by Lorraine King | Jun 23, 2026 | Infrastructure
By Karen Barber
The 10-Year Fight for Answers:
After 10 years of exemplary promotions and appraisals in the civil service, I was dismissed due to poor performance caused by a disease that took a decade to diagnose. It was a relief to finally get that diagnosis. Even though medical professionals told me it was all in my mind, I knew something was wrong.
Falling Through the Gaps:
After attending a cognitive therapy course at the Kingswood Centre in Colchester Hospital, I found there was no support out there for people of my age; I simply did not fit into the more senior groups. There is such a gap for people with young onset dementia, and it is unacceptable that we are just being forgotten. I decided to help others like myself who fell through the gaps without the support we needed.
Building a Vision with Community Partners:
I am so grateful for the community partners who understood the need. The Stroke and Wellness Foundation for hiring us a hall, and Sports for Confidence who designed our logo and poster when we had no funds. To CVST who when I contacted them believed in the project, my vision, p
assion, and ambition, they are a true example of how a voluntary service should work by helping with advice, policies, and providing my excellent volunteers, who have worked tirelessly and with all this support we have made it a success. Together, we opened the Young Minds Dementia Group and secured grants from Grassroots, the Tudwick Foundation, and the Essex Foundation.
Speaking Out in Parliament and the Media:
Our group is steadily growing. I am speaking out not for myself, but for everyone out there who does not have a voice. I’ve raised awareness on ITV Anglia, in Alzheimer’s Magazine, and an upcoming Daily Mail article. In May, I was invited to speak in Parliament, where I made our message clear:
Dementia needs to be a medical condition not a social care issue… We will not be silenced, we are valued members of society, yet for far too long we have been forgotten. We are the nation’s untapped capital, not a burden to be managed.”
My Vision for the Future: It shouldn’t be on people like me to establish these groups to make our own support. Unless action is taken, the vacuum of care will only deepen into a social catastrophe. My vision is to get charity status and funding to see Young Minds Dementia Groups across Essex, rectifying this inequality so that we are finally seen, supported, and valued. I couldn’t do this without the support of my excellent volunteers and community support of CVST and so many organisations in Tendring. I thank you all for believing in my vision and for not letting those with young onset dementia be forgotten
by Lorraine King | Jun 2, 2026 | Uncategorized
Volunteers Week 2026: Volunteering Looks Like This
Volunteers Week is the time we pause, reflect and, most importantly, say a heartfelt thank you to all the people who give their time, skills and energy to support others across our community.
At CVST, we see every day the difference volunteers make – whether that is volunteering for us or for the many brilliant organisations across Tendring. From supporting weekly friendship groups, to helping teach others new skills, to bringing ideas, kindness and practical help where it’s needed most – volunteering is at the heart of a stronger, more connected Tendring.
‘Volunteering Looks Like This’
This year, our Volunteers Week campaign is called Volunteering Looks Like This, and it’s all about showing the true diversity of volunteering.
Volunteering doesn’t look just one way.
It looks like:
- A volunteer trustee helping guide a local organisation
- Someone giving a few hours a month to support a community group
- A volunteer befriender offering time and compassion
- People sharing professional skills, lived experience or simply a willingness to help
- Individuals of all ages, backgrounds and abilities making a difference in their own way
Through our campaign, we’re celebrating real volunteers and real stories – highlighting that every contribution matters, whether it’s a little time or a long-term commitment.
Saying Thank You
To everyone who volunteers – whether through a charity, community group, or informally in your neighbourhood – thank you. Your generosity helps organisations survive and thrive, supports vulnerable people, and builds communities where people care for one another.
We’d also like to thank the organisations who support volunteers, create welcoming opportunities, and recognise the value of volunteering in all its forms.
Why Volunteering Matters
Volunteering matters because it changes lives.
For local charities and community groups, volunteers are often the difference between a service existing or not. They bring time, skills, passion and local knowledge that help organisations respond to real needs in their communities.
For individuals, volunteering can reduce loneliness, improve wellbeing, build confidence and open doors to new skills and opportunities. It allows people to connect and play an active role in shaping the place where they live.
And for communities, volunteering builds resilience and connection. It brings people together across generations and backgrounds, strengthens local networks, and helps ensure that support is there when it’s needed most.
That’s why at CVST, we believe volunteering isn’t just about giving time — it’s about creating stronger, kinder and more inclusive communities.
Get Involved
If you’re interested in volunteering, or if your organisation needs volunteers, CVST is here to help. We can support you to find opportunities, promote roles, and strengthen volunteering across the district.
Look at volunteering opportunities at
This Volunteers’ Week, let’s celebrate the people who make a difference — and show that volunteering really does look like this.
by Lorraine King | May 21, 2026 | Infrastructure
Behind the people, the services, and the organisations in Tendring sits a layer of support that often goes unseen, the “hidden wiring” that keeps everything connected and working smoothly.
That hidden wiring is exactly the role CVST plays. Across Tendring, we work to bring people and organisations together. We help local groups navigate challenges and build their capacity to grow in ways that make them more sustainable. We advocate for the voluntary sector so that the voices of smaller and marginalised organisations are heard in the rooms where decisions are made. We help create the conditions where volunteering gives local people meaningful ways to contribute to the place they call home.
For our partners, this means having a trusted bridge into the community; an organisation that understands the local landscape and can convene the right people to help shape solutions that reflect real lived experience. For local groups, it means having someone in your corner offering the practical support that hopefully will help you to thrive rather than just survive.
.
Report highlights what makes good infrastructure
The National Association for Voluntary and Community Action’s (NAVCA) latest report on what good local infrastructure looks like really connects with CVST’s work as it talks about something that we see every day in Tendring… that when people have places to connect and services that genuinely understand their needs, the whole community becomes more healthy and confident.
What this NAVCA report highlights is that good infrastructure isn’t about a particular structure or model, it’s about relationships and collaboration. That’s why at CVST we invest so much time in listening to local groups and building strong partnerships with partners and funders. When those relationships are strong, it feels like everything else is more possible.
We run a number of different opportunities for groups and organisations to come together to share their skills, knowledge and experiences. For more information look around this website or email events@cvstendring.org.uk. If you’re a local partner, funder or voluntary sector organisations or community group who wants to work together to strengthen our area, we’re always ready for a conversation!
The NAVCA report makes a powerful point. When local infrastructure is recognised and properly resourced, the whole system benefits. Public services become more effective, voluntary and community organisations and groups become stronger, and local people feel more connected and able to take part in their communities. Who doesn’t want to be a part of that?
.
Join us
Recent Comments