Space to Gather’s are a safe space for families who care for a loved one with a learning disability which could include autism and other disabilities too, to get together . Our Space to Gather’s are a great place to meet other family carers, and to access a number of resources on various subjects.

We provide refreshments and of course biscuits. Periodically we will have guest speakers, from social workers to learning disability liaison nurses. If you would like a particular service to attend one of our Space to Gather’s, please do get in touch.

The most important things that we aim to do are:
o Working to make sure our families have the tools, resources and information they need to feel strong, resilient and empowered in order for them to advocate for their family.
o Working to ensure the lived experiences and voices of our families informs and influences the future landscape and opportunities for people with a learning disability, which may include autism and other disabilities too and their families in Essex.

Our Space to Gather’s are in various locations in Essex and our meetings are held every other month.

Online -Evening

Join us on the first Monday of each month from the comfort of your home for our virtual evening ‘Space to Gather’.

Grab a cuppa or your favourite tipple and join us for a chat, information sharing, or share your lived experience (if you wish) with other family carers who care for someone with a learning disability which may include autism.

(If the first Monday falls on a Bank Holiday, the virtual evening Space to Gather will most likely be moved to the following Monday. We will keep you updated of any changes.)

Time: 6.30 pm to 8 pm.

If you would like to join, send us an email at info@essexcarersnetwork.co.uk or contact the office on 01255 554029 and will will send you the Zoom meeting link.

Future dates:
Monday 3rd of June
Monday 1st of July
Monday 5th August
Monday 2nd September
Monday 7th October
Monday 4th November
Monday 2nd December

(Dates for 2025 will be available soon)

Online -Daytime

Join us on the forth Wednesday of each month from the comfort of your home, your lunch break or your car for our virtual daytime ‘Space to Gather’.

Grab a cuppa and join us for a chat & catch up. Each month we may have new information that we will share, or you can share your lived experience (if you wish) with other family carers who care for someone with a learning disability which may include autism.

If you would like to know more about a specific topic or would like to know more about something in particular, do email us and we can theme the monthly catch ups.

Time: 11.00 am to 12.30 pm.

If you would like to join, send us an email at info@essexcarersnetwork.co.uk or contact the office on 01255 554029 and will will send you the Zoom meeting link.

Future dates:
Wednesday 24th July
Wednesday 28th August
Wednesday 25th September
Wednesday 23rd October
Wednesday 27th November
Wednesday 18th December

(Dates for 2025 will be available soon)

Face to Face in Tendring

Our next Space to Gather in Tendring is on Wednesday 20th of November at 10 am to 1 pm.

Venue: Cadows, 24 Old Road ,Clacton- on-Sea, Essex CO15 1HX.

We will be joined by some of the adult social care team.

We know as families you don’t have the opportunity to speak to a social worker unless it’s during an assessment or review, at our up coming space to gather we are really pleased to be welcoming some of the adult social care  team to our meeting.

They will be available to talk to the group and listen to worries and concerns, although they will not be able to act on specific individual cases, they will be able to take concerns back to the team to act on.

We have told them that we think people may be interested in talking about:

Reviews-when to expect them

Disability Related Expenses (DRE)-what are they?

Carers Assessments-are they of any use?

If you have something else you are keen to discuss let us know.

Ongoing we will visit various venues throughout Tendring, please email paula@essexcarersnetwork.co.uk to find out where we will be, or watch our website, newsletters & social media for details.

Face to Face in Chelmsford-Mid Essex

Our next Space to Gather in Chelmsford is on Tuesday 24th of September at 10 am to 12 pm in Seminar Room 2, Central Baptist Church, Victoria Road South, Chelmsford, Essex. CM1 1LN. (When you enter through the main entrance door, Seminar Room 2 is directly opposite.)

This month we will be joined by some of the Mid Essex Social worker team.

We know as families you don’t have the opportunity to speak to a social worker unless it’s during an assessment or review, at our up coming space to gather we are really pleased to be welcoming some of the adult social care social work team to our meeting.

They will be available to talk to the group and listen to worries and concerns, although they will not be able to act on specific individual cases, they will be able to take concerns back to the team to act on.

We have told them that we think people may be interested in talking about:

Reviews-when to expect them

Disability Related Expenses (DRE)-what are they?

Carers Assessments-are they of any use?

If you have something else you are keen to discuss let us know.

We don’t normally ask our families to let us know if they are attending, however as we have attendance from professionals this month, we are asking if you could let us know, if you are attending. This will help us to ensure we have enough space and enough refreshments.

Please use the link below to let us know if you will be attending.
https://essexcarersnetwork.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=03e4d9aa5b12e1a73e6e6107a&id=d25a0f1928&e=3283d1bdaf

Future date:
Tuesday 10th December

(Dates for 2025 will be available soon)

Colchester in North Essex

We looking forward to seeing you at our next meeting in Colchester on Tuesday 26th of November at  6.45 pm to 8.45 pm at the Kingsland Church, (Joel Room), 86 London Road, Colchester. CO3 9DW.

There is Free parking on site.

This month we will be joined by some of the North Essex Social care team.

We know as families you don’t have the opportunity to speak to a social worker unless it’s during an assessment or review, at our up coming space to gather we are really pleased to be welcoming some of the adult social care  team to our meeting.

They will be available to talk to the group and listen to worries and concerns, although they will not be able to act on specific individual cases, they will be able to take concerns back to the team to act on.

For more information please email paula@essexcarersnetwork.co.uk

(Dates for 2025 will be available soon)

Face to Face West Essex-Harlow

Space to Gather in West Essex will be back in Harlow on the Thursday 12th Of December. We will be joined by some of the West Essex Social Care team.

Time: 10 am to 12 pm
Venue: Blue Room, The Latton Bush Centre, Southern Way, Harlow. CM18 7BL. (Free parking on site.)

We know as families you don’t have the opportunity to speak to a social worker unless it’s during an assessment or review, at our up coming space to gather we are really pleased to be welcoming some of the adult social care social work team to our meeting.

They will be available to talk to the group and listen to worries and concerns, although they will not be able to act on specific individual cases, they will be able to take concerns back to the team to act on.

We have told them that we think people may be interested in talking about:

Reviews-when to expect them

Disability Related Expenses (DRE)-what are they?

Carers Assessments-are they of any use?

If you have something else you are keen to discuss let us know.

We don’t normally ask our families to let us know if they are attending, however as we have attendance from professionals this month, we are asking if you could let us know, if you are attending. This will help us to ensure we have enough space and enough refreshments.

https://us14.list-manage.com/survey?u=03e4d9aa5b12e1a73e6e6107a&id=f570b18540&attribution=false

(Dates for 2025 will be available soon)