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

  • Community Investment Board’s New Website & Socials
  • Southend man’s six international marathon mission to help local children’s cancer charity – Gold Geese
  • Breathe Easy Celebrates their Birthday
  • Local charity Gold Geese calls on Essex to ‘Go Gold’ for childhood cancer this month Gold car convoy kicks off 2023 campaign
  • Charity Celebrates Vital Role – Southend In Sight
  • Choir Open For New Members – Southend In Sight
  • Southend in Sight Volunteer Becomes Permanent Staff
  • Elderly and Dementia Choir Perform for Southend Community, Delighting Supporters – Age Concern

Community Events

  • Mini Retreat in the City

    On: 01/10/2023

    Delivered by: Yoga4All

  • Big Up Southend! A Monthly Market and Creative Event in Victoria Shopping Centre

    On: 30/09/2023

    Delivered by: Big Up Southend

  • SE Essex Organic Gardeners’ October 2023 meeting

    On: 16/10/2023

    Delivered by: SE Essex Organic Gardeners

  • Prost8 Ball

    On: 04/11/2023

    Delivered by: Prost8

  • ABSS Dad’s Tea & Tots

    On: 30/09/2023

    Delivered by: A Better Start Southend

  • ‘Wear It Blue’ fundraiser for World Mental Health Day

    On: 10/10/2023

    Delivered by: SECE Mind

  • Mental Elf 2023

    On: 02/12/2023

    Delivered by:

  • Indirock open evening: Schools and community groups

    On: 14/10/2023

    Delivered by: Indirock

Training & Workshops

  • Professional Development Training Opportunities – The Peer Partnership
  • Quiet Leadership Training – a Social Age Journey by Julian Stodd
  • Essex Safeguarding Adults Board
  • Free Training and Webinars – SSP – Sept & Oct 2023
  • Foundation Diploma & CPD – Therapeutic Safety in Trauma by The Beech Practise

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

Community Information

  • The Ironworks October Events
  • The Salvation Army – Sanctuary (Tea, Toast & a Chat)
  • Community Cooking Initiative – One Love Project
  • Streetlink is Relaunching – A message from Homeless Link
  • Essex Activity Awards 2023
  • Southend Police August Newsletter
  • DWP Partnerships Essex Monthly Stakeholder Bulletin August 2023
  • An exciting opportunity: Youth Innovation Prize – Climate Change and Health

Opportunities to Get Involved

  • Volunteer in The Salvation Army’s Charity Shop, Leigh
  • EPUT Co-Production Conference
  • Volunteers Wanted – Charlie Boy’s Angels
  • Become a Family Mentor! – Volunteering Matters
  • 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

SAVS News

  • Good News Stories from our Community Builders (21st Aug – 3rd Sept) – SAVS
  • Tea and Tots Meet Ups in August 2023
  • Good News Stories from our Community Builders (7th – 20th Aug) – SAVS
  • Find Your Way to Shine and Become a Star in your Community with the Southend Volunteer Hub

SAVS Training & Events

  • Meet the Funder: easyfundraising. Free unrestricted funds for your organisation

    On: 16/11/2023

    Delivered by: easyfundraising & SAVS

  • Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Workshop

    On: 02/11/2023

    Delivered by: SAVS & Southend Against Modern Slavery (SAMS)

  • SAVS Networking Brunch

    On: 24/10/2023

    Delivered by: SAVS

  • Narrative Therapy & Responding to Burnout

    On: 14/10/2023

    Delivered by: SAVS & The Sycamore Private Practise

Funding Opportunities

  • Violence and Vulnerability Community Grant
  • £76 million Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund launched
  • Suicide Prevention Grant Fund 2023 to 2025
  • easyfundraising – How It Works
  • The Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund
  • Veolia Southend’s Sustainability Fund is Back for its Third Year!
  • Funding Information as of 27th July 2023
  • The Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund