Charities create new disability alliance

Three Essex charities, BOSP, Hamelin and SNAP, have joined forces to create a new Essex-wide Disability Alliance.

The alliance has been established to strengthen support for people who are neurodivergent, have learning or physical disabilities, or live with life-limiting illnesses. By working together, the charities can provide a stronger network of care, ensuring people receive the right support when they need it and giving disabled people and their families clearer guidance through what can often be a complex system.

BOSP and SNAP bring decades of experience supporting children and young adults, while Hamelin is one of the largest charities in Essex supporting disabled adults. Each alliance partner will continue delivering their own missions and exist as independent charities, but together, the alliance will seek to work closer together. One key aim is to ensure the experience for families, particularly the transition from children to adult services, is as positive and streamlined as possible.

They will also seek to amplify key messages that are important to families affected by disability across Essex, speaking with one voice when influencing the social care and health systems.

BOSP CEO Jodie Connelly, Hamelin CEO Ru Watkins and SNAP CEO Karen Boath said: “We are proud to be coming together to form the Essex Disability Alliance. By uniting our expertise, we can offer families clearer guidance and stronger support at every stage of their journey.

“We know that navigating services can often feel overwhelming, particularly during the transition from childhood to adulthood, and we believe this alliance will help to make that experience more positive and less daunting.

“This is a positive step for all three charities and for the people and families we support. By working in collaboration, we can achieve more, influence more, and ensure that the voices of those we support are heard more strongly than ever.”

The alliance formation has been praised by Tom Abell, Chief Executive of Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB). The ICB acts as a statutory NHS body, overseeing the integration of local NHS services and collaborating with partner organisations, aiming to improve overall population health and wellbeing.

Tom said: “We welcome this new partnership which is an exciting opportunity to make a real positive difference to people across Essex, providing an opportunity for the NHS to work better with voluntary and community organisations. We look forward to working in partnership with the alliance to improve the way that health and care services work.”

Photo shows, from left to right: BOSP CEO Jodie Connelly, Hamelin CEO Ru Watkins and SNAP CEO Karen Boath