A Year of Impact

Celebrating successes in Southend City Centre.

As we close another successful year at Southend City BID, we proudly reflect on the achievements that have helped make Southend a safe, welcoming, and vibrant city to live, work, and visit.

Thank you to all our BID members and partners for your continued support. Here's what we accomplished together in 2025:



STREET RANGERS

• Recovered close to £51,000 in stolen goods

• Responded to nearly 400 incidents of anti-social behaviour

• Engaged with over 400 rough sleepers, connecting them to vital support services

• Answered 1,300 visitor enquiries

• Completed over 4,400 business visits for crime response and check ins

• Worked with Essex Police on repeat offender cases to help bring individuals to justice

PARTNERSHIPS

• Regular collaboration with Essex Police Business Crime team on projects to increase safety

• Close working partnership with the Town Centre Police Team, Community Safety Team, Youth Offending, and CCTV

• Championing BID businesses needs on the boards for the Southend Tourism Partnership, Southend Business Partnership, and Southend City Partnership

NIGHT TIME ECONOMY

• Co-chaired Night Time Economy Group (NTEG) meetings to share ideas, tackle challenges, and champion the evening economy in the BID zone

• Supported Southend's Purple Flag award for safety and vibrancy

• Part of a working group for a new charter

• Collaborated with the council Community Safety team on two evenings of action

• Secured Forum screen space to feature a video promoting the evening economy in Southend

STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS

• Raised cleanliness issues which were promptly resolved by the council

• Hosted 3 litter picks, collecting over 70 bags of rubbish plus fly-tipped items including chairs, sofas, and beds

• Dressed the city centre with floral baskets and bunting throughout Spring and Summer for a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere

• Installed a Christmas tree in Victoria Circus and one in Royals Square, alongside a festive lighting scheme across the centre

• Commissioned poppy artwork on business windows to mark Remembrance Day

PROMOTING SOUTHEND

• Featured on BBC Essex radio and secured partnership for Christmas Switch On coverage

• Published 14 press releases showcasing positive city centre stories

• Utilised digital screens and Forum big screen to promote events, businesses, and the night time economy

• Created a 'what's on' directory of December events for visitors

• Promoted events, businesses, and news across four social media channels

TRAINING AND SUPPORT

• Offered free training sessions to BID members on conflict management, cyber security, and modern slavery

• Hosted monthly Meet the BID drop-ins and quarterly Protect and Promote committees

EVENTS

• Sponsored Southend Jazz Festival, expanding to more BID venues

• Delivered VE Day and Cheeky Elf trails

• Grew Southend Cocktail Week into the Southend Food and Drink Festival, featuring 18 BID businesses

• Hosted the Big Christmas Switch On attracting thousands to the city centre with an increased range of activities across the BID zone

• Introduced three Festive Sundays in December

We look forward to building on this success in the year ahead - together, we'll continue to enhance Southend City Centre to be a welcoming space for residents and visitors alike.