Essex Respite & Care Association

22/10/2026

Huge congratulations to Michelle Vagg 💜

We’re so proud to share that last night, Michelle received the Braintree District Chairman’s Award 2026 for her outstanding contribution to the community. Such well-deserved recognition.

Michelle, Social Prescriber Dementia Lead at Colne Valley Primary Care Network, originally set up the Halstead Dementia Drop-In to raise awareness and create a safe, welcoming place for local people living with dementia and their carers. Somewhere to meet others in a similar situation, share experiences, and find advice, friendship and support.

Michelle, thank you for your dedication and for helping people feel supported and less alone. We’re delighted to celebrate this achievement with you.

We’d also like to say a heartfelt thank you to the Halstead Rotary, Halstead Town Council, the Women’s Institute, Essex Wellbeing Service, Adult Social Care, the Rural Community Council of Essex, Care UK, and Alzheimer's Society for their continued support. Together, you help make this group such a welcoming place to come for help, understanding and connection.

Thank you also to East of England Co-op for kindly donating refreshments, and to everyone who comes along, lends a hand or helps spread the word. Our community makes all the difference.

Could you or someone you know benefit from joining us?

Our friendly group welcomes people living with dementia and their carers:

📍 Queens Hall, Chipping Hill, Halstead, CO9 2BY
📅 First Friday of every month
🕙 10am–12 noon
📞 For more information, call 01245 353855

Come along for a chat, a cuppa and support in a safe space. You are not alone.

Please join us in congratulating Michelle, and share this post to help more local people find us!

14/10/2026

Our Autumn newsletter has landed. Please feel free to share....

10/10/2026

World Mental Health Day – Saturday 10th October 2026

It's OK to Talk. It's OK to Ask. You Matter.

At ERCA, we believe that nobody should ever feel ashamed of asking for help or needing a little extra support.

Mental health affects us all, and sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference. A friendly conversation, a listening ear, a reassuring smile, or simply knowing someone is there can mean more than we realise.

This World Mental Health Day, we're encouraging everyone to:

Start open conversations – Ask someone how they're really feeling, and take the time to listen.

Remove the shame around asking for help – Reaching out isn't a sign of weakness. It takes courage, and nobody should feel embarrassed about needing support.

Speak up for better mental health support – Everyone deserves access to compassionate, understanding and appropriate support when they need it.

At ERCA, we see how everyday moments of connection, companionship and encouragement can help people build confidence, feel valued and become more independent.

Whether it's getting out into the community, enjoying a conversation over a cup of tea, trying something new or having someone alongside you, every person matters, and every small step counts.

If you or someone you know would benefit from ERCA's support services, please contact our office on 01245 353855, or make an enquiry via our website www.erca.org.uk

Together, we can help create a world where conversations about mental health are welcomed, asking for help is never something to be ashamed of, and everyone feels heard, valued and supported.

09/10/2026

WE'VE MOVED – AND WE'RE ALL SETTLED IN

We're delighted to share that ERCA's office move has been a success, and we're now happily settled into our new home.

It's been an exciting new chapter for us, and we're pleased to be up and running from our lovely new office.

Our new address is:

ERCA
Unit 11, Little Hyde Farm
Little Hyde Lane
CM4 0DU

Although our location has changed, our commitment to the people we support remains exactly the same. We'll continue doing what we do best, providing compassionate, person-centred support, helping people build confidence, maintain independence and enjoy the everyday moments that matter.

We would like to give a special heartfelt thank you to Complete Locksmith Services Ltd, Mark Steerment and his son Elliot, who kindly came to our rescue by fitting new locks at our office at very short notice, completely free of charge. Your kindness, generosity and willingness to help have meant so much to us, especially during such a busy time.

Gestures like this remind us just how wonderful it is to have people and local businesses who genuinely care and are willing to lend a helping hand.

A big thank you also goes to everyone else who helped make our move possible.

We're looking forward to this exciting new chapter and continuing to support our wonderful community.

ERCA – People Supporting People

01245 353855
www.erca.org.uk

08/10/2026

Throughout October, our wonderful Support Workers are out and about across Essex, making a real difference, one visit at a time.
It's not always about doing something extraordinary.
Sometimes it's about having someone beside you who listens, encourages, understands and helps you achieve something that once felt overwhelming.
At ERCA, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live as independently as possible, stay connected to their community and enjoy the little things in life.

02/10/2026

A lovely morning at the Dementia Drop-In Group in Halstead

Today, Gemma Baines and Ollie hosted the Dementia Drop-In Group at the Queen’s Hall in Halstead.

We were delighted to welcome Councillor Jim Bond MBE, Mayor of Halstead. It was a real privilege to meet with him and gain his support for the group and the work we are doing to support people living with dementia, their families and carers within the local community.

We would also like to say a big thank you to Halstead Rotary Club for their ongoing support. It really does mean so much to us and helps us continue creating a welcoming, friendly and supportive space for those who need it.

The Dementia Drop In Group is open to anyone affected by dementia. Whether you are living with dementia yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply looking for some friendly faces, understanding and support, you are very welcome to come along.

Please see our poster for details of the group and upcoming sessions.

Everyone is welcome — come along, have a cuppa and meet us for a chat.

02/10/2026

Please support ERCA to raise funds, by entering the Epping Forest Community Lottery.

30/09/2026

Today’s the day — we’re on the move!

Today, ERCA is moving into our new home in Ingatestone, giving us more space to grow and continue supporting people across Essex.

We are open as usual and our telephone number remains the same. However, with boxes being moved, desks being set up and our team getting settled into our new space, please bear with us today.

If we don’t answer your call straight away, don’t worry! We’re still here and will get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience while we make the move — we’re really looking forward to starting this next chapter from our new home!

29/09/2026

We’re moving tomorrow!

Tomorrow, 30th September, ERCA will officially be moving into our new office in Ingatestone.

It’s an exciting step for us, giving us more space to continue growing and supporting people across Essex.

We’ll still be available by telephone and our number remains the same. However, as our team will be busy moving and getting everything set up, please bear with us if it takes a little longer than usual to respond to calls or enquiries.

Our new address:
Unit 11, Little Hyde Farm
Little Hyde Lane
Ingatestone
CM4 0DU

We’re looking forward to getting settled into our new home — see you on the other side of the move!

26/09/2026