Key Dates

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to every one of you who attended the first REN Project Community Champion Training. Your commitment and participation are truly appreciated.

 We are excited to announce that the second REN training session will be conducted online and we are happy to continue this journey with you.

The second online training session is scheduled for Tuesday, June 25, 2024, from 10am to 12noon. We are excited to continue our journey together and further enhance our skills and knowledge as REN community champions.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support and commitment. We look forward to your continued participation in this important initiative.

Bringing healthcare closer to our communities: NHS Mid and South Essex launches winter vaccination bus 🚌

Last year, nearly 60% of eligible residents in mid and south Essex received their flu vaccination. This year, we’re going even further to ensure even more people are protected.

Our community vaccination bus will be visiting towns across the region, offering flu and COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as free blood pressure checks for adults over 40. Healthcare teams onboard will provide expert advice, administer vaccinations, and signpost residents to further care when needed.

The towns selected are areas with historically low vaccination uptake and higher health inequalities. By engaging directly with local communities, we’re raising awareness of the importance of winter vaccinations and offering immediate vaccination at the point of conversation. This approach is key to increasing uptake and protecting the most vulnerable as we approach winter.

The vaccination bus schedule:
- Tesco Extra, Mayflower Retail Park, Basildon – Tuesday, 15 October (9am-5pm)
- Morrisons, Southend-on-Sea – Wednesday, 16 October (9am-5pm)
- Grays High Street – Thursday, 17 October (9am-5pm)
- Morrisons, Northwick Road, Canvey Island – Friday, 18 October (9am-5pm)

By bringing healthcare directly to our communities, we’re supporting public health and helping to prevent winter illnesses.

 #PublicHealth #WinterVaccinations #HealthcareProfessionals #CommunityHealth

The REN learning event was a huge success, we had over 30 attendees comprising of community champions, Primary care Network researchers, researchers from ARU and some non-exec members form the ICB. The event saw community champions presenting the outstanding outcomes they've achieved since joining the REN project, highlighting the real-world impact of their work.

The event was opened with an introduction by Tom Abell, Chief Executive Officer of MSE ICB, and we also heard from Dr. James Hickling, Deputy Medical Director, who gave an insightful presentation. Their contributions set the tone for a truly engaging and impactful day.

It was inspiring to hear how their efforts are making a positive difference. Additionally, researchers in the room shared the wonderful collaborations they’ve had with the REN champions and provided valuable insights into future research opportunities for continued engagement. The event was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the power of collaboration between the REN community and the research sector.

We were also privileged to also have Dr. Sophia Morris, the System Clinical Lead for Health Inequalities, join us. She spoke powerfully about the impact of health inequalities on marginalised groups and shared valuable resources and opportunities to further support our community champions in their work. Her insights were incredibly well-received and reinforced the importance of tackling health disparities through collaboration and engagement.

The event was a fantastic opportunity to learn about the progress of the REN project, share experiences and explore how we can further enhance research uptake in our community.