Who we ARE?
Active Braintree Foundation (ABF) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and was established in 2018. It was primarily set up to promote sport and physical activity for the benefit of health and well-being and to engage and support communities across Braintree District.
Registered Charity Number 1176734
ABF Strategy 2024-2027.
OUR VISION.
Everyone in the Braintree District has the opportunity to engage in sport and/or physical activity in order to improve their health and wellbeing, compete and have fun.
OUR AIMS.
To achieve our vision, the Active Braintree
Foundation will:
- Work collaboratively with relevant local
organisations to tackle inequalities and
promote inclusion. - Be a voice for the sector and
advocate behaviour change amongst
the community. - Increase capacity by developing
people and promote innovation to
increase participation in sport and
physical activity. - Promote and support active
environments by championing active
travel and the creation of well-designed
spaces for activity. - Work with commissioners and grant
funders to increase resources and
develop capacity in the district. - Allocate grant funding and support
new opportunities that increase
participation. - Provide advocacy, advice and guidance
to sports clubs, voluntary groups and
residents.
PROJECTS.
Since our inception we have supported and funded various projects throughout Braintree, below are a few examples of a projects we have worked with:
Halstead Day Centre
We funded an instructor to run a chair based exercise programme for 4 days per week and catering for many different people each day. The sessions have proved immensely popular and participants have improved their hand eye co-ordination and mobility as well as offering social interaction in a fun environment.
Braintree Walking Netball
The Braintree Walking Netball club has been running for only a few years and has seen its membership go from 8 people to over 40. With this growing demand they required funding for new equipment and marking out a new court. This will allow the club to recruit even more members and provide the opportunity for anyone regardless of age, experience or fitness ability to play this popular sport.
Essex Pickleball Club
Pickleball is a growing sport and can be played by people of all ages. The Essex club were growing in numbers and required new equipment to cater for their new members and those they were about to recruit.
Club Forums
ABF have organised a number of Club Forums covering for example Funding, Safeguarding, Social Media etc. These have proved popular with local clubs and organisations, not only for the training but also for the opportunity to network with other similar groups.
Move It or Lose It
The over‑50s fitness sessions are all about feeling good in your body and enjoying the journey together. The focus is on balance, strength, flexibility and heart health — but just as importantly, sessions build confidence, celebrate progress and support one another. Join us and move at your pace, in a welcoming and encouraging community.
Monday 1.30pm – Castle Hedingham Memorial Hall. Falls resilience / Otago Class.
Tuesday 11am – Great Yeldham Reading Room, Move It or Lose It
Thursday 10.30am – Maldon United Reformed Church with the Maldon Pioneers. This is for adults with learning disabilities and has to be booked through the Maldon Pioneers, Move It or Lose It
Thursday 1pm – Hatfield Peverel Saint Andrews Church Hall, Move It or Lose It
Friday 11am – Great Yeldham Reading Rooms, Falls Resilience / Otago Class.
Falls Resilience / Otago Class.
The Falls Resilience classes are all about helping you feel steady, strong and confident as you move through everyday life. Sessions work on retraining balance, building muscle strength, improving mobility and sharpening reaction time, all the things that help you stay active and independent. Participants are a friendly group who chat, laugh and support one another in a welcoming space.
Contact website: www.takeactionlivelife.co.uk
Carers Connect
Carers Connect is a voluntary carer-led support group. Its primary aim is to support the health and wellbeing of unpaid carers in the Braintree District. Sessions include a gentle pilates and meditation class, time to relax and form friendships to reduce social isolation and share information/signposting and experiences. By providing an opportunity for carers to keep active and socialise their mental and emotional health is also improved.
Classes take place at:
St. Peter’s Church Hall, Braintree on the first Friday of the month
Bradwell Village Hall on the third Tuesday of the month
Contact: l-chao@live.com
Fellas Forum
The Fellas Forum offers differing sporting and physical activity sessions across Braintree District and aims to provide a welcoming environment for men to talk about their health and wellness in a judgement free place. Healthwatch Essex staff will lead the sessions initially to signpost the men to further support if required, with the aim of the session being volunteer led in the future. The project will link in with local trusted organisations to instigate a referral pathway to the sessions engaging with Social Prescribers, Neighbourhoods Teams, Active Essex and others. The sessions will aim to increase physical activity and introduce the men to new activities, to enhance their wellness.
