Al-Anon Family Groups

A support group for family and friends and colleagues of problem drinkers that offers a dedicated helpline (0800 0086 811) from 10am-10pm each day. The service ensures anonymity for its users. The charity also runs regular meetings for those affected by someone else’s drinking. The nearest support group currently for our community is in Braintree. Further information can be found at www.al-anonuk.org.uk

Garden Waste Collection Service

This service returns in March.

You can deposit GARDEN waste in a skip in the Lower Street Car Park 12.30-16.30 on alternate Sundays throughout the year.

Alternatively you can use the Saffron Walden recycling centre is at Thaxted Road, CB10 2UP.

Dates for the service are provided below and are also to be found in the Parish Council pages of the Link and posts on our Facebook and Instagram accounts:

• Sep 4
• Sep 18
• Oct 2
• Oct 16
• Oct 30
• Nov 13
• Nov 27

Stansted Business Forum

Website: www.stanstedbusinessforum.co.uk

Stansted Surgery

Our GP surgery is located in the Castle Maltings building in Lower Street.

Telephone: 01279 813 200
Email: stansted.surgery@nhs.net
Website: www.thestanstedsurgery.nhs.uk

The Link

The Link (Stansted Mountfitchet Village Magazine) is an independent publication supported by local churches, businesses and the Parish Council. Stansted’s long running parish magazine The Link won a gold at the Cambridge Community Magazine Awards.Each edition of the Magazine is available online.

The Police
Non-Emergency: Call 101
Emergency: Call 999
Website: www.essex.police.uk

Stansted Day & Community Centre

Community organisation TouchPoint Stansted run a variety of activities and groups from the Day Centre. Every Thursday (11am-5pm) & Friday (10am-2pm) there is the hugely popular TouchPoint cafe. Sit at a ‘chatty’ table with some cake, tea or coffee, or enjoy a hot lunch (12.30pm-2.30pm), and meet up with fellow residents.

Refreshments are free, and there’s a ‘pay it forward box’ so you can help others cover the cost of a meal or snack. TouchPoint also operate a Food Share (Weds 11am-1pm, Thurs 11am-1pm, Fri 11am-1pm), where bread, fruit & veg, and pastries that had been destined for landfill can be picked up free of charge to fill your larder – a nice way to offset the cost of living crisis and do your bit for the planet!

You can also use the group’s community laptops to get online, and Citizens Advice (Uttlesford) offer a virtual service with TouchPoint volunteers on hand to help.

For further details head to www.thetouchpoint.org

Citizens Advice Uttlesford

Website: www.uttlesfordcab.org.uk

Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Watch

Neighbourhood Watch Schemes aim to encourage individuals and communities to reduce and prevent crime in their areas by working together and liaising with the police in their areas. By setting up or joining a Neighbourhood Watch initiative you can address issues relating to antisocial behaviour, create safer neighbourhoods and build community spirit and cohesion. You can find out more at the ourwatch.org.uk.

There are currently two schemes up and running in Stansted Mountfitchet — one covering the Foresthall Park estate: and another for Walpole Meadows.

Stansted Helpline

The Stansted Helpline was launched by the then Stansted Association of Christian Churches in order to offer practical assistance to those Stansted residents who may have no friends or relatives nearby who are able to help.

Helpline is able to offer, for example; transport, companionship, shopping, collecting prescriptions etc. and are able to provide information, advice and contact numbers for other organisations.

The service can be contacted 9am – 4pm, Monday to Friday by telephoning: 0770 4553 727. This is a mobile telephone held by one of ten volunteers, on a rota basis, who log the requests. A comprehensive list of approximately 45 volunteers, is then consulted to select a suitable volunteer to whom the ‘client’ is put in touch.