Category: Community Development

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 Gardens Update

The Community Group has completed the initial stages of setting up a Community Garden. Carroll Crumpen (who lives on the Bellway part of the development) is leading the project and a location was identified in the summer of 2020 which has become home to the project.

This Community Garden is for the use of the whole Channels community and we have been awarded £400 from the Community Initiative Fund which can be used to purchase plants, wild flower seeds and tools. It is a community garden, so it should be for the community to decide how it is developed.

Take a look at the full update and please do get involved by submitting your ideas or by volunteering to assist taking the project forward.

Happy New Year! 🙂

Lottery Competition!

Just to show that it’s worth being a part of, there were 96 winners in the last draw, one of which was a supporter of the Channels Community Group! You can find the full results here.

Competition! If you enter before 19th December, you have the chance to win 1 of 5 entertainment bundles in the national draw!

So don’t forget that you can play from just £1 per week and 50% of proceeds for all tickets sold from the CRCG Essex Lottery Page comes to us plus 10% goes to other good causes in Essex!

The CRCG appreciates your support and good luck! 🙂

Community Benches (Fountain Lake)


There are two new benches situated in a secluded position over-looking the fountain lake on the Eagle Rise/Aqua Verde part of the development for everyone to use and enjoy.

In late Spring we became aware of some available grant funding (Essex County Council Locality Fund) and following a discussion with County Councillor John Aldridge, he very kindly recommended that an award should be made for the provision of two benches.

A formal application was made at the end of July and within a week the CRCG had funds with which to order two benches for use by the community. When we asked for feedback about ideas for use of grant funding, a number of responses asked for benches over-looking the lake hence the proposal put to Councillor John Aldridge.

The CRCG would also like to thank directors of the Eagle Rise/Aqua Verde Residents Management Company (CCMC Ltd) for allowing the benches to be sited on their land.

The benches are durable, weather resistant, vandal proof and low maintenance. They are environmentally friendly being made from recycled materials and have a rustic look.

Enjoy 🙂

Andrew Wright
Channels Residents Community Group

CRCG joins the Essex Lottery!

The Community Group is now a recognised ‘good cause’ and is part of the Essex Lottery! This means that you can buy tickets, have a chance of winning £25,000 and 50% of all ticket proceeds will come to the CRCG to further its aims & objectives for the benefit of the local community 🙂

Just pop over to the CRCG Essex Lottery Page, become a supporter and buy some tickets!

Good luck 🙂

Have Your Say!

As previously flagged, the Community Group is applying for a Grant from the Community Initiative Fund to enhance our communal spaces.

It’s really important to gather comments and ideas from the community so if you want to know more or want to add to those already suggested by residents, take a look at the latest update here.

Ideally we would have circulated some form of leaflet/questionnaire however the timescale for completion of the application will not allow for this. So, have a chat to your neighbours about it, discuss the list of ideas currently on the short list and get involved by giving us your thoughts!

A suggestions form can be found here!

Your Community Needs You!

We need someone (or even better a small team) that can assist in heading up the delivery of an exciting project for our community.

The Community Group is applying to the Community Initiative Fund to further develop some of the communal land which would create spaces suitable for future events and to generally enhance the areas for all residents to enjoy year round.

We can apply to the Community Initiative Fund for up to £10,000 for a project that can:

  • create, procure or develop new community assets​
  • enhance existing community assets
  • enhance or develop initiatives that strengthen a community, including cultural initiatives
  • develop local capability

Projects need to highlight the benefit to the wider community and show that community engagement and co-production has occurred in the design and delivery of the project, demonstrating a real community need.

An expression of interest form has already been submitted and we have now been invited to complete a full application form.

Our project lead would work with the various CRCG sub-committees and other community partners to complete the full application form (deadline 16th August 2020) and progress the project to full implementation.

If you are interested in getting involved in this exciting opportunity, drop us an e-mail via the form below:

Christmas at Channels!

With the festive season not that far away, the Community Group Social Unity Committee is working to bring something a little bit special to Channels again this year.

With the support of those working across the development, and at the Channels Estate, we will see the installation of a lit Christmas tree on the communal green area between Eagle Rise & Aqua Verde. All being well, we will also have a marquee erected (purchased with our grant) so that if the weather is as unkind as it was in 2018, the fun can continue!

We welcome you and your family to join us on Sunday 15th December from 3.00pm when the Christmas tree will be the focal point for festivities.

Plans are underway for fun and games, local business stalls, mulled wine, refreshments, a minced pie bake off competition, a raffle and most importantly a Christmas sing along!

If you want to get involved in assisting making our event a success, do get in touch via: www.Channels.Community/Xmas-Help

We look forward to seeing you all on the green from 3.00pm on Sunday 15th December 🙂

CRCG Social Unity Committee

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