Outdoor Gym Hatfield Peverel
Hatfield Peverel Parish Council installed an outdoor gym in the Strutt Memorial Recreation Ground, Maldon Road and set up weekly training sessions for the community who were unfamiliar with the equipment. The sessions enabled residents to become confident to use the equipment at anytime to improve their health and wellbeing.
https://www.hatfieldpeverelpc.com
Crittals Indoor Bowls Club
Crittalls Indoor Bowls Club was established over 10 years ago to provide activity and social interaction for both men and women to keep them occupied and provide company during the winter months. The club have approx. 25 participants meeting on 2 days per week (September to April) at the Glebe Hall, Braintree. Active Braintree Foundation gave the club a grant towards purchasing a new indoor bowls mat.
1st Rayne Scouts
1st Rayne Scouts received funding to purchase equipment as they are a growing unit, with waiting lists for most sections and the equipment will enable these children to complete their badges and stay active as sessions run 4 evenings a week. The equipment is also used by Explorer Scouts and Guiding. Activities include assault courses, throwing and catching, dodgeball, capture the flag and bench ball.
Kinetix Academy
Kinetix Academy is a parkour centre in Moss Road, Witham and ran a project called ‘Stand by You’ that addressed the mental health and wellbeing of secondary age students who were classed as ‘anxious school refusers’. The project offered sessions to encourage the young people to attend a new place, outside of the school, to build confidence and gain new skills whilst offering a sports provision, which helped with increasing activity and tackling obesity.
Gosfield Pickleball
Active Braintree Foundation funded the purchase of 4 portable pickleball nets so that the club could offer more session to encourage people of all ages, who don’t play sport, to get active with Pickleball, an easy game to pick up and is lots of fun, sociable and very addictive!
https://nextdoor.co.uk/pages/gosfield-pickleball-club-halstead-gb-eng/
Halstead Road Runners
Halstead Road Runners is an established running club based at Courtaulds Sports Ground, Halstead and following the success of their two ‘Couch 2 5k’ programmes they aim to provide another programme in January 2025 targeted at residents of the local community. The previous projects have helped participants reduce health inequalities, become fitter, meet new people, improve mental health and wellbeing and improve active and healthy lifestyle behaviours.
https://halsteadroadrunners.org.uk
The Active Braintree Foundation has also supported and awarded grants to:
- Witham Community Boxing Club – new equipment
- The Martials Arts Centre – new mats
- Olympus Taekwon Do – new mats
- Fern House Garden Project – see below
Impact Report.
Download Impact Report (2025/26)
TRUSTEES.
Joby Humm
Trustee
Amy Jackson
Trustee
Francesco Ricci
Trustee
Hollie Wood
Trustee
John Wood
Chairman
Gareth Heard
Trustee
Simon King
Trustee
Tristan Easey
Trustee
Courtenay Patterson
Trustee
PARTNERS.
Awards.
Braintree District Volunteer and Active Braintree Awards 2026 – Results
With thanks to our sponsor
|
Winner:Mary Pearce |
Highly Commended:Andy SmithSimon DawNigel & Bev GardnerJodie Cutts |
|
Winner:Alison Lilley |
Highly Commended:Mia GroganBlaze Woolman-HeardLillie-Rose Foskew |
|
Winner:Margaret Payne |
Highly Commended:Lynn JefferisDavid Blaylock |
|
Winners:Adam CanningBuddy the BoarRemy Fitzpatrick |
Highly Commended:Emily BentleyRob Spicer |
|
Winner:Crafty Nannas of Castle Hedingham & Braintree District |
Highly Commended:Power Youth GroupFriends of Bocking WindmillFriday Cafe |
Award: Health and Wellbeing – Individual |
Winner:Rob Widdowson |
Highly Commended:Leiah MelamedGurpreet Tumber |
|
Winner:Uplift Run Club |
Highly Commended:Reach Group Community ProjectsThe Underdog Crew CIC |
|
Winner:Freia Challis |
Highly Commended:Gabriel ‘Jack’ FranchetteEd Dover |
|
Winner:Oliver Wilson |
Highly Commended:Scarlett WoollardMartha May |
|
Winners:Braintree Community Netball |
Highly Commended:Braintree District Athletics ClubPlatinum Majorettes |
|
Winner:Lynne Wouldham |
Highly Commended:Julian AllenLauren LongStefanie Barnes |
Funding.
Active Braintree Foundation offers funding, up to £1,000, for projects that support new opportunities that benefit people’s health and wellbeing and increase participation in a wide range of activities. Funding of over £1,000 may be available in certain circumstances – please contact us to discuss.
CONTACT Us.
We are always happy to hear from people who support our work or use our services, so don’t be shy.
Active Braintree Foundation is keen to work with partners across the district to support and develop projects and ideas which will use sport and physical activity to engage communities.
So if you are interested in working with us, have an idea that you need support in developing however big or small, or want to work with a wider network of grass roots organisations then please get in touch!
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© 2024 Active Braintree Foundation. All Right Reserved.