Mid and South Essex Long Covid Service

04/11/2025

Join the Overlapping Illness Alliance for effective advocacy and support for those with overlapping health conditions.

04/11/2025

Did you know the best way to prevent falls and to stay independent, is by incorporating regular movement and balance exercises into your daily routine?

Our Fall Proof guide offers simple tips and routines you can build into everyday life.

👉 Read the guide here: https://orlo.uk/CzeA3

04/11/2025

Our Managing change in later life webinar identifies the different emotions we may experience when faced with change and provides practical tools to help us manage the different emotions that may arise from this.

Register here: www.hpft-talkingtherapies.nhs.uk/resources-and-self-help/webinars/managing-change-later-life

Adults

04/11/2025

🎄 Trust Links Christmas Market 🎄

Get into the festive spirit at our Christmas Market! 🎁✨

📅 Saturday 15th November
🕚 11am – 3pm
📍 Trust Links House, College Gardens, Rochford, SS4 1YL

Come along for a cosy festive day filled with:

🛍️ Beautiful market stalls
🍪 Homemade goodies
🎁 Perfect Christmas gifts

Bring your friends and family — you won’t want to miss this magical start to the season! 🎅🌟

04/11/2025

🌟 Free Slippers! 🌟

Healthwatch Essex Healthwatch will be providing free brand-new slippers to the most vulnerable in our communities, particularly those most at risk of slips, trips and falls.

The Healthwatch community bus will be in those areas listed across November and December and will contain lots of information as well as slippers about all things to do with Ageing Well.

Age Well East - Empowering You To Age Well


District Council

04/11/2025

04/11/2025

🌟 Introducing the new Healthy Mind Service 🌟

We’re thrilled to launch Healthy Mind Hubs: welcoming, free spaces where anyone can access support for their mental wellbeing.

📣 Your voice matters 🧠 Whether you're a resident, a professional, or someone with lived experience, we want to hear from you! Help shape this exciting new service by sharing your insights on what’s missing in your community and how we can work together.

📣 Join our engagement and consultation process today!
👉 Get involved here: https://forms.office.com/e/7LRwpmKk5i

04/11/2025

“I want to get busy. I want to be doing something.” – Anita’s Story of strength and stigma.

“I want to get busy. I want to get out there. I want to be working, I want to be doing something.”
“Some days I can walk and walk, and then other days I get out of the house, take a few steps and say ‘that’s enough for today.’”

🌟These are the words of 27-year-old Anita Widdowson, who lives with the lasting effects of Long Covid. Despite daily challenges with fatigue, pain and mobility, Anita has set herself an incredible goal, to walk 140 miles by the end of December to raise funds for Long Covid Kids.

At LCK, we hear similar words from children and young people living with Long Covid.
They tell us:
🗣️ “I miss my friends.”
🗣️ “I want to be back at school.”
🗣️ “I just want to feel normal again.”

These voices remind us that people impacted are doing their best every single day to rebuild their lives while managing a dynamic and unpredictable condition.

Anita’s determination shines a light on the courage within our community and the urgent need for understanding, support and action.

👉 Read Anita’s full story on the BBC: Link in comments below

👉 Learn more and support her 140-mile fundraising challenge: Link in comments below

💫We’re so grateful to Chronically Anita for her strength, compassion and commitment to helping others. Every step she takes helps us to support others to take theirs.

04/11/2025

Our brand-new webinar: 'An Introduction to Men's Mental Health' has been created to provide a supportive space and offer practical guidance to help men look after their mental health.

Everyone faces mental health challenges at some point in their lives. But too often, misconceptions about what it means to be a “man” can make it harder to speak up or seek help.

This session explores:
✔️ How being open about emotions can support personal growth
✔️ Practical tools for managing mental health
✔️ An introduction to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
✔️ Support available through NHS Hertfordshire and Mid Essex Talking Therapies

Let’s break the stigma together and take the first step toward better mental wellbeing.

Find out more and sign up here: www.hpft-talkingtherapies.nhs.uk/resources-and-self-help/webinars/introduction-mens-mental-health

04/11/2025

Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Diet and MCAS
Join us on Wednesday 12th November from 7-8pm for a session hosted by dieticians and members of our dietetic advisory board, Chloe Hall and Nichola Williams.
Find out more about Chloe here: https://thecalmgutdietitian.com/ and Nichola here: https://thedietaryedit.com/
Join us for an interactive Q&A session exploring the complex relationship between diet, gastrointestinal (GI) health, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).
This webinar will dive into how mast cell activity can impact the gut, common challenges people face with digestion and food sensitivities, and practical dietary strategies that may help manage symptoms.
Find out more and book your place here: https://www.mastcellaction.org/mast-cell-action-events -960194f1-4a69-4096-a3aa-6565ae2ca84d-event-b22daaaf-c0b5-43e5-955c-cd8e00dca08e

04/11/2025

As temperatures drop, many people with dysautonomia struggle with cold intolerance due to poor circulation caused by low blood volume or blood pooling. If you find yourself constantly freezing while others are comfortable, you're not alone!

Here are evidence-based strategies to help manage cold intolerance this season:

Systemic Warming (whole body):
Layer your clothing—think base layers, mid-layers, and outer layers
Always wear gloves and hats when going outside
Use heated blankets and heated mattress pads
Avoid rapid temperature changes (like going from outdoors into heavy AC)

Local Warming (for cold extremities):
Hand warmers in pockets or gloves
Multiple layers of socks
Warm compresses on hands and feet
Soak your hands or feet in warm water
Gentle rubbing to stimulate circulation

The most important rule? Listen to your body's temperature needs and adapt your environment accordingly. Don't push through the discomfort—address it with these practical tools.
Stay warm out there! 💙

Learn more about thermoregulation with dysautonomia: https://dysautonomiasupport.pulse.ly/h1jmwelyt2

04/11/2025

What you need to know about ME/CFS

ME/CFS is a multi-systemic illness, meaning it can affect many parts of the body — including the immune, nervous, endocrine, and metabolic systems.

This graphic highlights some of the symptoms and changes people with ME/CFS experience every day.

Learn more in our free booklet: What you need to know about ME/CFS
Download now: https://meassociation.org.uk/1n2w