Big Sparks

East Area

I would like to develop a new family-friendly Nature Trail around Gunners Park, building on the success of the Cart and Wagon Shed Heritage Trail launched in January 2026. The trail will highlight the area’s historic buildings, unique coastal environment and the nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), while also providing essential water safety advice to help children and families explore the coastline and inland waterways safely. The project will create a printed trail map (2000 copies) and QR-linked digital content that explains local history, wildlife and safety messages in simple, engaging language aligned with the national curriculum. I will work closely with local historians, education specialists, Essex Wildlife Trust, Bird Aware Essex Coast, the RNLI and the Coastguard. I will design the map, produce the digital content and host a community launch event for up to 250 guests - all of my time will be given voluntarily. The trail will benefit local families, children, schools, youth groups, residents, visitors, walking groups, heritage enthusiasts and nature lovers. With both printed maps and online content available, the trail will offer long term value, encouraging outdoor activity, increasing pride in Shoeburyness’ heritage, improving understanding of the SSSI and local wildlife, and promoting safer behaviour near open water. As a free, inclusive and sustainable resource, the project aligns strongly with Big Sparks priorities by being resident led, community-focused, low-cost and high-impact.

East Area

This project is designed to bring together many of the aspects of our community: the community workshop creating and installing the library boxes in various parts of the community. Residents in a variety of spaces within the community get to share the contents of the boxes, by donating books, seedlings or food, thus creating a wonderful cycle of people giving and receiving creating the perfect community.

East Area

Southend Grand-Craft Club: Bridging Generations Through Making Can creativity combat loneliness? We think so! The Southend Grand-Craft Club is an exciting new 8-week project that pairs local primary school children with older residents from a nearby care home as "Grand-Craft Buddies." Together, they will sit down face-to-face to share stories of Southend’s past while collaborating on beautiful, accessible art and craft projects, from local memory canvases to handmade clay gardens. This project tackles social isolation in our elderly, builds empathy and real-world social confidence in our youth, and brings traditional community spirit back to our streets. The project will culminate in a community Afternoon Tea showcase, celebrating friendship across generations and leaving behind a permanent piece of community art. A vote for us is a vote for a happier, healthier and more connected Southend. Please support our Grand-Craft Buddies!

East Area

MUNCH helps local children and families enjoy healthy, nutritious meals during the school holidays. Families receive a bag of fresh ingredients and an easy-to-follow recipe, encouraging them to cook and eat together at home. As well as helping to tackle holiday hunger, MUNCH promotes healthy eating, builds confidence in cooking from scratch, and creates valuable family time. Open to all and free from stigma, restarting this previously this much-loved project would support healthier, happier lives in our local community.

East Area

Keep Active and Age Well with our exercise sessions for all abilities! Aged 60? Join our FREE classes to help build strength, flexibility & maintain living independently. The fun social sessions are a great way to meet other local people and feel great! Seated cardio or standing low impact cardio exercises together with effective toning exercises using bender balls & bands. Sessions at St Georges Church Hall, Shoebury or Southchurch Plasa. Both venues will offer 2 classes , one seated exercise and one standing based sessions. Our friendly Tutors will make everyone welcome and ensure everyone has a great experience and feels great! We do have lots of images from established classes in other areas if required.

East Area

Rocket School is bringing hands-on rocketry STEM education to young people across Southend, helping children learn about, build, and launch real model rockets while developing confidence and practical STEM skills. With Big Sparks’ support, we will run 40+ sessions and engage over 1,000 children, making exciting, accessible STEM opportunities available locally and inspiring the next generation of engineers and scientists.

East Area

Helping Local Families Living with PDA Thrive Every day, local families caring for children and young people with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) face challenges that can impact every aspect of family life. We support over 1,000 local families face to face who have children upon the autistic spectrum, PDA is a challenge that many of the children and young people present with. High levels of anxiety, difficulties with everyday demands, and a lack of specialist support can leave parents and carers feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and unsure where to turn. With your vote, we can work alongside the PDA Society to provide expert-led workshops that will give families the knowledge, understanding, and practical tools they need to better support their children. Through accessible online and face-to-face sessions, families will learn effective strategies to reduce anxiety, improve communication, strengthen relationships, and create happier, healthier home environments. This project will not only provide vital specialist support that is currently unavailable locally, but will also bring families together, helping them build lasting connections and support networks. Your vote will help empower families, reduce isolation, improve wellbeing, and create positive change for children and young people living with PDA across our community.

East Area

SOS Combatives CIC is a Southend-based Community Interest Company dedicated to helping local people feel safer, more confident and more resilient. Through practical personal safety education, community workshops and awareness activities, we empower residents with the knowledge, confidence and skills to better protect themselves and support others. Our dual mission is to strengthen community safety while reinvesting into projects that create positive social impact across Southend-on-Sea. Funding will help us reach more local residents and continue building a stronger, safer and more connected community. In short - we teach individuals to protect themselves whilst supporting their community!

East Central

A new tandem tricycle adapted bike for Just Ride Southend, which is an inclusive cycling project that has been running for over 12 years, designed to enable people of all ages and abilities to become active. Delivered in a safe, traffic free environment, the project provides access to over 150 adapted bikes, supporting participants from toddlers through to people aged 95+. Sessions are affordable and accessible, ensuring cost is not a barrier. The project focuses on supporting individuals who may lack confidence, have a disability, or face other barriers to activity, to take part in regular cycling in a welcoming, supportive and inclusive setting. Just Ride Southend is a long-established inclusive cycling project that has been supporting people of all ages and abilities to become active for over 12 years. Delivered by a committed team of more than 60 volunteers, the project has demonstrated significant reach and impact, with over 18,000 riders accessing our three weekly sessions across 48 weeks of the year. This sustained level of engagement highlights both the value of the offer and the clear demand for accessible, inclusive opportunities to be physically active within Southend.

East Central

REACH HER is a community project recently received her registered Charity Number 1218387. We want to continue empowering women through free cooking, nutrition, and wellbeing sessions. supports women facing isolation, low income, or health challenges by providing a safe, welcoming space to learn new skills, build confidence, and connect with others. Through hands‑on cooking, budgeting, and wellbeing activities, REACH HER helps women improve their health, strengthen resilience, and feel part of a supportive community. The project creates real change for local families and contributes to a healthier, more connected Southend.