It’s the people that make a community and there are some fantastic people that make up the Braintree district. Our Community Heroes campaign aims to highlight just some of the heroes of our community who make the district a better place.
Great Yeldham Men's Shed
Great Yeldham Men's Shed has been operating since 2023 and provides a space for men to come together, talk and learn new skills.
The Men's Sheds Association was originally set up as a meeting place for retired men. Research found that men's social and support networks usually revolve around work and when they retire this network can change or vanish completely, leading to social isolation and loneliness.
Great Yeldham Men's Shed is housed in three former containers that have been converted into a workshop with electrics, benches, as well as power tools and generator. The shed has a focus on woodwork and they make items to order for local projects such as picnic tables as well as items to sell such as clocks.
Since it was set up, Great Yeldham Men’s Shed has received multiple Councillor Community Grants to help with setting up the shed, such as buying power tools and machinery for them to use.
Michelle Garrod
Michelle Garrod runs Michelle's Bird Rescue and takes in birds in need - whether that's caged pets or wild birds who have been injured or abandoned. From her home she tirelessly nurses them back to health and releases the wild ones back to nature.
Michelle told us how it all started:
Many years ago, my cat brought home three bald baby dunnocks. I googled what to do and managed to save one of them
Michelle's Bird Rescue is 100% voluntary and she relies on donations to keep it going, and fundraising events.
The support I receive from people, often strangers, is amazing. Last year I struggled to buy bird seed. I swallowed my pride and asked on Facebook and so many people helped me, I was overwhelmed.
I love that people care - I always say the finders are just as important as my rescue. My motto is ‘kindness costs nothing’
Halstead Empire Theatre
Empire Theatre Trust CIO is run purely by volunteers and offers cinema tickets at just £5 each. A new digital projector means they can now show brand-new film releases and the pricing has made arts and culture accessible to those who may have previously faced barriers due to income, disability or age.
Year on year footfall numbers have almost doubled, from 4,658 between February and July 2024 to 9,166 between February and July 2025.
Since the installation of the new digital projector, the Empire Theatre has experienced a wave of enthusiastic feedback from the community. Many returning visitors have shared wonderful comments, with one remarking:
Wow, I used to come here when I was a kid—what a fabulous place! I’ll definitely be coming more often now.
This sense of nostalgia, combined with the excitement of modern upgrades, has reignited local interest and pride in the venue.
Audiences have been impressed by the crisp visuals and immersive sound quality, with many commenting that the picture and audio from the new projector rival those of commercial cinemas. A frequent visitor shared:
The quality of the performances is top-notch, and the new projector and sound are absolutely amazing.
Perhaps one of the most appreciated changes is the ability to watch brand-new film releases at a fraction of the cost of larger cinema chains. This affordability, paired with the charm and community spirit of the Empire Theatre, has made it a standout destination for film lovers of all ages. As one delighted guest put it:
It’s incredible to see the latest films in such a beautiful space without breaking the bank.
Friends of Bocking Windmill
Friends of Bocking Windmill is a volunteer group that have been operating since the 1960s to look after the heritage and upkeep of Bocking Windmill. The 300 year old windmill was in operation until 1929 but had fallen into disrepair by the early 1960s – the group formed and has continued to open the mill to the public up to present day – offering frequent opening dates throughout the summer months.
The group of volunteers run frequent open days and have an impressive knowledge of the windmill’s history which they enthusiastically share with visitors. The windmill houses old agricultural tools, models of the windmill’s operational machinery and has a gift shop to help raise funds for the charity,
Without the passion of these volunteers, the public would not get to enjoy the windmill or it’s beautiful place on the Bocking landscape.
Halstead River Care Team
In recent years, the river and its banks in Halstead have become a haven for wildlife. Water voles, various types of fish, ducks, moorhens, water voles and even a kingfisher have returned to live on this little stretch that cuts through the town.
This doesn’t happen by chance: The Halstead River Care Team is a group of volunteers who work tirelessly to keep the area clean, clear of litter and flowing as a river should.
Meeting every first Sunday of the month, come rain or shine, the team litter picks and monitors the water.
As well as this day-to-day maintenance, they help improve conditions longer term, including putting in 255 native river plants in the bed and banks in front of Townsford Mill, with the assistance of the Environment Agency.
Hoppit Mead Nature Reserve Volunteers
Denise serves as the Chair of the Friends of Hoppit Mead Nature Reserve Volunteers group, a passionate team dedicated to the care and conservation of Hoppit Mead Nature Reserve in Braintree.
Under Denise’s leadership, the group works tirelessly to maintain the natural beauty of the site, protect local wildlife habitats and ensure the space remains a welcoming and sustainable environment for the community to enjoy.
Denise said:
Our volunteer group takes on a wide range of environmental tasks, with litter picking being the core activity. In addition, we carry out water and fly testing to monitor the health of the river, and we support biodiversity through tree and hedge planting.
A few years ago, we were also tasked with removing Himalayan Balsam—an invasive plant species—and have since successfully cleared around 65% of it from the area, but there is always more to do
Baby Stuff Braintree
Baby Stuff Braintree is a project that helps vulnerable residents gain access to essential baby clothing, moses baskets, cots, bedding and prams.
They have seen an increase in requests for essential goods due to the Cost of Living, including clothing, nappies and toiletries. In a single year, they distributed over 300 bags of items showing a great need for their service and due to the demand for their support by local families, Baby Stuff Braintree will now be opening during the School Holidays.
The charity is currently experiencing a drop in the volume and quality of donations due to the cost of living crisis, whilst referrals from health visitors are rising.
Baby Stuff Braintree operates from the Carousel Family Hub which provides support for 0-5 years, you do not need to be referred to access help, they provide a drop in Stay and Play session on Thursday mornings 10.00am to 11am.
Braintree Pride
Hosted by Salvation Army Homes and organised by volunteers from Braintree Foyer, Braintree Pride is a free and not for profit event aimed to celebrate and support LGBTQIA+ residents, staff, and the wider community.
The event has run since 2024 and is the first pride event in Braintree, allowing everyone to come together in a safe space at a family friendly event. The volunteers work tirelessly to put together a successful event every year and provide support for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Carol Hearn, Braintree Institute
Carol won Volunteer of the Year at the Braintree District Volunteer and Active Braintree Award 2025.
Carol began volunteering at The Institute as part of the Front of House Team, supporting show nights. Despite the challenges of limited arts funding and the cost-of-living crisis, she has generously donated her time and energy to help keep the community arts venue thriving.
Carol was credited for being incredibly positive, an invaluable part of the team and coming in on her days off and uplifting staff, customers and visiting artists alike.