Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) is an independent charity working to help rural communities achieve a thriving and sustainable future. We address issues such as social isolation, poor access to services and a shortage of affordable housing that are crucial to people living and working in rural Essex today.
Set up in 1929, RCCE is rooted in the villages and market towns of Essex. Over 400 local community organisations – principally Parish and Town Councils and Village Hall trusts – are currently members of RCCE.
Rural Voice
RCCE uses its knowledge and experience to provide a voice for rural communities in Essex, representing their needs to all levels of Government and to strategic partnerships and public bodies. We manage the Essex Rural Partnership which co-ordinates the work of a range of organisations concerned with the county’s rural areas and facilitates collaborative working.
RCCE is a member of ACRE, which brings together all of England’s county-based Rural Community Councils and provides a national voice for rural communities.
Supporting Communities
RCCE provides a range of professional services for rural communities, helping them find practical solutions to the issues that matter. These include:
Village Halls and Community Buildings
Community Agents Essex
Rural Housing
Community Led Planning and Engagement including Neighbourhood Planning
United in Kind – tackling social isolation
Oil Buying
Essex Rural Fund
Supporting the Rural Economy
We have just completed delivery of the Essex Rivers LEADER programme, providing more than £1.6 million in funding to support business diversification and growth across a substantial part of rural Essex. We work closely with economic and business partners through the Essex Rural Partnership and as a member of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) Rural Working Group. We also support community-run enterprises such as shops and post offices.
We are the Ingatestone Musical & Operetta Group and one of the most innovative amateur musical theatre groups in Essex. Why not take a look around our site to find out about our rich history, as well as information about our next show, past shows, how you can get involved and much, much more. Come and experience the passion, power and movement of musical theatre.
The Ingatestone Musical and Operetta Group (IMOG) is based in the picturesque village of Ingatestone in Essex, between Chelmsford and Brentwood. Though not large, we are one of the best and friendliest musical and operetta groups in the County.
IMOG has been around for more than 40 years and during this time we have staged over 80 musicals and operettas. We have about 30 members of all ages in our Group and we perform two musicals each year as well as a number of other concerts, social events and fundraisers.
Our Musicals
We’ve recently staged some fabulous shows including; Hello Dolly, HMS Pinafore, Mack & Mabel, Pajama Game, Annie Get Your Gun, High Society, Half a Sixpence and Guys & Dolls just to name a few. Why not have a look at some of the pictures taken of our fab cast onstage and backstage as well as find out more about the shows. Take a look.
Come and join us
We’re always on the lookout for new members, whether you’re a singer, dancer, actor or you want to help out back-stage or “front-of-house” we’d love to hear from you.
The Society welcomes new members! Membership is open to all.
The Society’s objects are to encourage and promote public interest in horticulture, including the culture of flowers, fruit and vegetables.
With 600 household members, and celebrating our 52nd year, our active Committee work hard to provide activities of interest to all types of gardeners – whether you exhibit in shows, are an allotment holder, plant enthusiast or just like to potter around.
The Spring, Summer and Autumn Shows always provide a magnificent show of flowers and vegetables in all sections. The Summer Show is the biggest event in Ingatestone with marquees holding horticultural and children’s competitions, a craft fair, displays and stalls by over 20 local organisations; the event attracts over 2,000 local people. As well as the shows, there is an annual plant sale and a garden competition, plus regular talks and organised coach outings to some of the best gardens in the South of England.
The Society was founded way back in 1965 and holds eleven meetings a year in Ingatestone Parish Room, Stock Lane, Ingatestone with refreshments available afterwards.
These meetings take place at 8pm on the first Tuesday in every month except January.
Experienced speakers are engaged to talk for about an hour on a whole range of topics such as the history of people and places, architecture and archaeology.
The society encourages the participation of young people and an Anglo European School history essay competition is supported by the Society each year and prizes for the best 3 essays are awarded.
The Society is keen to attract more people to join and its meetings are open to non-members who are always made very welcome. Why not come along to one of the meetings and see for yourself?
