Building Caring Communities
6th May 2025
Why Essex’s new vision needs the voluntary sector.
Thriving communities are not defined by the absence of problems, but by their ability to respond to challenges swiftly, locally, and with care. That belief is at the heart of the Caring Communities Report, published by the Essex Caring Communities Commission.
Launched by Essex County Council, the Commission set out the long-standing challenges in health and social care, while proposing a bold shift: to move from reactive services to preventative, community-led solutions. The report’s ambition is clear, it calls for a systemic rethink of how care is delivered, putting people, communities, and place at the centre.
Andy Payne Worpole, our Director of Policy and Programmes, was one of the key speakers at a recent Essex County Council Caring Communities event exploring the report’s findings.
The event was chaired by Cllr Beverley Egan and Cllr Kevin Bentley from Essex County Council, with contributions from Andy Haldane (Royal Society of Arts), Pam Donnelly, CEO of Colchester City Council, Tom Abel (Mid & South Essex Integrated Care Board), Kerry Clancy-Horner MBE, Head of Youth Practice at The Children’s Society.
Andy issued a rallying call for deeper collaboration, greater investment, and a renewed trust in civil society to lead transformation from the ground up.
He said, “Public services are stretched, and demand is rising. Despite best efforts, traditional models are no longer sustainable. It’s time to build new systems rooted in the community.”
A Collective Challenge, A Shared Opportunity
Since its inception in 2024, the Commission has undertaken extensive research and consultation. The report sets out a clear direction of travel. It also confronts the looming structural changes linked to devolution and local government reform in Greater Essex.
While we were not part of the Commission, we were invited to review the report and respond from a voluntary and community sector (VCS) perspective.
“The Caring Communities Report issues a timely challenge,” Andy said. “It envisions care built on relationships, not transactions. It pushes for solutions designed with communities, underpinned by sustained, local investment.”
The Voluntary Sector: Central but strained
Essex is home to an estimated 5,000 VCSE organisations, supported by 17,500 staff and around 95,000 volunteers. These organisations form the social infrastructure that underpins public wellbeing, often responding faster and more flexibly than statutory services.
Yet, the sector is under pressure:
- One-third of organisations are relying on reserves.
- 40% have diverted funds from innovation and workforce development.
- 85% of larger groups report that budget constraints are stifling creativity.
“The sector is ready to lead, but it needs recognition and resourcing,” Andy warned. “Communities need the space to innovate, take risks and plan for the long term, not just respond in crisis mode.”
ECF’s Strategic Response
At Essex Community Foundation, this vision is already shaping its funding strategy. As an independent grantmaker, ECF is focusing on three pillars:
- Sustainability – through increased core and multi-year funding for community organisations.
- Recognition – championing the voluntary sector as a key delivery partner in reducing strain on statutory services.
- Investment – unlocking innovation, prevention, and systemic change aligned with the Commission’s vision.
This approach reflects a growing recognition across the philanthropic and funding landscape: that bold action is needed to protect and grow community assets.
From Reform to Transformation
Devolution presents both uncertainty and opportunity. Andy stressed that structural reform must be more than a bureaucratic shuffle, it must embed community voice at every stage of design and delivery.
“Let’s not waste this moment,” he said. “If we’re serious about care, we must be serious about community.”
He highlighted recent local examples of impact, including CHESS Homeless in Chelmsford, which has delivered 24 new homes for people facing homelessness and safe spaces where residents feel valued and connected.
“This wasn’t done by waiting for permission,” Andy added. “It was driven by belief, partnership and philanthropy.”
A Call to Action
The Commission’s work is just the beginning.
Andy said, “We need to act now. The Caring Communities Report is a roadmap. The voluntary and community sector is already building the future it describes. Let’s trust our communities and give them the tools to lead the way.”
Read Andy’s full presentation here.