Stall holders - family support services
Lots of local support services will be hosting a stall in the marketplace areas. See below, and on the following pages for details of who will be there.
Where a referral from a professional is needed to access the service we have shown this.
Family Support
Cake Club
Registered charity offering parenting support and solidarity in the Southend area. We run in-person support and playgroups in a number of locations, with something on offer every day of the week.
We also run weekly Cake Club SEND Sessions for families with little ones with additional needs from a venue with purpose built soft play and sensory rooms which are available exclusively to our families during our sessions.
Contact: admin@cakeclubcommunity.co.uk or 07916 622542. Facebook page.
Southend SEND Local Offer Team (event co-host)
We provide information and signposting about services and support in Southend for children and young people aged 0 to 25 and their families.
Contact: localoffer@southend.gov.uk or 01702 212328. Website: https://www.livewellsouthend.com/SENDLocalOffer
Family support, activities, health and education
SEND The Right Message (STRM)
A parent-led registered charity supporting families of neurodivergent and disabled children across Essex and Southend. We combine lived experience with practical guidance - because we've navigated this system too. At STRM, you're not just heard - you're supported.
Contact: info@strmsupport.co.uk or 07359 068827. Website: https://strmsupport.co.uk
Family support, education and activities
Sendourway
We offer support for parents/caregivers of a child or young person with any additional needs whether diagnosed or not. We run coffee morning, arts and crafts sessions and parenting support programmes to explore and to enhance family relationships.
Contact: sendourway2023@gmail.com or 07517 704416. Website: www.sendourway.org.uk
Southend-on-Sea City Council Family, Early Years and Childcare Service
We support families with childcare, early education and family wellbeing. We help parents access funded childcare for children aged 9 months to 4 years and find local options such as childminders, nurseries and clubs. Families can also get help with childcare costs.
The service also operates a number of Best Start Family Hubs, provides holiday activities through the Holiday Activities and Food programme, and offers training and guidance for early years professionals.
Contact: earlyyears@southend.gov.uk or beststartfamilyhubs@southend.gov.uk Website: Childcare and early education funding information and Best Start Family Hubs website.
Best Start Family Hub enquiries: 01702 220 810
Welcome to the UK
Educational charity providing ESOL classes for non-native English speakers. We support new arrivals to help them adapt to life in the UK. We also guide and signpost our members to other relevant organisations and services when needed, ensuring they can access the support they require.
Contact: office@welcome2theuk.com or 07379 923837. Website: https://welcome2theuk.com
Family support, activities and behaviour and child development
City Family CIC
We support families with children aged 0 to 11, working to meet the needs of the family. This can be through 1:1 phone support from our Information, Advice and Guidance support, dropping in to sessions to speak to a navigator/ practitioner, through to targeted 1:1 support within the home, signposting to other relevant services, support with Team Around the Family and group meetings, and tailored parenting courses. We are not SEND specialists but can support families alongside other services.
Contact: support@cityfamily.org.uk or 01702 844118. Website: https://cityfamily.org.uk
Family support, education, health, activities and preparing for adulthood
Little Heroes ASD Support Group
Parent-led support group for families of children aged 0 to 19 who are on the autistic spectrum. We are a small grassroots registered charity that continues to bring more and more families together through a variety of regular in hub sessions, wellbeing opportunities, workshops and social activities.
We provide support and assistance for families within Southend-on-Sea and the surrounding areas from as soon as they discover there are additional needs (no need for formal diagnosis or referrals). We cater from early years to college aged heroes. We operate from our Support Hub based within the Garon Park site, offering a vast array of facilities to support even more local families on a face to face basis.
Contact: info@littleheroesasd.co.uk or 07379 897947. Website: https://littleheroesasd.co.uk
SNAP
Helpline and face-to-face parent support, specialist talks and training courses, online directory and information network, benefit and educational advice, library of specialist books, parent and pre school children's sessions, after school and holiday sessions for children and young people and sibling support.
Supporting children and young people aged 0 to 25, and/or their parent carers.
Contact: familyteam@snapcharity.org or 01277 211300. Website: https://familyteam@snapcharity.org
Family support, education, health, social care, activities, legal and preparing for adulthood
Carers First
We support people who look after a family member or friend, including parent carers of children and young people with SEND, adult carers and young carers.
We provide practical advice, emotional support and information to help carers navigate health, education and social care services. Our team offers 1 to 1 support, workshops, peer groups and guidance to ensure carers feel informed, connected and confident in their caring role.
Contact: southend@carersfirst.org.uk or 0300 303 1555. Website: https://carersfirst.org.uk
Family support, social care, health and homelessness
The One Love Project
A charity supporting some of the most disadvantaged members of our community, including those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, living in insecure housing, or experiencing food or fuel poverty, poor mental health, or isolation.
We run two weekly evening services, providing hot meals and two non-referral food banks to support anyone facing difficult times. Our mission is simple but powerful: to ensure no one goes hungry and everyone can access essential resources when they need them most. This work is made possible by our incredible volunteers, who deliver services with care and compassion. Volunteering creates opportunity, builds community spirit, and gives people a sense of purpose, connection, and the chance to make a real difference.
Contact: admin@theoneloveproject.co.uk or 07851 499162. Website: https://theoneloveproject.co.uk/