Supporting, Promoting and Representing Southend’s Thriving Voluntary Sector

Proud to be Southend’s Council for Voluntary Services.

SAVS is an independent charity known as a council for voluntary service or CVS. We work behind the scenes to help local charities and community groups achieve their full potential.

We also run our own community based projects, all built on the foundation of supporting, empowering and celebrating the people of Southend.

Our Community Projects

Community News

  • Award winning streak for HARP’s Bluebird housing project continues
  • Steps Ahead Life CIC Receive Mayoral Visit
  • Find your Active: Celebrating what has been achieved in 2023
  • COPD Community Connectors Raise Awareness of COPD on World COPD Day
  • Good News Stories from our Community Builders (13th Nov – 26th Nov)
  • Leigh man runs original Greek Marathon route to raise £3600 for local children’s cancer support charity
  • Nike and Spotify’s Fund to Get Girls Moving Through Music – 30 November Deadline
  • NetPark Wellbeing Wins a National Mental Health Award

Community Events

  • Cosy Crafts at The Art Ministry

    On: 24 November, 2023

    Delivered by: The Art Ministry

  • Citadel Gospel Choir Christmas Celebration

    On: 2 December, 2023

    Delivered by: The Salvation Army

  • Southend Museum Christmas Events

    On: 2 December, 2023

    Delivered by: Southend Museums

  • Free Training, Webinars, Events, News, and Information

    On: 4 December, 2023

    Delivered by: Various

  • Reclaim the Night Southend

    On: 6 December, 2023

    Delivered by: Safe Steps & The Ironworks Southend

Training & Workshops

  • Free Training, Webinars, Events, News, and Information

    On: 4 December, 2023

    Delivered by: Various

  • Keeping Southend Healthy – #DoYourBitEssex

    On: 6 December, 2023

    Delivered by: SCC, SAVS & MSE

  • LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Inequalities Workshops

    On: 6 December, 2023

    Delivered by: Mind

  • Ways2Wellbeing Free Short Courses

    On: 8 December, 2023

    Delivered by: Southend Adult Community College

Community Support Directory

Useful contacts to support your organisation and service users.

SAVS Networking Brunches

Meet other organisations from the Voluntary Sector every other month at SAVS.

Hosted Community Funding

View funding currently hosted by SAVS and available to Southend organisations.

Affordable Room Hire at SAVS

Affordable, accessible meeting space in central Southend.

Sector Jobs

  • Organisation:

    Role Type: Full Time

    Salary:

    Closing Date:

  • Organisation: Southend Carers

    Role Type: Part Time

    Salary: £20,000 per annum (pro-rata)

    Closing Date: 06/12/2023

  • Organisation: Southend Carers

    Role Type: Part Time

    Salary: £21,000 per annum (pro-rata)

    Closing Date: 06/12/2023

  • Organisation: Southend Against Modern Slavery (SAMS)

    Role Type: Part Time

    Salary: £27,000 - £28,000

    Closing Date: 08/12/2023

Community Information

  • Guide to avoiding the most common causes of falls in the home
  • Donate this Christmas and give a family in Essex the gift of support for 2024
  • easyfundraising’s Advent Calendar Returns
  • Coop Community Fund Supporting Packed with Smiles
  • Fighting Frailty – New Frailty Prevention Course With Age Concern Southend
  • Seven steps to living well with long term respiratory conditions this winter
  • Southend Police Christmas Giving Tree Appeal for 2023
  • Safety Partnership Targets Street Drinking

Opportunities to Get Involved

  • Southend Safeguarding Partnership Strategy 2024-2027 (Consultation)
  • Labour of Love: A Community Quilt & Film Project for Young Mums
  • Volunteer in The Salvation Army’s Charity Shop, Leigh
  • Here Me, See Me: Bi-Monthly Voice Groups – Autism Bedfordshire
  • Have you been Thinking about Volunteering? – SAVS Supported Volunteering
  • How to Get Involved – Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System
  • Community Connectors Programme: Sharing Lived Experience and Shaping Services
  • ABSS Childcare Volunteer

SAVS News

  • Good News Stories from our Community Builders (13th Nov – 26th Nov)
  • Good News Stories from our Community Builders (30th Oct – 12th Nov)
  • Celebrating our Trustees & their stories
  • Good News Stories from our Community Builders (16th – 29th Oct)

SAVS Training & Events

  • Keeping Southend Healthy – #DoYourBitEssex

    On: 6 December, 2023

    Delivered by: SCC, SAVS & MSE

  • Active Bystander Training

    On: 8 December, 2023

    Delivered by: Protection Approaches & SAVS

  • Community Winter Celebration

    On: 9 December, 2023

    Delivered by: SAVS & A Better Start Southend

  • SAVS Networking Brunch

    On: 13 December, 2023

    Delivered by: SAVS

Funding Opportunities

  • funding title
  • Funding to Help Disadvantaged Groups to Improve their Communication Skills (UK)
  • Sea-Changers Marine Conservation Social Fund 2023/4
  • MSE Charity Announces Funding Theme for January 2024 Round
  • Carers Community Fund
  • Young Gamechangers Fund
  • Introducing the Veterans’ Career Development Fund
  • National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All Programme Updated with New Guidelines