Lego event comes to Basildon | Community space funding | Plenty of Jobs

Good morning, Basildon.

Ms Bee from the Basildon Hive newsletter here, bringing you all the latest news, opportunities, and events happening in Bas Vegas this week.

The digest

🚍 Basildon’s first Brick Festival is coming to Basildon Sporting Village
If you’re a fan of LEGO, you’ll want to know about this! Basildon’s first brick festival is coming to the Basildon Sporting Village on the 20th of July, 2025. Tickets will range from £5 for children to £18 for families.

C2C goes contactless from 2nd Feb with reduced fares

This means that as long as you don’t have a railcard, you will soon be able to save money on C2C travel by “tapping in and out” using your bank card (just like the London underground). Here are some examples of the new fares:

 🐈Basildon Cat Protection now has kittens available for adoption (in pairs)
If you or someone you know is interested in adopting a kitten, there are kittens available from Basildon Cats Protection. They are all health checked, vaccinated and microchipped, friendly and playful. Ideal homes would be adults only or families with school aged children. If you’re interested, please call 01268 285778. All homings are subject to a telephone interview, and an adoption fee

💸 Mark your calendar - Creative Tech Festival is coming to Basildon
From 10-28 February 2025, the Creative Tech festival is bringing opportunities to Basildon’s young people and businesses. It’s for everyone - businesses, teenagers, families, adults and will hold in various locations around the borough. There will be VR/AR and AI, music creation, engineering, eco-skills, animation and video games, tech tours of theatres and radio stations, hackathons, and more! Plus it’s FREE, so book early

Weather in Basildon

🌦️It’s going to be a rainy/cloudy week according to Met Office weather forecast

Local business news and competitions

• Eastgate Shopping Center is giving away a Luxurious Valentine’s Getaway for Two! 💖 Prize includes: 🛏️ An overnight stay in a luxurious room at Pennyhill Park, Surrey 🍳 A delicious Hillfield breakfast 💆 Full access to the award-winning spa throughout your stay 🍽️ £150 towards dinner at the Hillfield restaurant Ready to spoil your Valentine? 💌 Enter NOW for your chance to win: https://eastgateshoppingcentre.com/pennyhill-giveaway-2025/

• Our YFC Show competition for 2025 has set you an engineering challenge! We need you to plan, design & build a new piece of farming machinery or a tractor, then send us your pictures / videos of your finished concept. An exciting challenge has been set for a chance to win a FREE immersive day for KS2 students to Barleylands on their amazing Field to Fork Day! All competition and entry details are available https://www.essexag.co.uk/competitions-2025. Entries need to be received by 29th April.

• If you’re wondering what happened to the Gadget Guru in town (by the lifts near B&M), it went last week. But don’t worry, there are other stores in Eastgate where you can fix your gadgets and buy your vapes.

What’s happening in Basildon next week?

Support for parents

• Parent support drop-in. Thursday, 30th January 2025, 10:30 am-12:30 am. Where? Mother’s Kitchen, Felmore’s End, Basildon.

• Yoga Classes: Parent and Baby, Parent and Toddler and Yoga for Children and Young People. Please book here for a free place.

February Half-term Clubs/Activities

• C1 Coaching Football training camp. Monday 17th-Friday 21st. £100 full week, £25 per session. Ages 7 - 10 and 10 - 14. Bring your own food. Water and fruit provided. 9.30am - 2.30pm at Basildon Sporting Village. Book here: Half-Term Football Camps 

• Essex Activate (lot of different clubs, different times, different age groups, some free): February half term clubs with Essex ActivAte - Active Essex

• Tennis camp at Billericay (£15). Thursday 20th Feb 09:00-12:00. Please bring snacks and a drink ages 4-14 years of all abilities welcome. All equipment provided. Book: Holiday Tennis Camps | JW Tennis Academy

• Boom camp at Lee Chapel Primary school. SS16 5RU. 9.00am - 4.00pm everyday. £22/day, £90 for the full week. Mon 17th - Fri 21st. To book, call 07958126569, [email protected]

Other activities for kids

6 - 12 years

• Yoga for children. Thursdays (free), Northlands Park Family Centre, Basildon

  4 - 4:45pm 6-12 year olds. Reserve a place here https://www.yoga4all.co

Teens

• King Edward Teenage Teatime Community Hub. Every Friday 5 - 7pm. Multisports, Dance, Football, Karaoke, Crafts. Snacks and refreshments provided. Free. Every Friday at King Edward Community Centre, Laindon. SS15 6GY. Contact 07701365822 or [email protected] for more info

• Xplore, Youth Group at Manor Mission Church. Thursdays 8 - 9pm

• Indoor cricket activities and games (Ages 8 - 16). Fridays, 5 - 6pm. (Starting January 24th 2025). JAMES HORNSBY SCHOOL SPORTS HALL LEINSTER ROAD, SS15 5NX. To register, scan the QR code below

Networking

• Coffee Morning Mondays, 10am - 12pm. Manor Mission Church, ​Manor Mission Church Manor Road Laindon Essex SS15 6PA

• Hope Explored is a 3-Week Journey on Purpose.

