Community Services

We seek to do this in a number of ways:

Family Work: we work with families, parents, children and young people who might need a little support or friendship, someone to come alongside them to help weather the storms that life sometimes throws at us and just some fun and relaxing times to have together as a family. We support families who have a child with any additional need, young parents, new parents (after all, children do not come with a manual!), parents of teenagers – all through one to one meetings over a tea or coffee, parenting sessions, groups and family fun sessions.

Youth Work: we work with young people who might need someone to talk to about the variety of topics that can sometimes worry them, somewhere to have some fun and relaxation, some intentional longer term mentoring, emotional and mental health support and sports sessions to improve physical and mental health and promote healthy activities and friendships. We offer a counselling service for young people within schools in the local community which we hope will help to improve mental health and wellbeing for our younger residents.

Support for older residents: Our Senior Citizen’s Co-ordinator works in partnership with The Todman Centre in Rayleigh, providing two lunch clubs per week at The Todman Centre as well as an information, support and signposting service for the older members of our community

Community Work: The MegaCentre led the response during the pandemic to support residents working in partnership with local government, Churches, Charities and Community Leaders. Building on this work, a community resilience hub, TheHub@TheMegaCentre was established to continue and build upon the fantastic relationships we have built over many years – across both Rochford and Castle Point – to carry on supporting our neighbours as we emerge from the pandemic and continue our recovery as a community.

Community Chaplain: Need a listening ear. Michael Collins is our Community Chaplain. Please click on link for more details.

TheHub@TheMegaCentre is a partnership of local statutory and voluntary organisations. Working together the partners can provide support to all residents in Rochford and Castle Point more effectively and quickly than ever before – we aim to be flexible, providing welcoming and safe spaces to meet, get support, advice and information, socialise and take part in a variety of activities, reducing isolation and loneliness, improving both mental and physical health.

If you have any questions, concerns or enquiries please contact The Hub on 01268 779999 or email hub@megacentrerayleigh.co.uk

For more information on any aspect of our Family/Youth/Community work, or to arrange a visit to view TheHub@TheMegaCentre, please contact Julie Sawford on 01268 779 100 or 07592 502981 or email julie.sawford@megacentrerayleigh.co.uk

They had fled their home after it was occupied by Russian soldiers. All they brought with them was whatever they were able to fit into a small suitcase. She told me that her daughter had been learning to play the flute in Ukraine and her new primary school in Wickford asked her to play in assembly. Alice’s favourite piece was ‘My Heart Will Go On’ (the theme from Titanic), which she played to the school. It was a very moving experience for the audience and the teachers wept.

The film starts with Alice abruptly appearing in a corridor at The MegaCentre. She carries a small back pack with some of her cherished possessions including her flute and Teddy. I used colour and black and white images in the film to make it unclear about what is real or imagined. The haunting melody played so beautifully brings about a feeling of unease.

In summary, I wanted to capture the uncertainty of the situation that refugees experience when forced to leave their country and also convey a feeling of hope for the future.

Please watch to the end including the credits.
Thank you.