Our new home – Hargrave House, opposite Sandon High School, is the centre to a huge DIY project as it is transformed into headquarters for local children’s charity Kids Inspire.

Over 50 volunteers have been painting, decorating and gardening over the bank holiday weekend, but work at the site is ongoing this week and into the forthcoming weekend (11 & 12 May) in preparation for service users at 8am on Monday 13 May.

Kids Inspire will be closing its doors at Fox Crescent to children and family appointments this week on Thursday 9 May at 7pm and reopening at Hargrave House, Molrams Lane, Great Baddow on Monday 13 May at 8am.

Sue Bell, CEO and Founder of Kids Inspire, said: “The weekend has been a brilliant one – we have been overjoyed by the Kids Inspire community and everyone that has readily given so much of their time.

“Additionally, we are all so grateful for the professional support, advice and flexibility we have already received, but our journey doesn’t end there. We really want to make Hargrave House the best facility we can for our clients and would love some more professional (and non-professional) support to help us to do this. If anyone can help during this week or the weekend (11 & 12 May), we will be truly grateful for all that can be gifted – time, services, resources.

“Hargrave House is a dream come true for so many and it will allow the charity space and time to nurture and grow its youth emotional wellbeing service across Essex.”

This coming week the DIY focus will be to continue painting and decorating, plus working on carpentry, gardening and electrical projects too.

Andy Sleet, Chair of Kids Inspire Trustees, said: “Thank you to everyone that has volunteered their time already, Hargrave House is a real community project.

“At Kids Inspire, we believe that every child deserves a childhood and we ensure that those we work with receive the emotional support, guidance and care required to help them become valued members of our society.”

Kids Inspire offers emotional and mental health support to children, young people and their families, and has been homed in Fox Crescent for the past 11 years – thanks to the ongoing flexibility and generosity of landlords the SEAX Trust.

Please contact Louise@kidsinspire.org.uk or call 01245 348707 if you might let to be involved in the coming few weeks.