News Around

Wickford Girlguiding

Wickford Girlguiding are always looking for new members to support our 14 Girlguiding units in Wickford. From 4-year-old rainbows to 17-year-old Rangers we ensure we give girls great experiences and fun adventures in a friendly atmosphere. We’ve recently celebrated 100 years of Girlguiding in Wickford, we’re so proud of our mural celebrating this which is on display in the subway of Wickford High Street. We’re looking forward to many more years making memories. All members of Girlguiding are volunteers, we really appreciate any help that you can offer. Register your interest to join us at www.girlguiding.org.uk

Wickford Horticultural Society

Welcome to our Society. We are one of the last Horticultural groups in the area following the pandemic.

We meet monthly on the last Thursday of the month, and have a range of speakers and fun quizzes throughout the year, as well as 2 or 3 fun flower, fruit and vegetable mini shows. We hope to arrange coach trips to some of the beautiful gardens in southeast England this year.

We meet at Christchurch in Wickford behind the High Street at 8 pm prompt. All welcome whether you’ve an acre or just a window box.

For more information look at our Facebook page.

Wickford Wombles volunteering

Recently retired or looking to do more exercise for FREE?

Here is an activity for young and old alike. Welcome to your friendly Wickford Womble group, available on Facebook to keep up with the group events and activities. The group was started to attack the litter problems on our streets and in our parks, to make the area more environmentally friendly and also to educate and inform the next generation to the impact litter has on our wildlife and sea life, also to us as human beings.

You can either womble on your own or join our events to make Wickford a town to be proud of (see more on page 4).

Litterpickers are available to loan on event picks or bought at Chris’s DIY store at a reduced price if you mention Wickford Wombles.

Look forward to meeting more volunteers to swell our ranks.

Thank you for reading.

Recommendations for children’s mental health

A new report is available which outlines recommended improvements for children’s mental health.

Work took place in 2022 by a Mental Health Services for Young People Task and Finish Group. It comes following a motion put forward at the Essex County Full Council meeting which expressed the need to review the current challenges young people face. The group considered different evidence during their review. This included the impact of the pandemic, funding and the importance of early support. There is already positive work happening across the county in this area. However, the evidence highlighted some common areas of improvement needed across Essex. It also demonstrated how central government, local authorities and health services need to work together to address them.

Read the full recommendations report online via www.essex.gov.uk/news/recommendationsfor-childrens-mental-health