Thousands in Essex supported to stay well in their homes as Essex County Council renews Peabody partnership
Thousands of residents across Essex will continue receiving practical support from us, after we were commissioned to deliver the county’s floating support service for up to seven more years.
Published: 16/06/2026
Essex County Council awarded us the new contract, following our delivery of the service on behalf of the council since 2019. The support focuses on preventing homelessness, reducing social isolation and helping people live independently in their communities. It's been a vital lifeline for many households facing financial pressures. Last year alone, the service helped 23,000 people across Essex, including 4,000 who received longer-term support from dedicated caseworkers.
Since 2019, we have also:
- Helped more than 6,000 residents across different housing tenures sustain stable housing and maintain their tenancies
- Secured more than £4 million in financial support to help residents with essential costs, including backdated housing payments, grants and other essential support
- Helped more than 59,500 people with short interventions to financial matters, one-off advice, health and wellbeing, housing and tenancy, and welfare
A team of around 100 people has been supporting residents across Essex since we were appointed in 2019. The team provides support through home visits, offers information and drop-in advice at locations throughout the county, and provides long and short-term support.
One resident who received support said: “I truly do feel like words can't justify how much of a difference the service has made to my life and how grateful I am because by helping and supporting me, it has helped my whole family, allowing me to be more present for my children. We all have hope for the future, and that is something I have not felt for many years, so the impact is indescribable.”
Whether residents need help with finances, housing or wellbeing, the service provides practical support to help people remain secure and independent.
Looking ahead
As part of the new contract, which was awarded in January and went live on 1 April 2026, the service will expand and adapt to meet growing demand.
We plan to introduce a new ‘community connector’ role to strengthen links with local partners and create employment opportunities across the county. There are also plans to improve digital access to support, including updates to the support sections across our websites.
Dave Black, Director of Care and Support Commissioned Services at Peabody said: “Hearing from residents about the difference this support has made to their lives means a great deal to our teams and reinforces why services like this are so important. Every day, our teams work alongside residents across Essex to help them stay secure in their homes, regain confidence and feel more hopeful about the future. We’re looking forward to continuing our work across Essex, ensuring even more people can access the right help at the right time.”
Ben Hughes Head of Wellbeing and Public Health at Essex County Council said: “Peabody's floating support service is incredibly person-centred and effective. Over the last few years, they have worked collaboratively and enthusiastically with us to address emerging and developing issues across the diverse landscape of Essex. It has genuinely been a pleasure working with this service, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in the years ahead, building on the positive impact and working together to support even more people."
