Asset Based Community Development in Essex
Strengthening our Communities
A partnership with Nurture Development in 2019 was the catalyst for major growth in the understanding and use of Asset Based Community Development. Building on the learnings and local stories of ABCD in Essex, the Active Essex Foundation (AEF) developed a workshop to further support this approach and way of working in local communities.
ABCDE (Asset Based Community Development in Essex) continues to be recognised as a vital approach in shifting how organisations work with communities rather than doing to them. During 2025–26, Active Essex has strengthened its role as a system leader for ABCD, supporting local, regional and national partners to embed strengths-based approaches that empower residents and build sustainable, connected communities.
This year has seen ABCD Essex extend beyond county boundaries, supporting Active Suffolk’s Place Partnerships in Lakenheath and Ipswich, alongside work with Epping Forest District Council and national charity The Talent Foundry. Through training, storytelling and network-building, Active Essex has helped partners recognise and unlock the strengths that already exist within communities — often leading to increased connection, trust and opportunities for physical activity.
Active Essex provides a distinctive lens on Asset Based Community Development, linking strengths-based community working directly to physical activity, wellbeing and place-based outcomes.
Our role includes:
- Delivering introductory ABCD workshops for partners and organisations
- Coordinating the Essex-wide ABCD Network, providing a space to share stories, challenges and learning
- Supporting partners to reflect on how their ways of working are changing and the impact this has on communities
Without the Essex ABCD Network, many examples of practice change would remain unseen such as the west Essex inclusion project which is offering free multisport activities in the area and the biggest voice in community participation has been the use of a community WhatsApp for sharing of relevant local ideas and information in Epping, or where Essex County Council’s Sustainable Travel team worked with local communities in Greenstead to develop a green space for community use outside of a residential area.
After a series of meetings with local people supported by The Active Wellbeing Society it was settled on some garden spaces that could be looked after by local people supported by ECC, or the development of refurbished skateparks in Maldon that were led by young people sharing their ideas and thoughts on the spaces available to them.
The network enables partners to learn from each other, celebrate progress and continue evolving how they engage with residents.
Active Essex has directly supported a range of partners to embed Asset Based Community Development in their work, including Epping Forest District Council, Thurrock Home Care Providers, Active Suffolk, the Lakenheath and Ipswich Place Partnerships, and national charity The Talent Foundry. This support has focused on building confidence, skills and practical understanding of ABCD, helping organisations shift towards more strengths based, community led ways of working.
Alongside this, the Essex ABCD Network brings together a wide range of organisations committed to sharing learning and practice. Network members include St Helena’s Hospice, Maldon District Council, Castle Point Borough Council, Active Thames Foundation, Cast A Thought, Thurrock NHS, Essex County Council, Southend‑on‑Sea City Council, Thurrock Council, Colchester City Council and CVS Tendring, creating a strong and diverse community of practice across the county.
Key Learnings
Sustained Learning
Ongoing support embeds ABCD as lasting culture, enabling continuous learning, shared practice and...
Active Essex’s support has led to tangible system change across multiple organisations. At Colchester City Council, ABCD principles have been embedded at an organisational level through the development of an all‑staff training module, ensuring new and existing employees understand and apply strengths‑based approaches consistently in their work with communities.
At a local level, ABCD has enabled deeper, more sustainable community engagement. Essex County Council’s Sustainable Travel Team worked with residents in Greenstead to co‑design community green spaces, leading to community ownership and long‑term maintenance following initial challenges, including vandalism. Trust‑building work with Persian residents supported stronger integration into the wider community. In Epping Forest, the district council has increased resident engagement through a community WhatsApp group and strengthened relationships by working alongside Essex Fire Service and using resident‑led platforms, demonstrating a shift towards more connected, community‑driven ways of working.
Looking ahead, Active Essex will continue to grow and support the Essex ABCD Network, strengthening shared learning and collaboration across the system. There will be a greater focus on clearly linking ABCD practice to physical activity and wellbeing outcomes, while supporting more organisations to embed strengths-based approaches into induction and workforce development. Active Essex will also continue to capture and share community led stories that demonstrate long term impact and sustained change.
