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.
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
- Website alzheimers.org.uk/support
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:
- Wednesday 10am to 3pm
For advice call 0330 3337 444 (open from 8am to 8pm weekdays and 8am to 1pm weekends)
Contact Changing Pathways:
- Visit the Changing Pathways website
- For referrals visit the Essex Compass website or email enquiries@essexcompass.org.uk
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:
- Wednesday 2pm to 5pm
- 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:
- Tuesday 9.30am to 4pm
- Thursday 9.30am to 4pm
To contact DWP:
- Call 07776 619020
- Email loughtonjobcentre.jcploughtonjobcentreeppinghub@dwp.gov.uk
- Visit the GOV.UK website
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 support, direction and shelter to those faced 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 County Council – Family Solutions
Family Solutions is a service in Essex working with disadvantaged families, with multiple difficulties, enabling them to make significant changes and improvements to their lives.
Family Solutions works with families who have 2 or more of the following difficulties:
- No family member in work
- Significant non-school attendance (for whatever reason)
- Members involved in crime or anti-social behaviour
- Affected by domestic violence
- Living with drug and alcohol misuse
- With children in need and were open to social care
- With children who exhibit significant behavioural difficulties
- Facing eviction or with significant rent arrears or neighbour disputes
- With 1 or more member of the household with (tier 2) mental health needs
At the hub:
- Tuesday 10am to 2pm
All referral needs to go through the Essex Family Operations Hub, all walk-in customers will be able to receive information advice and guidance only.
- Call 0345 603 7627
- Visit the Essex County Council website
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT)
EPUT is providing 2 different services at the hub.
- Community mental health services will provide triage, assessment and treatment for individuals with mental health needs in the community.
- Employ-Ability is for those receiving secondary mental health care. They have 3 services on offer; Individual placement and support service, helping to produce a plan/cv and identify specific support needs to ensure a good job match; Job Retention, supporting those in primary and secondary services who’s jobs are at risk as a result of their mental ill health and; HeadsUp, designed to support people with common mental health problems and progress them from long term unemployment into employment or training.
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
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:
- Friday 10am to 2pm
For further information or advice
- Call 0800 2888 883
- Email efsco-ordinator@peabody.org.uk
- Visit the Peabody website
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