Braintree Village and local charity, First Stop Centre, are celebrating 10 years of partnership in 2026, marking a decade of community initiatives, employability support and long-term impact across the district.
Since joining forces in 2016, Braintree Village alongside its owner, Landsec, has worked closely with First Stop Centre to support individuals facing homelessness, financial hardship and barriers to employment through a range of practical and community-led initiatives. To date, the partnership has supported 581 people across the local community, with 50 individuals securing paid full-time employment and more than £136,000 contributed towards education, employability and wellbeing programmes.
Seasonal campaigns have been a cornerstone of the decade-long partnership. Through the Christmas Giving Tree initiative alone, more than 5,700 bags of gifts have been donated to vulnerable individuals, families, care homes, and hospitals across the area, while over 2,200 Winter Wellness Packs containing essential items have been distributed to locals in need.
The partnership also forms part of Landsec’s wider commitment to social mobility and community investment, including a £20 million pledge announced in 2022 to support education, employability and local community initiatives across the UK.
As part of the fund, First Stop Centre was awarded a £75,000 bursary in 2023 to support its Education and Employability Programme, with a further £60,000 pledged over the next three years. These funds help create clearer pathways into work, training, and long-term career development for those supported by the charity.
Alongside financial investment, the partnership has also focused heavily on skills development and education support. Braintree Village’s staff members have volunteered their time to deliver CV writing workshops, interview coaching and mentoring sessions, designed to help improve access to employment opportunities.
The partnership continues to grow through new sustainability-focused initiatives. This year, two beehives housing around 80,000 honeybees have been installed at First Stop Centre as part of Braintree Village’s ongoing partnership with specialist beekeeping service, Plan Bee. The initiative continues to expand with the launch of the Honey Bee Futures Academy this summer, which introduces First Stop Centre’s beneficiaries to beekeeping through hands-on learning experiences.
To mark the tin anniversary of their partnership, Braintree Village and First Stop Centre have unveiled commemorative plaques at each location. The plaques stand as a permanent tribute to the 581 local individuals supported over the last decade and a symbol of their ongoing commitment to the Braintree community.
Josef O’Sullivan, Centre Director at Braintree Village, commented: “We’re incredibly proud to be celebrating 10 years of partnership with First Stop Centre. What started as a small-scale community relationship has grown into a partnership with profound impact, that has driven meaningful change for hundreds of First Stop Centre’s beneficiaries.
“We look forward to the next decade of partnership with the First Stop Centre team, as we remain committed to creating valuable opportunities and positive change for the local community in Braintree.”
Rachael, Jan and the team from First Stop Centre, said: “We want to thank both Landsec and particularly the Braintree Village team for their continued support. Through strong partnership work, we have been able to support some of the most vulnerable in the Braintree district, providing a wide range of meaningful interventions, which have resulted in long term change. We really value the trust in us, and the work we do.
“We are particularly excited to be continuing with employability classes, funded by Landsec, and we welcome the addition of the bee hives and all the new opportunities this allows.”
For more information, please visit https://www.braintree-village.com/en
