Trust Links hosts major Wellbeing and Recovery Conference, celebrating partnership working and launching new mental health services across Mid and South Essex.

Trust Links welcomed 75 delegates to its Wellbeing and Recovery Conference on 9 March 2026 in Rochford, bringing together partner agencies, community organisations, mental health professionals, NHS and local authority representatives, and people with lived experience of mental health challenges. The event celebrated progress in community mental health support and explored new opportunities to strengthen partnership working across the region.

The conference focused on championing the success of local services, amplifying beneficiary and community voices in decision‑making, deepening collaboration between EPUT and the VCSE sector, and showcasing the broad range of wellbeing activities delivered by Trust Links.

A key highlight was the celebration of achievements from the new Mid and South Essex Recovery College Partnership and the Healthy Mind Service, which together deliver an extensive programme of courses, workshops and activities to help people across Essex better understand and manage their mental health.

Delegates had the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of practical and interactive workshops, including Forest School sessions, mindfulness, singing for confidence, bite‑sized training and counselling taster sessions, Recovery College courses, co‑production activities, gardening workshops, and a demonstration of the Trust Links Wellbeing App.

The event also marked the formal launch of the MSE Recovery College Partnership, uniting Trust Links, Inclusion and Provide CIC to deliver recovery‑focused learning opportunities and wellbeing workshops from Braintree to Southend and Thurrock.

Trust Links and Thurrock and Brentwood Mind additionally celebrated the launch of the Healthy Mind Service for Mid and South Essex, which incorporates:

• Community Connectors, providing personalised one‑to‑one support to improve mental health; and
• Healthy Mind Hubs, offering six‑week group programmes delivered in 30 community locations across the area.

A keynote address from the Greater Essex ICB outlined the future direction for mental health commissioning, while a presentation from EPUT Mental Health Trust reinforced the vital role of community organisations and the voluntary sector in delivering responsive, person‑centred mental health support.

The day concluded with reflections from Trust Links CEO Matt King, who encouraged delegates to continue building strong, community‑focused mental health services rooted in partnership and lived experience.

Matt King, CEO of Trust Links, said:

“Our Wellbeing & Recovery Conference was a fantastic opportunity to reflect on how far we have come in developing community services to support mental health and wellbeing across Mid and South Essex. We know that there is a lot more to do, with increasing rates of mental illness and many people facing barriers to accessing services. The day demonstrated that our partnerships have strong foundations and an innovative approach to responding to these needs. We look forward to working with partners across the NHS, local authorities, charities, community groups, and people with lived experience to increase the level of support available and help address one of the most urgent issues of our time.”