One of Essex’s longest-standing mental health charities, SUMMIT began over 50 years ago as Tendring Mental Health Support. Based in the heart of Clacton-on-Sea at Dorson’s House, formerly the Orwell Dairy and now proudly known as SUMMIT House, our day centre and drop-in service offered a vital lifeline for local residents living with mental ill health or long-term health conditions.

The 80s marked a turning point in the UK’s civil society landscape, shifting away from volunteer-led grassroots initiatives. As charities, legal organisations, and think tanks grew, so too did the role of the professional advocate, an independent voice supporting individuals to express their wishes, secure their rights, and access essential services. During this decade, SUMMIT staff trained extensively in legislation and human rights. Their expertise enabled them to advocate for vulnerable people in psychiatric hospitals, ensuring individuals were included in decisions about their care and recovery.

The community care reforms of the 90s in the UK aimed to enable better lives by moving the care of adults with learning disabilities from long-stay hospitals to the community, primarily through the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. SUMMIT played a pivotal role during this transition, ensuring people had independent advocates to speak up for them and champion their right to lead full, meaningful lives.

In 1995, Avril O’Sullivan MBE became SUMMIT’s first CEO. A leading figure in the development of formal advocacy in Essex, Avril helped ensure adults with learning disabilities received equitable, consistent advocacy across the county. This work laid the foundation for Advocacy Services Essex, built on the need for strong county-wide partnerships and high-quality support for all vulnerable people.
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In 2017, Tendring Mental Health Support rebranded and SUMMIT was born. Today, we continue to offer a voice for people across Essex by delivering a wide range of services in partnership with colleagues across health and social care. Working closely with marginalised adults and their families, we remain committed in our mission to advocate for empowerment, promote independence, and restore self-belief, self-resilience and self-worth.