th Sponsored Walk Saturday 10 October 2020 Firstly, thank you for joining us on this sponsored walk to raise funds for our programs, and raising awareness of recovery. Our programs enable people to understand why they started to use in the first place, and offer long term trauma informed support, for as long as a person needs us. Secondly, due to Corona Virus, we all need to be mindful of social distancing and with that in mind, when walking and interacting please follow government advice. Please bring your own facemasks and hand sanitiser. More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Start time: From 17:00 to 18:30 Location: East Beach, , SS3 9AE Meeting point: Opposite East Beach Car Park is a children’s play area. We shall meet within that vicinity. Volunteers will be stood with our banner

Aspirations Program Community Interest Company Company number: 12596744

Facilities: There are public toilets, but please bring your own water and food. You will pass shops along the walk. Parking: East Beach Car Park, is opposite our meeting point. This is a paid car park. Nearest bus stop: Next to our meeting point. Bus times and destinations can be found https://moovitapp.com/index/en-gb/public_transportation-line-9-London_and_South_East-2122-970986- 3663783-1 Nearest train station: Shoeburyness Train, High Street, Shoeburyness, , SS3 9AW is a 5 minutes walk to East Beach. Trains come from London and stop locally along the way. https://www.c2c-online.co.uk/stations/shoeburyness-station/ For those parking at East Beach, you will be able to get the train back from Leigh-on-Sea, which is our end point.

Aspirations Program Community Interest Company Company number: 12596744

Route This easy but quirky walk follows the south Essex coast from Shoeburyness to Leigh-on-Sea. We are walking past , Southend, Westcliffe, Chalkwell and then along to Old Leigh-on-Sea. In the far distance you will be Tillbery Docks.

The route we are walking is parallel to the Estuary/Coast, and in most parts will be very obvious, you will be able to walk along the beach and then meet the road.

Along the way you will see laminated direction pointers, where it may not be as obvious.

Aspirations Program Community Interest Company Company number: 12596744

We start at Shoeburyness East Beach, a quiet open grassy area. Behind our starting point, the coast access is blocked by a MOD (military) base. And will be following the coast path from Shoeburyness, passing several WW2 era remains on the old Garrison, there are a few sections when you can walk along the narrow sea wall, or walk along the residential road, which leads back to the path.

We then find Shoebury Common beach, also known as Thorpe Bay, with all the beach huts, passing Uncle Tom's Cabin (kiosk selling coffee etc.), As we follow path, keep in mind the bike path which runs along side, and follow the coast road.

It’s one straight line from here. You pass through , passing Billy Hundreds (tapas) and Ocean Beach (café/restaurant).

Aspirations Program Community Interest Company Company number: 12596744

After this point you meet the wide sea front promenade, with Sea Life, a few cafes etc.. this is the busiest section of beach, with its water fountains, amusement arcades, famous pier and Adventure island theme park. Southend High Street and central station are above this point. Look out for the bits of Victorian history along the way.

Next time do the 1.3 miles out to the end of the pier ( £2 / £1 in winter, closed Mon-Tue in winter, cafe at the end in high season). Highly recommended.

We have the longest pier in the world?

And across the estuary you can see Kent. It doesn't last long before you've passed the crowds and see the long costal road leading to Westcliffe, then Chalkwell and Old Leigh.

From here on there is a sort of sandy beach, but the tides goes out a long way, exposing mudflats.

Soon you are beside Cliff Gardens (gentle hillside gardens, with Southend proper above). Pass Oliver's cafe.

Westcliff morphs into Chalkwell, where the coast road comes a bit too close to the promenade, but the housing, on a gentle hill, becomes posher.

Rossi ice-cream is famous! As are the Cliff’s theatre up above.

Aspirations Program Community Interest Company Company number: 12596744

Pass all the restaurants on the opposite side of the road, and on continue onto Chalkwell, which is quiet and residential.

You will see Tides cafe on the seafront. As you pass Chalkwell station, the nature of the walk changes.

You follow a quite beach side path, separated from the mainland above by the coastal rail line, with only occasional footbridges linking footpaths to Upper Leigh-on-Sea. Passing the ship and the sailing club.

Once you reach Old Leigh you would walk through the cobbled streets and up to our finishing point.

Aspirations Program Community Interest Company Company number: 12596744

End time: Approx. 2 hours from your start time End point: Old Leigh Buoy, on Leigh High Street, SS9 2EP. is the end of Old Leigh High Street. Volunteers will be waiting with our banner.

Facilities: There are public toilets, restaurants, fish and chip take away and café’s. Booking is recommended. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1138967-d2343548-Reviews-Old_Leigh- Leigh_on_Sea_Southend_on_Sea_Essex_England.html Parking: There are numerous car parks, all within a short walking distance, all are chargeable. There is also parking at Leigh Train Station Nearest bus stop: Bus stops are few minutes walk from our end point. Routes can be found at https://www.geopunk.co.uk/timetables/town/leigh-on-sea Nearest train station: Leigh Train Station, SS9 2ET is a 10 minute walk from our end point. This is again on the C2C line, and you can get the train back to East Beach, if you have parked your car up there. Train times and information can be found at https://www.c2c-online.co.uk/stations/leigh-on-sea-station/ Emergency contact number for the day is: 07474886302

Aspirations Program Community Interest Company Company number: 12596744

Aspirations Program Community Interest Company Company number: 12596744