With Christmas now over, the Healthwatch Essex team have been wrapping up warm and preparing to head out and about in the new year across Essex. As we look forward to what the new year has to offer, December has been a month filled with community engagement, festive events, and meaningful conversations. So here are the December 2025 highlights.
Throughout December, our team continued to visit hospitals, community groups, and local events across Essex, ensuring people had the opportunity to share their experiences of health and care services. As winter weather set in, the team also focused on supporting local communities by distributing woolly items and slippers at events, helping people stay warm and well during the colder months. The team also got into the festive spirit by taking part in Christmas Jumper Day, proudly donning their festive knits while out and about across Essex.
December also gave us the chance to reflect on and celebrate the people who make our work possible. Building on the celebrations from Trustee Week in November, we continued to recognise the dedication of our trustees, whose guidance and support help shape our work and ensure the voices of Essex residents remain at the heart of everything we do.
Our Research team travelled to Cambridge to meet our Research Ambassador Maria. Maria has been a dedicated Research Ambassador since January 2023 but is based in Greece, so this was the first time the team met her in person and reflected on all the amazing work they have produced together over the year.
Our Fella’s Forums remained active throughout the month, bringing people together in relaxed and welcoming spaces during what can be a challenging time of year for some. We hosted our second Harwich Fella’s Forum meet-up at the Royal Oak, where attendees enjoyed friendly conversation, food, and drinks, helping to reduce isolation and encourage connection during the festive season. In December, we also saw our Colchester and Braintree Fella’s Forum combined into one for a Christmas party with food and games at Healthwatch Essex Office, also donated and helped wrap presents to be given to underprivileged children at Greenstead Community Centre later in December as part of the Heart of Greenstead project.
For more information about our Fella’s Forums, visit our Men’s Health page or contact our Engagement Manager, Scott Tatum on [email protected].
January Events
The Healthwatch Essex team will be heading out and about in December, so make sure to mark your calendar. Also look out for the Healthwatch Essex van and take a look at the various events where you will be able to find our team:
7th January 10am-2pm, stand at Colchester Hospital 
9th January 1-3pm, Winter Wraparound at Laindon Community Centre
13th January 10am-2pm, stand at Broomfield Hospital
15th January 11am-2pm, Student Experience Fair at the University of Essex
21st January 10am-2pm, stand at Princess Alexandra Hospital
23rd January 1-3pm, Winter Wraparound at Laindon Community Centre
26th January 9am-midday, North Colchester PCN Winter Hub at Highwoods Community Centre
28th January 10am-2pm, stand at Basildon Hospital
Our Information and Guidance team have been trained and accredited as partners of the Essex Sexual Health Service Umbrella Project and at each of the events marked by an umbrella, we will be able to supply care packages to anyone who advises us that they are involved in sex work, along with any information and guidance which may be required.