Author: ChannelsResidentsUK

Building the Community at Channels

By getting involved with people who want to discuss common concerns or local issues, we can make a difference to where we live. One way of achieving this is by working together with other people in the neighbourhood via a Community Group. Our Community Group mission is:

To develop and maintain an all-inclusive, healthy and vibrant community through involvement with residents who want to make a positive difference to where they live.

The aims of the Community Group can be found HERE and the group is recognised by key local stakeholders including Parish Councils, the City Council and Essex County Council.

Some of our achievements and activities over the last 2 years include:

  • Installation of a Community Defibrillator;
  • Successful lobbying for the bridleway to be surfaced and installation of the crossing at the bottom of it brought forward due to safety concerns;
  • Development of Neighbourhood Watch;
  • Development of Community Gardens for all to be involved with and enjoy;
  • Social events & activities
  • Community litter picking;
  • Groups set up for runners & riders;
  • An Essex Lottery ‘good cause’.

We are working on or are involved with the following key projects:

  • Platinum Jubilee Beacons Project (see update below!);
  • Channels Public Art Project;
  • Community Growing Points.

Every resident is considered to be part of the Community Group however we need a working management committee to coordinate and help shape our community both now and for the future.

We currently have a small number of highly committed people supporting and representing Channels residents however it would be fantastic to have a few more committee members, especially from the Croudace & Pompadour localities, to ensure we can take forward some of the great ideas and projects which will benefit everyone in the coming year.

The Jubilee Beacon project (see below) is a good example of where some management & oversight is required and why we need volunteers to be involved in making it all happen.


We have received confirmation from five local organisations of funding to cover the capital cost of a permanent landmark Platinum Jubilee Beacon in Channels Park and we plan to hold a special event for the entire community to celebrate The Queen’s historic reign.

On Thursday 2nd June 2022, Beacons will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories and if all goes well, ours will be one of them!

If you want to be involved in helping to develop the Channels community, please do express your interest by completing this website form.

Community Meet Up

As it appears that numbers attending on Friday will be low, and as nobody has expressed an interest in joining the main CRCG Committee, we have decided that there is no benefit in holding an Annual General Meeting at this time. We will prepare an annual report, which will be circulated early in the new year, and we will look to hold an AGM at a later date.

Every resident is considered to be part of the Channels Residents Community Group however we do need a working management committee to coordinate and progress important projects such as the Defibrillator and the 2022 Jubilee Celebrations.

The room at the Community Centre has been booked, so please do come along for a chat and to get to know your local Channels community neighbours whilst having a cup of mulled wine and some light refreshments.

If there are any new rules regarding use of the Community Centre in light of the current COVID situation, we will update accordingly.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday from 7pm. Seasonal hats welcomed! 🙂

Christmas Card Competition

Calling all artists young and not so young!

We are looking for someone to design our CRCG Christmas card again this year. Those who were with us last year will have received the Christmas card designed by Suki and we are looking for a new design for this year! 🎄🤩🎅🏻

Please create your design on a piece of A4 card or paper using whatever style you like… it just needs to be flat so it can be printed. 👍🏻 You can draw, paint, colour, collage… the choice is yours! 🎨✏️🖍

Just make sure to hand deliver your masterpiece to 85 Fairway Drive no later than Monday 22nd November. 🏠

Channels CIC Meeting

Dear residents,

There is a meeting of the new Channels Community Stewardship CIC on Tuesday 9th November at 7pm via Zoom. The details that have been circulated by the CIC are as follows:

Meeting ID: 838 7641 6407
Passcode: 283497

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83876416407?pwd=cGx1SzdjbUc4SHA3Nk5LSW5nRTdZZz09&from=addon

Phone Dial In (dial as below in sequence)
One tap mobile
+442034815237,,83876416407#,,,,*283497# United Kingdom
+442034815240,,83876416407#,,,,*283497# United Kingdom

Please note this is not a CRCG meeting but a general meeting of the new CIC (formally Channels Management Company) which looks after all Channels-wide estate and issues.

