pm
To contact CHESS Homeless head office:
- Call 01245 281104
- Visit the CHESS website
The Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy.
At the hub:
- Thursday 9.30am to 4pm
To contact DWP:
Digital Inclusion Project
A local, multi-agency service, supporting individuals and families access services such as:
- Employment support
- Skills for life
- Online shopping
- Banking
- Socialising
- Health interventions and appointments
Delivered by WECAN and Voluntary Action Epping Forest; 1-2-1 digital support can be provided by appointment or drop in.
At the hub:
- Thursdays 9.30am to 12.30pm
Home visit digital support can also be discussed.
For more information contact:
- Email communityhub@vaef.org.uk
- Call 07529 222655
EFDC Services
All Epping Forest District Council services will be available from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm however, some services will have an enhanced presence at the hub throughout the week. Our Welcome Hub officers will be available to support customers access our services online.
At the hub:
Community, Culture and Wellbeing services – including community grant support:
- Monday 2pm to 5.15pm
- Wednesday 2pm to 5.15pm
- Thursday 2pm to 5.15pm
Homelessness triage and support officer – providing advice to anyone homeless or threatened with homelessness
- Monday to Thursday 9am to 5.15pm
- Friday 9am to 5pm
Revenue and Benefits – get advice and support with claiming housing benefit, Council Tax support, disabled relief, single person’s discounts, issuing of foodbank vouchers.
- Thursday 9am to 5.15pm
Contact us:
- Call 01992 564000
- Fill in a general enquiry form
Epping Forest Food Bank
Epping Forest Food Bank provides emergency food parcels to people who live in or near the Epping Forest district who have been referred to them by Frontline care.
At the hub:
- Tuesday 10am to 12pm
Contact Epping Forest Food Bank:
- Call 07402 032 313
- Email info@eppingforest.foodbank.org.uk
- Visit the Epping Forest Food Bank website
Essex County Council – Adult Social Care
Adult Social Care is a system of support designed to maintain and promote the independence and wellbeing of disabled people, older people, and informal carers.
Prevention and early intervention are at the heart of the system. If an individual has needs that are not eligible, their local authority will support them by signposting or connecting them with voluntary or local community organisations that can support their needs.
Assessments are carried out by professional social workers or other council adult social care staff.
At the hub:
- Friday 9:30am to 1pm
There is no need to book an appointment with Adult Social Care, just turn up on the day to speak to someone.
For more information or advice:
- Call 0345 603 7630
- Textphone 0345 758 5592
(Monday to Thursday, 8.45am to 5pm, Friday, 8.45am to 4.30pm)
- Out of hours queries call 0345 606 1212
- Email socialcaredirect@essex.gov.uk
- Visit the Essex County Council website
Essex Cares Ltd
Essex Cares Ltd supports individuals with a diagnosed learning disability and/or Autism into paid employment and work opportunities. They provide customers with a bespoke service which covers CV writing, applications, interview preparation, interview attendance support, job coaching and sustainment.
To book an appointment:
- Call 0333 013 5438
- Email employment@essexcares.org
- Website ecl.org
Essex County Council – Family Solutions
Essex County Council Family Solutions provides early support to families through joint appointments with partner agencies. Providing a safe space for families to get help and advice.
At the hub:
- Tuesdays 10am to 2pm (every third Tuesday of the month)
For further information or advice:
- Call 03330 139 934
- Visit https://www.essex.gov.uk/topic/childrenyoung-
people-and-families
Essex County Fire & Rescue Service
Essex County Fire & Rescue provide advice to keep people safe in their homes, at work and when travelling through Essex. Offering free Home Safety Visits including supplying and fitting smoke alarms for free.
At the hub:
- Tuesday 11am to 5pm
Contact Essex County Fire & Rescue
Essex Family Support Service (Community 360)
Essex Family Support Service (Community 360) provides support to families with a child aged 8-19 (25 for SEND) who are not receiving support from other statutory services, such as Family solutions or mental health services such as CAMHS. The support lasts for up to 10 weeks and is a mentorship-based program, providing support for the whole family.
At the hub:
- Every third Friday of the month 10am to 12noon
Contact Essex Family Support Service
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT)
EPUT is providing community mental health services will provide triage, assessment and treatment for individuals with mental health needs in the community.
At the hub:
Community mental health
- Friday 10am to 4pm
For the Community mental health service contact:
- Call 01279 967200
- Email mhaas@nhs.net
- Visit the EPUT website
For the Employ-Ability initiative contact
IPS Lead Employment Specialist
- Email s.witty@nhs.net
- Call 07827 885925
Retention Lead Specialist
- Email patrick.sullivan@nhs.net
- Call 07827 885924
HeadsUp Project Coordinator
- Email dave.cooper@employ-ability.info
- Call 07932 373616
The Essex Wellbeing Service
The Essex Wellbeing Service provides Essex residents (excluding Southend-On-Sea and Thurrock) with access to health checks; stop smoking services; weight management courses; and emotional health and wellbeing support.
At the hub:
- Monday 2pm to 4.30pm
For further information or advice
Open Road
Open Road offers a coaching services for the homeless and at-risk homeless to help them find employment and upskill their employment ability and knowledge.
At the hub:
- Monday and Wednesday to Friday 9am to 5pm
For further information or advice
- Call 01206 369782
- Email alfie.dowsett@openroad.org.uk
- Visit the Open Road website
Peabody Outreach Support
Essex Outreach Support offers a short-term support service to people over the age of 16 years, living within Essex who are experiencing a range of problems that are impacting their health, financial and housing wellbeing.
At the hub by appointment only:
- Friday 10am to 4pm
To make an appointment contact:
- Call 0800 2888 883
- Email efsco-ordinator@peabody.org.uk
For further information or advice
Voluntary Action Epping Forest
Voluntary Action Epping Forest (VAEF) is an independent charity whose core work is aimed at helping other local charities and community groups to achieve their full potential.
VAEF develops new initiatives to meet the community’s needs, such as:
- Ace Activities for people with learning difficulties
- Benefits advice for housebound residents
- Befriending for older people who live on their own or in isolation
- Gardening and handyman services, providing help from trusted workers to people who need it
The charity also provides a comprehensive volunteer service to help local people become involved in volunteering.
At the hub:
- Monday 11.15am to 4.30pm
- Wednesday 10am to 1.30pm
To contact VAEF:
- Call 01992 910 701
- Email admin@vaef.org.uk
- Visit the VAEF website