Community Voice comes to Colchester
Thursday 5th March 2026
We’re excited to announce that Community Voice, our groundbreaking forum amplifying the lived experience of addiction, is coming to Colchester on Thursday 5th March 2026!
What Is Community Voice?
Community Voice is an innovative forum for people affected by addiction in Essex to come together, share their experiences, help shape the future of drug and alcohol services and directly influence decision-making in our county. It exists to ensure that the voices of those most impacted by drug and alcohol services are not just heard, but embedded at the core of the commissioning cycle in Essex.
Community Voice meets every three months to:
Discuss current needs across the county
Review research from our team of community researchers
Define strategic priorities
Decide what resources are needed
Allocate funding to services that matter
By putting lived experience at the heart of the process, we are hoping to make a real impact on how services are designed, commissioned, monitored and improved.
What to Expect in Colchester
The Colchester forum will take place from 10:00 to 14:30 at the Colchester Arts Centre on Church Street.
Highlights include:
Community updates and feedback
An exclusive airing of the Healing Voices podcast
Findings from the Essex Children and Young Person’s Needs Assessment
Voices of Recovery contributions
A delicious lunch provided by The Deli
Discussion and voting on Essex’s research agenda
Whether you’re in recovery, supporting someone who is, working in services or simply want to be involved in positive change - this is your space to be heard.
Why Community Voice Matters
At Essex Recovery Foundation, we believe the insights of people with lived experience are vital in shaping services that genuinely work. Sarah Tinker, our Radical Change Lead, explains:
“Community Voice is essential for capturing the true voices and lived experience of people in Essex who are affected by addiction. It ensures that we are accurately reporting the sentiment of the recovery community - not only as part of the commissioning process but also for ongoing monitoring of drug and alcohol services across the county.”
Essex Recovery Foundation’s commitment goes beyond consultation. We actively campaign for co-creation, partnership and ensuring that the recovery community has a meaningful and ongoing role in service evolution.
Get Involved
If you’d like to join us in Colchester on Thursday 5th March, please click the button below to reserve your space.
Need a lift?
We have organised free shared transport from Basildon, Harlow, Chelmsford and Grays — please book early to secure a seat.