  WHAT: A laid-back course exploring hope, peace & purpose - perfect for spiritual seekers and the faith-curious! No Bible knowledge needed, no pressure to participate.

  WHEN & WHERE: Tuesdays @ 7:30pm at St John's Church, Forest Glade, Langdon Hills, SS16 6RX

  THE VIBE: • Casual hangouts with refreshments • Watch some videos • Chat if you want, or just listen • Zero pressure - try one session and decide! • Totally FREE!

  Ready to explore? Contact Nikki: 📧 [email protected] 📱 07720 089260

• Fortnightly Monday Night Quiz at the Noak Bridge Pub - on Wash Road starts 13th January at 8:00 pm. 3 chances to win a cash prize - including the JACKPOT QUESTION, worth over £100! Maximum of 8 players per team. Book a table by calling the pub on (01268) 413004.

Local authority meetings

• Resident Drop-in Session📣 Come along and speak to the team about any property-related issues or questions you may have. 📅 Saturday 25 January ⏰ 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 📍 The Basildon Centre, Basildon, SS14 1DL 💡 Need a repair? Simply submit your request here: www.basildon.gov.uk/repair

• Leader Live 🎥 Join Councillor Gavin Callaghan, Leader of Basildon Council, this Sunday at 8 PM for his weekly Leader Live session! 📅 Date: Sunday, 26 January ⏰ Time: 8 PM 📍 Where: Live on Gavin Callaghan’s Facebook Page 🔗 Watch Here: /www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559932716807 🔔 Turn on your notifications so you don’t miss being part of the discussion!

• If you haven’t yet voted on the future of Westgate, there’s still time to do so here

Sports

• Basildon Parkrun. Date: Saturday, 25 January 2025 ⏰ Time: 9:00 AM Start 📍 Location: Northlands Park, Basildon

• Free Yoga events, thanks to Basildon Mind Charity. Book here

Grassroots Football

• Wickford Town FC is looking for new players of all ages

• Hashtag United is offering inclusive football for SEN Children, Teens and Young Adults with Additional Needs every Saturday. All ages. 11-12pm Under 13s 11.30-12.30pm Under 16s 12-1pm - 16yrs + & Adult Spaces for players in all ages. Opportunity for 16+ and adults to play in Essex Soccability League. Forest Glade Sports Ground - Barleylands Rd Billericay CM11 2UD Message for more details and book a trial session. Pippa Marra 07765 344035 Sonny Marra 07903 040025

• Football & Multi Sports Sessions for children. Teens and young adults with additional needs. New Monday session 5.30-6.30pm at Bromfords school Wickford. Fitness training and indoor football training. De La Salle School Basildon ⚽️Tuesdays 5.30-6.30pm - Indoor Football Training (outside when good weather) Ages 11 - Adult 🏀🎾🙂🎈Wednesdays 4.30-5.30pm - Mixed sports & fun activities Primary school age children.

Fitness

HYBRID 45 Workout Class

• What: A 45-minute full-body workout combining high-intensity cardio and strength training. Suitable for all fitness levels.

• When: Starting Thursday, 30th January, at 6 PM.

• Where: The Fit Lab Essex, SS15 6PX.

• Cost: £12 (1 class), £50 (5 classes), £90 (10 classes).

• Contact: 07884 975620 or [email protected]

New ladies netball group

Even if you haven’t played since school, there’s a chance for you to get back on the court and burn those stubborn holiday calories and make friends doing so! All are welcome - just join the dedicated Facebook group for deets on locations and time.

Ladies football at Basildon Sporting Village

Wickford and Pitsea FC is looking for ladies to join its football team, meeting at the Basildon Sporting Village every Monday 7 - 8pm.

Burlesque classes every Thursday

Classes in Basildon every Thursday. Drop them a message to book a trial

High energy cardio (Bounce) classes in Laindon

High-energy cardio with BOUNCE. Strength with BARBELLS. Power with BOX ✨ Rhythm with BEATS. Calm with BALANCE. Low-impact. Joint-friendly. 3x more effective than floor workouts. 💸 From just £6 per class with BULK BUY options or PAYG at £6.95.

