Hi Sara ,
yayy that is a massive area .. I used to live in Colchester 12 years ago, Good luck with the group.
That area has a brilliant LA welfare rights team !
Just as a contact for future reference , although hopefully you won't have to use her . She may even be able to give a talk on PIP etc and other practical help with regard to community welfare.
As well as being lead for Colchester Borough (a huge area that covers all the areas you state)she also trains advisers for LASA which is where this extract comes from:


Tamara Moreau - Tamara has been a welfare rights worker since 1990. She is currently employed as Community Welfare Manager at Colchester Borough Council where she manages the Welfare Rights Service, Fuel Poverty Project, Child Poverty Project, Macmillan Welfare Benefits Team and has the lead on Older People. Her previous experience includes managing a CAB service for people with mental health difficulties, legal casework, establishing and developing the Disability Rights Service in Colchester and writing and delivering an accredited training course for Community Links in East London, teaching people to be advice workers.

with all the changes to healthcare and benefits she would be a great person to have on board , if she has the time.


I applied for a Macmillan job with them ( even though I live 60 miles away , and even though I came third respect all she does :).
I am sure she will know detail of other local help beyond that of the NHS.She is also extremely community minded.

Regards

Rich Cottee