Faces Uk CIC

15/11/2025

💖Girls and Goals - Empowering Women Through
Sport! 🏏 ⚽️🎾

This girls and women only initiative is all about building confidence, improving wellbeing, and connecting through sport:
✨Saturdays, 12-1pm
✨Girls and women only
✨A fun mix of tennis, cricket, and football, promoting teamwork, empowerment, and enjoyment!

15/11/2025

Join us at Harwich ParkPlay for fun and games today from 10am to 12pm! It’s perfect for the whole family, and it’s completely FREE! 💙🎉

12/11/2025

Take a look at our most recent achievements from our Q2 report!

The Sport and Youth Crime Prevention project continues to make a real impact, supporting young people, delivering mentoring, and working with trusted local organisations to create safer communities and brighter futures.

07/11/2025

🌟 Local Support for You 🌟

Did you know there are over 130 parent carer support groups listed on the Essex Local Offer?

Use the filters to find groups near you:
🔗 send.essex.gov.uk/search-support-groups-and-activities

💬 We’d love to hear from you:

Which groups do you belong to? Which would you recommend to other parents and carers?

Drop your suggestions in the comments 👇

https://send.essex.gov.uk/search-support-groups-and-activities?f%5B0%5D=localgov_directories_facets%3A33

03/11/2025

https://www.essexvvu.co.uk/exploitation/?utm_source=e-shot&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Your+Essex+November+25

What is Child Exploitation? Child exploitation is when someone uses a child for financial gain, sexual gratification, criminal activity, labour or personal advantage. The exploitation of children can take several different forms and perpetrators who exploit children will use different techniques to....

03/11/2025

✨About Me Profile✨ Charlotte Aston

I joined FacesUK CIC in early 2025 after spotting the Funding Coordinator role advertised. I’d previously worked front of house at The Lighthouse during seasonal periods, so I already knew what a friendly and passionate team they were — and I knew it was somewhere I wanted to be.

Before joining FacesUK, I was working in roles that didn’t allow me to reach my full potential. With a background in business, administration, and care, I had a range of valuable skills, but I hadn’t yet found the right opportunity to bring them all together.

When I applied for the Funding Coordinator position, the team recognised my potential straight away. Even though I hadn’t worked on funding applications before, I was eager to learn, and this role has given me the chance to grow and develop new skills that truly align with my experience and interests.

I now work closely with Bridie, our Project Coordinator, supporting all areas of the organisation, from funding bids and project delivery to community engagement and events. It’s so rewarding to see how every bit of funding we secure directly benefits local people.

31/10/2025

✨About Me Profile ✨ Ellesha Lines

After completing my childcare apprenticeship, I wasn’t completely sure what direction I wanted to take next. I joined The Lighthouse as a waitress over the summer, and that’s where my FacesUK journey truly began.

I quickly discovered a passion for creativity and organisation, and within a few months, I moved into event coordination. I love helping to plan, decorate, and bring community events to life. For the first time, I felt like I’d found a place where I belonged, where I could see both my own potential and the potential of the team around me.

During that time, I was drawn to the Holiday Club that was running alongside my work. With my background in childcare, I was eager to get involved, and before long, I joined the team. Shortly after i became a Holiday Club Leader, creating new ideas and activities to support children and families in our community.

Running the clubs opened my eyes to how much working parents rely on our services and how important our support is to so many families. The Holiday Club became a real “home from home” for me, and it inspired me to keep growing within the organisation.

As our clubs expanded, I developed a strong passion for supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). I’m now proud to be the SEND Coordinator, working closely with children and families, learning from their experiences, and helping to grow our inclusive and accessible services across the community.

From completing my childcare apprenticeship to now being a Director of FacesUK CIC, my journey has been full of growth, learning, and purpose. FacesUK has helped shape the person I’ve become, and I hope my story inspires other young people to believe that no matter where you start, your potential can take you anywhere.

31/10/2025

Lets take a look back on the Heritage & History of our venue The Lighthouse Sports and Social Hub Dovercourt Skating Rink 🛼

The Dovercourt Roller Skating Rink first opened its doors in 1947, becoming one of the town’s most popular seaside attractions. Its grand opening featured a display by professional skaters Harry Taylor and Barbara Hanson, and from that moment, it became a much-loved venue for families, visitors, a...

30/10/2025

30/10/2025

You can help Family Activities Community Engagement Support UK CIC WIN a £1,000 donation prize in easyfundraising's giveaway this week! Family Activities Community Engagement Support UK CIC will get a FREE entry each time a new supporter signs up before the 2nd November! It only takes a moment and it's completely free, so please get involved if you haven't already - this would really boost our 2025 fundraising:

Help us when you shop with 7,000+ brands. Join now.

30/10/2025

✨About Me Profile ✨ Sharing the history behind Faces uk cic & The Lighthouse sports and social hub ✨

My name is Bridie Stanford, and my journey with FacesUK CIC began from a simple love of fitness and a passion for helping others.

In 2016, my husband Gary and I started Harwich Free Fit Club. We wanted to create a welcoming space where people could come together, get active, and build confidence, no matter their background or ability.

Alongside running the club, I worked full-time in care, a profession I dedicated 20 years of my life to and one that taught me so much about people, compassion, and community.

As our fitness community grew, so did the opportunities. We opened our own fitness studio in Parkeston, and soon after, the chance came to take over the roller skating rink in Dovercourt. We knew it was an amazing opportunity to expand our space and bring people together, so in 2021, we took it on and created The Lighthouse Sports and Social Hub , a place for fitness, fun, and friendship.

After lockdown, it became clear how many people were struggling with the cost of living. We made it our mission to keep activities as low-cost or free as possible, ensuring that everyone could access the support and social connection they needed.

Active Essex have supported us from the very beginning, from providing mats for our first Free Fit Club sessions in 2016 to continuing to be incredible partners today.

As our activities expanded and new funding opportunities arose, we launched FacesUK CIC as a not-for-profit organisation in 2023, with four directors. By 2024, FacesUK CIC took over the lease of The Lighthouse, and the organisation really began to grow.

That same year, I made the decision to leave my career in care to focus fully on the administration and running of the CIC. My role has evolved from leading fitness sessions to now managing projects, developing community programmes, and overseeing day-to-day operations.

Although my work looks different now, the heart of our mission remains the same, to support our community through health, fitness, and connection.