Book via: https://linktr.ee/bouncelaindon

Who’s hiring in Basildon?

• Trainee Steelfixers - Graysteel Reinforcements Ltd

  • Location: Pick-up from Basildon, Pitsea. Work on sites in Kent, Essex, London, and surrounding areas.

  • Role: On-the-job training provided. Graysteel will contribute to completing the Steelfixing NVQ.

  • Schedule: Mon-Fri (6-7 am pick-up, 4 pm finish). Saturdays optional.

  • Pay: £75/day during training, reviewed continuously

  • Send your CV to [email protected]

• Level 2/3 Childminder Needed

  • Location: SS14 area, starting February.

  • Hours: All-year, 8-4 (Mon-Thu, flexible).

  • Requirements: Over 18, no space for own children.

  • Contact: Email [email protected].

• Qualified level 2/3 childcare professional

  • Term time only

  • 30 hours per week, Mon- Fri 7.30 to 6.30

  • Family run business with 3 small childcare businesses in Billericay

  • To apply, send your CV to [email protected]

• On-Call Firefighters - Essex Fire Service (intake now open)

  • Over 18, live/work within 5 mins of a station.

  • Good fitness, eyesight meets requirements.

  • Apply here: On-call firefighter | Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

  Apprentice Wholetime Firefighter (intake now open)

  • Start: 1 Feb 2025. UK eligible, 18+, manual UK driving license.

  • GCSE Grade C/4+ or Level 2 in Maths & English.

  • Apply here: Apprenticeships | Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

  Full-Time Electrician (PAYE or Subcontractor)

  • Location: Basildon. Salary + benefits (PAYE), flexible for subcontractors.

  • Requirements: Relevant qualifications, experience, problem-solving skills.

  • Contact: 01277 631461 or email [email protected].

  Part-Time Shop Assistant - Wishy Washy

  • Hours: Mon-Fri, 3-6 pm. Pay: Minimum wage.

  • Tasks: Laundry, ironing, assisting customers.

  • Apply: Send CV to [email protected].

  Food Delivery Driver - Restaurant in Basildon

  • Hours: 4 pm to 10 pm. Bring your own car.

  • Contact: 07956269842.

  Internal Sales Support - Freight Forwarding

  • Location: Basildon. Salary: £32k-£35k. Hours: Mon-Fri, 9-5.30.

  • Requirements: Freight experience, great communication, IT skills.

  • Apply: Email [email protected] or call 07943 819802.

  Elle Media Group - Operator/Assistant Operator

  • Apply: Contact [email protected] for details.

  Area Security Officer - G4S (Basildon)

  • Pay: £13.60/hour. Flexible night shifts, 0-hour contract.

  • Requirements: SIA license preferred, training provided. Own transport required.

  • Apply online: Job Link.

  Forklift Driver - LoveFreighjt LTD

  • Start: Jan 25. Full-time, competitive salary.

  • Contact: Vicky at 01268419019

• Part-time (12 hours weekly) Tesco One Stop Customer Service Assistant (Vange). Full details/apply here.

• 30 hours/week. (£9 - £11.84/hour). Cycle technician at Halfords (Heron retail park). Full details/apply here.

• Cleaner at Iceland. 7.5 hours/week. (£10.50 - £11.50/hour). Full details/apply here.

• Shift supervisor at Iceland. 30 hours/week. (£13.08/hour). Full details/apply here.

• Senior shift supervisor at Iceland. 30 hours/week. (£14.62/hour). Full details/apply here.

• Chefs of All Levels - Expanding Catering Company

  • Location: Basildon, Essex. Events at various locations.

  • Requirements: Experience in catering, creativity, problem-solving, UK driving license (preferred).

  • Benefits: Competitive package, growth opportunities, dynamic work environment.

  • Apply: Email CV to [email protected]. Instagram: @Chef.lopez.

  Counselling Administrator - Basildon Mind

  • Pay: £11.44/hour. Hours: 12/week (varied, Mon-Sat).

  • Role: CRM, counselling admin, training admin. Requires strong IT skills.

  • Apply: Complete forms at Basildon Mind website and send to [email protected]. Deadline: 24th Jan, midday.

  Transport Administrator - Stanford-Le-Hope

  • Pay: £12-£13/hour. Hours: 11 am to 7 pm.

  • Requirements: Driving needed due to location.

  • Apply: Job link.

