---
title: "Empowering Families"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-061269"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-061269"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061269.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061269.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "SOUTHEND-ON-SEA CITY COUNCIL"
published: "2026-04-24"
---

# Empowering Families

Buyer: SOUTHEND-ON-SEA CITY COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-061269

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## Summary

Southend-on-Sea City Council has completed the award stage for its "Empowering Families" procurement process, dated 24 April 2026. This initiative, designed to support vulnerable families in the Southend-on-Sea area, aligns with the public authority's commitment to improving social outcomes through community support. The contract, set for 1 June 2026 to 31 March 2028 with a potential extension until 31 March 2029, focuses on social work and related services, with a legal framework under UKPGA 2023/54. The open competition procurement method ensured inclusivity with detailed criteria, emphasizing technical and commercial aspects. The awarded contract, valued at approximately £153,076, was secured by VOLUNTEERING MATTERS, reflecting a successful bid from SMEs for this critical service in the UKH31 region.

The "Empowering Families" contract provides substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in social work services and community engagement. Companies with experience in delivering volunteer-based mentoring services stand to benefit from participating in similar tenders, enhancing their portfolio and expanding their networks within local government frameworks. Furthermore, SMEs involved in social services can leverage this project to demonstrate their capacity for positive community impact, fostering partnerships and elevating their market presence. The requirement for dedicated volunteer mentors presents a niche for organisations adept at training and developing personnel to engage meaningfully with vulnerable demographics. Ultimately, this initiative fosters skill development and resilience, crucial aspects for businesses looking to position themselves as leaders in social innovation.

## Notice

Southend-on-Sea City Council are looking to award to a single supplier to deliver a volunteer mentor service for vulnerable families in the Southend-on-Sea City area. The contract duration is as follows: 1st June 2026 - 31st March 2028 (with option to extend to up to 31st March 2029). The provider will deliver Empowering Families Service using community volunteers to mentor vulnerable families, as part of a whole-family approach to facilitate change, improve wellbeing, build resilience and empower families. The service will work with families identified by children's services, most of the families will have children who are known to children's social care either as a Child in Need or with a Child Protection Plan. The community volunteer mentors will offer focused interventions to vulnerable children, young people and their families to contribute to improved health and wellbeing, education, employment, training, housing and finance outcomes. Developing their emotional, educational, and social skill to build resilience and be empowered. Mentors will offer guidance and support to identified families they are matched with to develop skills and confidence to improve their circumstances. The Service Provider will recruit, train and develop sufficient volunteers to provide Volunteer Mentors for a minimum of 50 vulnerable families across a 12-month period. The number of matched mentors and families may increase dependent on demand and changing needs. The expectation is that volunteer mentors will commit to at least one year of weekly engagement with the Service Provider. They will have at least one contact with a family in any given week of an average engagement, dependent on identified needs and the family's progress.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: One (1) twelve month extension following the initial term.

### Planning Information

Please contact strategiccommissioning@southend.gov.uk should you wish to express an interest in this tender opportunity.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037727-2026 |
| Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - open competition |
| Tender suitability | SME, VCSE |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Planning, Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 24 Apr 2026 |
| Submission deadline | 3 Mar 2026 |
| Future notice date | 4 Feb 2026 |
| Award date | 23 Apr 2026 |
| Contract period | 31 May 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £200,000 |
| Lots value | £200,000 |
| Awards value | £153,076 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SOUTHEND-ON-SEA CITY COUNCIL |
| Locality | SOUTHEND-ON-SEA |
| Post town | Southend-on-Sea |
| Postcode | SS2 6FA |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex |
| ITL 3 | TLH31 Southend-on-Sea |
| Local authority | Southend-on-Sea |
| Electoral ward | Victoria |
| Westminster constituency | Southend East and Rochford |
| Delivery location | TLH31 Southend-on-Sea |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | VOLUNTEERING MATTERS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 85 - Health and social work services
- 98 - Other community, social and personal services

### Codes

- 85300000 - Social work and related services
- 98000000 - Other community, social and personal services

## Release History

- 24 Apr 2026 at 15:01 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037727-2026
- 10 Feb 2026 at 11:02 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011729-2026
- 29 Jan 2026 at 16:34 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008216-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/037727-2026
  24th April 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/011729-2026
  10th February 2026 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/008216-2026
  29th January 2026 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- https://procurement.southend.gov.uk/
  Please complete your tender submission in full and ensure it is received by the stated Tender Submission deadline to Southend City Council's procurement portal https://procontract.due-north.com/ - Procurement Ref: DN806229 Commissioning - Empowering Families (Family Mentor Service)

## Notice URLs

- https://procontract.due-north.com/
- https://procurement.southend.gov.uk/PleasecompleteyourtendersubmissioninfullandensureitisreceivedbythestatedTenderSubmissiondeadlinetoSouthendCityCouncil'sprocurementportalhttps://procontract.due-north.com/-ProcurementRef:DN806229Commissioning-EmpoweringFamilies(FamilyMentorService)
- https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-061269. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-061269.json.