Channels Defibrillator: Update

Unfortunately there has been a delay in sourcing parts for the lockable defibrillator cabinet meaning that we won’t receive delivery of our equipment for another couple of weeks. As such, we are now looking to ‘go live’ by the end of November.

The good news is that we have a plenty of volunteers for the inspection rota, a WhatsApp group to support it and their face to face training is currently being arranged. A big thanks to all those that put their names forward 🙂

As previously noted we will be arranging for a Zoom based awareness session for all residents however for now, we have embedded a couple of informative videos (as suggested by the Community Heartbeat Trust) and linked to some other helpful guidance everyone to look view and digest.

Information & Guidance can be found HERE.

Community Gardens

Almost two years ago the idea of having Community Garden areas was suggested. Over the last 18 months, and partly funded by grant monies with volunteer help, the first stage has been developed on the Bellway phase at the location shown below:

The intention was (and remains) that the garden areas promote community involvement, are for the enjoyment of the whole Channels development and if a success, can be developed across the wider estate.

As the areas that are currently being developed are on Management Company responsible land, directors have asked that a more formalised sub-committee of the CRCG jointly takes responsibility for management of the project to ensure consistency and continuity, especially in the event of key volunteers being unable to continue to provide input. This is necessary to minimise the risk of the land being left unmanaged which could lead to additional costs having to be covered by the Service Charge.

If you are willing to be part of a small CRCG aligned group that will jointly manage the project, please let us know by completing the form HERE.


If a sub-committee cannot be formed by 31st October, preparations will be made to return the land to it’s original state so please do get involved and keep the Community Gardens project alive!

Local Clubs & Groups

If you are running a club or group (physical or virtual) and would like to make others across the Channels community aware, simply fill in the form HERE and it can be listed on the Local Clubs & Groups page.

As long as the club or group is family friendly and is focussed on or features the Channels development, it will be listed! 🙂

If you want to further promote your club or group, and there is sufficient interest, we may be able to focus on one per month to give residents more detail about what you are doing.

Channels CIC Meeting

Dear residents,

There is a meeting of the new Channels Community Stewardship CIC tomorrow (7th October) at 7pm via Zoom. The details that have been circulated by the CIC are as follows:

Meeting ID: 821 1722 1034
Passcode: 357095

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82117221034?pwd=c3Fxby9NSSs3VzN6cVE1dysvcGlkUT09&from=addon

Dial: +44 203 481 5240 The United Kingdom

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdvrg51VIi
Passcode: 357095 One tap mobile +442034815240,,82117221034#,,,,*357095#

Please note this is not a CRCG meeting but the first general meeting of the new CIC (formally Channels Management Company) which looks after all Channels-wide estate and issues.

AGENDA FOR THE MEETING

Welcome & Purpose of the Meeting – HK
CIC Explained – what is it and how will it function? – HK
Review applications for membership and confirm members HK
Review proposals for directors and appoint directors of the company HK
Update on Service Charges and accounts – HK
Review and if appropriate approve accounts for 2020/2021 HK
Open Space Delivery & Maintenance Update – OB/OS
Review the Budget for 2022 – HK

Proposed Maintenance Tasks
a. Western Mitigation Area – Lake Sight Lines – OS
b. Replacing Dead Trees – OS
c. Miscellaneous for discussion – OS

Proposed Community Projects Fund – HK/OB
a. Growing points
b. Community garden at Condor Gate (budget £5,000)

Approve the Budget (revised as appropriate) for 2021/2022 – HK
Website – HK
Chelmsford Garden Community Update – OB
Date & Time of Next Meeting – HK/OB
AOB

Annual General Meeting

Come along to find out more about the Community Group and get to know your local Channels community neighbours whilst having a cup of mulled wine and some light refreshments, all with a seasonal feel!

Every resident is considered to be part of the Community Group however we need a working management committee to coordinate and help shape our community both now and for the future.

The following posts need to be elected at our forthcoming AGM and will be held for a period of one year:

– Chair
– Secretary
– Treasurer

We also need up to 6 additional committee members including leads for our two key sub-groups (Social Unity & Safer Communities) to form a full management committee.

So that we have an idea of those that may want to get involved, do express your interest by completing this website form.