Other Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

• ASSISTANT COACH VOLUNTEERS WANTED at the Football Fun Factory!

  Due to the high demand for our programmes, I am now looking to recruit more Assistant Coach Volunteers to join our team!

  If you are a passionate, warm and enthusiastic coach who would love to help to have a positive impact in the local community, please get in touch!

  If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a message or email via [email protected]

• Project 58.7, Feeding the Homeless with Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Basildon – Project 58.7 provides hot meals throughout the year to any adults in need and to the homeless. They are currently looking for volunteers to help during the evenings between 6pm and 7pm. For more details, please contact Jill on 07860 784287.

• Basildon United FC is looking for passionate, dedicated individuals to form a new Youth Section Committee. Help shape the future of our young players and our club! Perfect for young school leavers or aspiring football managers looking for experience. Email: [email protected]

🏠 ESSEX HOME HELP SERVICE - Registered Charity

WHAT WE OFFER: Reliable weekly support for elderly and vulnerable Essex residents. Same helper, same time - minimum 1 hour visits. All staff DBS checked and insured.

SERVICES: • Domestic Help: Shopping, cleaning, laundry, bed changing • Companionship: Sitting service and friendly chats • FREE weekly telephone befriending

UNIQUE FEATURES: • No personal care or medication services • "No Walk Away Promise" - emergency procedures in place • Flexible hours to suit your needs

OPPORTUNITIES: Now recruiting paid Home Helps and volunteer befrienders!

GET IN TOUCH: 📧 [email protected]

Making a difference in your community! 🌟

Learning Opportunities

FREE level 2 qualification opportunities are available.

• Understanding Autism, Counselling Skills, Mental Health, SEN (Special Educational Needs), Coding, Business Admin, Team Leading, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Customer Service , Mental Health First Aid, Dementia Care and many MORE. Courses are online based and completely free of charge 📚 with no set times to login and no exams to complete, the courses are a perfect way to learn new skills and improve current skillsets. 📝 The courses are nationally recognised and accredited and are equivalent to an FULL Level 2. We also have 50+ courses available Email: [email protected] or comment for more info

Business Opportunities

• BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY: DAISY FIRST AID FRANCHISE

  Established first aid training business for sale in Basildon & Castlepoint area. Perfect for someone seeking flexible, family-friendly work or additional income.

  INCLUDES: Complete equipment set • First aid qualifications & training • Ongoing business support • Existing client base & venue classes • 200+ five-star reviews

  CLASSES OFFERED: • Parent First Aid • School Programs • Ofsted Level 3 Paediatric • Anaphylaxis Awareness • E-learning courses (passive income)

  No prior first aid or business experience needed - full training provided. Must have driving license.

  Ideal opportunity to join award-winning brand with proven profitability.

  CONTACT: 📧 [email protected]

  Perfect for work-life balance! ⭐️

• A 2-seater barbershop in town is available for sale due to retirement. Perfect for someone launching their career. Price: £20,500.

• Burger Van/ Trailer business for sale 4.5m x 2.15 In Basildon Eastgate centre. Good takings and in a very good condition for more info. £10,000. Contact them

• ROOM TO RENT HAIR CHAIR TO RENT in a beauty clinic (full time available too if needed)

  • own key

  • parking available for yourself and customers

  • 24hr access

  • refreshments provided

  Lovely team would be perfect for someone building their business lots of opportunities to get involved in. Contact them. Price: £500

• Beauty/treatment room to rent in a beauty salon called Beauty Rose in Wickford. Would suit a lash technician / reflexologist/ reiki practitioner / acupuncturist/ sports massage therapist. Free parking , free refreshments all bills included. Contact

• Food Vendors Wanted in Essex for Cinematic Evenings! 🍕🍔🍜 Cinematic Evenings is preparing to host unforgettable outdoor movie nights, and we’re looking for fantastic food vendors to enhance the experience with a wide range of cuisines. From Indian and Chinese to burgers, pizza, and beyond, we aim to bring a global food offering to our events. What We’re Looking For: • Vendors who can operate in all weather conditions—our events will go ahead rain or shine. • A diverse menu offering to excite our guests. • Photos and details of your set-up (stalls, vans, or trucks) to ensure they’re suitable for our events. If you’re interested in joining us, please email [email protected] with the following: 1. Your contact details. 2. Information about your menu or cuisine type. 3. Photos of your set-up. Let’s work together to create magical movie nights filled with great food and unforgettable moments! Cinematic Evenings – Movies, memories, and mouth-watering food under the stars.

That’s all folks, till next time!