This is a spring newsletter from Friends and Places Together, sharing updates from the CEO, recent activities, new staff introductions, upcoming fundraisers, weekly groups, and holiday plans.

CEO Message

The CEO explains that the charity is introducing more opportunities for people to spend time together, including:

• a new Friday daytime group from 9.30am to 4pm for people not attending college on Fridays
• a new additional Wednesday Teen Spirits session
• an over 18s group on Monday night

The newsletter also shares staffing changes:

• Michelle left in November 2025
• Julie left in December 2025
• Gemma joined from Vibrance as finance officer / charity administrator
• Katie joined in January 2026 as Volunteer Coordinator
• four new staff have joined, including Mike and Zara

The CEO notes that no coordinator has been appointed yet because they are currently covering that role, and the charity is working to reach more people in the community, especially young people aged 16–25, who are described as particularly affected by loneliness and isolation.

The newsletter highlights recent activities including:

a holiday to Lanzarote in January for Amy’s 30th birthday
a trip to London to see Back to the Future
a Silent Disco fundraiser
Southend United football matches
Freedom Nightclub
and “lots more”

About Gemma
Gemma has been the new charity administrator since January 2026. She previously worked at Vibrance as a finance officer. She also shares some finance and payment updates:

• The Sum Up account has been closed
• Payments will now be made through Xero payment links
• Invoicing will now be fortnightly
• mileage expenses will be sent out at the end of each month as an invoice

Gemma’s contact details:

Email: office@friendsandplacestogether.org.uk
Phone: 07796678939

About Katie
Katie introduces herself as the new Volunteer Coordinator. She shares that she previously worked in the NHS on the LeDeR project, which looked into the lives and deaths of people with learning disabilities and autism. She also has fundraising experience and currently volunteers in a charity shop in Leigh on Sea.

Katie says she wants to:

• recruit and support volunteers
• support staff across the charity
• help young people interested in health and social care gain experience through volunteering
• help young people with additional needs build friendships

Katie’s contact details:

Phone: 07549610383
Email: volunteer@friendsandplacestogether.org.uk
Fundraisers

Two upcoming fundraising events are listed:

Thursday 2 April 2026 – Easter Egg Hunt, 2.30pm–4.30pm, Chalkwell Park (meet by the car park)
Saturday 25 April 2026 – Silent Disco, 11am–3pm, Southend Victoria Shopping Centre
Weekly Groups

The newsletter lists these regular groups and activities:

Teen Spirits – Monday
Art Ministry – Tuesday night
Freedom – Wednesday
Teen Spirits – Wednesday
Men’s meet up – Thursday
Muppet and gaming group – Friday
Friday once a month – Karaoke, film club and over 25s group meet up
Weekends – Women’s group, Southend United Football, Silent Disco
Sunday once a month – come and share Sunday lunch with your community
Holidays

Two trips are advertised:

Centre Parcs – 20–24 April 2026
Butlins – 7–11 September 2026
Extra poster details shown on page 4

The posters at the bottom of page 4 add a few more details:

Teen Spirits starts 15 April 2026
aimed at ages 14–17 years
held every Wednesday
4.30pm–6.30pm
cost: £5
location: Top Floor Unit 14, Victoria Shopping Centre, SS2 5SP

The “Meet Up & Chill with your mates” poster says:

every Friday
9.30am to 3.30pm
aimed at people looking for something to do with friends
based at Friends & Places Together, Top Floor Unit 14, Victoria Shopping Centre, SS2 5SP

You can read the newsletter by clicking here.