Spending time with friends and family

Essex Young Life
An online directory of activities, clubs, advice and support groups across Essex. You can look for things to do, places to go, find information about a particular type of club or group, and where they are located.

Odeon
Up to the minute information from your local Odeon cinema. Online reservations and cinema locator.

Essex County Council
Libraries in Essex. Most libraries have facilities such as free internet access and you can borrow the latest CD, DVD or Console Game.

Youth Arts Online
Search here for projects and courses in your area. Covers dance, music, carnival and circus, visual arts, creative writing, film and video plus much more.

Visit Essex
Official Essex tourism site providing family fun ideas, details of what’s going on in Essex and general information about visiting attractions in Essex.

Getting active and challenging yourself

Sport Essex
A guide to thousands of sporting opportunities in Essex.

Sports Coach UK
Can assist you on the road to becoming a coach.

Essex Dance Theatre
Offers vocational classes for the community from bases in Great Baddow and Chelmsford.

Sport England
Provides services and funding to sport in England.

Disability Sport Events (DSE)
DSE create participation opportunities for disabled people with all impairments.

Prince’s Trust
Get on a Prince's Trust Team course and you'll take on challenges, build skills and confidence, make friends and a lot more. If you are leaving care, The Prince's Trust can find a mentor to help you with choices, and you could also use their programmes to help you become independent. Call 0800 842842 for more information.

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Is a voluntary, flexible programme of cultural and adventurous activities for all young people, whatever your background or ability. To find an award centre near you call the County Awards Office on 01245 436633, or visit Essex Duke of Edinburgh.

Zinc Arts (formerly Theatre Resource)
Zinc Arts is an arts organisation, specialising in the area of disability arts and social inclusion. Telephone 01277 365626 for more information.

Volunteering your time to help others

Learn the benefits of volunteering or taking a gap year and find out how you can make a difference.

Do-it.org.uk
Search a database of over one million opportunities and apply online.

Vinspired
Connects 16-25 year olds with volunteering opportunities in England and offers opportunities in Essex. Hotline 0800 089 9000 or text ‘v’ to 80010.

Young Essex Assembly (YEA)
The elected youth council for Essex. There are 75 members of the YEA (aged between 11 and 19) mirroring the County Councillors. Its aim is to give all young people in Essex a voice by campaigning to make a positive difference to their lives.

iWill
Signposts and showcases Essex young people. Offers a range of volunteering opportunities.

World Wide Volunteering
Encourage and enable young people to become volunteers in the UK and worldwide. Offers a 'search and match' database service for a wide range of volunteering opportunities.

Community Service Volunteers
Provides the opportunity for full-time volunteers to live away from home for between four months and a year. You’ll receive accommodation and allowances to live on.

St John Ambulance
Provides first aid and medical support services, caring services in support of community needs and education, training and personal development for young people. They involve young people from the age of 5 to 18. They also have a student wing, LINKS. Their website has an online form if you’re interested in volunteering with them. You can contact the Essex office on 01245 265678.

Volunteering England
Provides details of local Volunteer Centres providing support and expertise to potential volunteers. Call Volunteering England on 0845 305 6979 or search online for details of your local centre.