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Welcome to the latest edition of the Let’s Give newsletter! Today is International Volunteers Day—a time to celebrate the amazing individuals like you who give their time, energy, and heart to create positive change in their local communities. Your dedication makes the…

Making a Difference NewsletterThursday 4 December 2025 With the holidays just around the corner, we are contacting people in the local community to see whether they would like to receive a festive call or visit this year. …

As we wrap up the year, the last month brings learning opportunities to improve your health and wellbeing, and practical tips on being financially smart.   Dementia is currently the biggest killer in the UK. There is a lot of fear and stigma attached to a diagnosis, which…

Welcome back! The Christmas lights are shining brightly, which means the festive season is now in full swing! We hope you're soaking up all the sparkle and excitement this time of year brings. If you're looking for ways to get involved this season, we have some…

The Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) represents a pivotal moment for the VCFSE sector. Despite potential changes to geographical borders and commissioning arrangements, one thing must remain constant – groups and volunteers will need to continue providing vital services,…

“It worked! So much so, I now really don’t want to leave!” Nisha Parbhoo, a volunteer with Communities 1st was telling me about why she wanted to volunteer. “I stopped working to have time with my family and young children, so I hadn’t worked for quite a number of years. I thought volunteering…

Leadership today feels different. Not simply harder, but heavier. The pace of change is accelerating, expectations are high, and the time available to think well is shrinking.  Adaptation has always been part of leadership - many of us accept it as a natural rhythm of the work. What has…

We are pleased to share with you our training programme for the upcoming year. As you will see, the programme will provide a diverse selection of training sessions. If there is any specific training you would like us to consider for our programme, please let us know.…

Welcome to the latest edition of our Policy Pulse Newsletter, your monthly update on key developments within our sector. In these changing times, and with the next UK budget around the corner, it is more important than ever that we collaborate and support one and other. At…

Now is the perfect time to look ahead with renewed focus on personal wellbeing and professional growth. This month’s Future Focus newsletter highlights key health topics that impact us or those that we care for. Stay informed and alert about scams. The Scam awareness session will…

Welcome to this week's newsletter! As we move toward the end of October, the air is getting crisp, and there's a definite shift in the weather. With the clocks going back this past weekend, we've officially entered the period of Daylight Saving Time ending, bringing us those…

  “I really feel thankful to have had the opportunity to take part in Para Dance,” Suzannah confided, “It is accessible, affordable, non-judgmental, and above all fun.” Para Dance UK is part of the Communities 1st family and I was keen to find out how it is helping people with disabilities.…

Making a Difference NewsletterThursday 23 October 2025 Thank you to everyone that was able to attend the Volunteer and Staff away day last week. It was a lovely way to spend a few hours, to have important conversations and hear…

When you’re next having a beverage at the Communities 1st Coffee Cart in St Albans civic centre, don’t be surprised if your drink is served with a song and a smile! There is a lot of interest in singing amongst the volunteers at the cart. This is because Emma, a recent recruit, has a deep interest…

Across the country, a quiet shift is happening. You can feel it in conversations with residents, partners, volunteers and staff. People are asking bigger questions - not just about the cost of living, the pressure on public services, or the uncertainty coming with the next budget, but about…

As the weather cools, our training schedule heats up with sessions focused on personal development and health awareness, some linked to the many awareness days and months this October.  Join our 1-hour Menopause Awareness session to better understand and support those…

Let's Give Volunteering NewsletterFriday 3 October Welcome to your latest addition of Let’s Give. As we approach autumn, we are reminded of the generosity that continues from our let’s Give volunteers. We have small acts of…

  Have you registered for our upcoming volunteer event? If you haven't please continue reading. Save the date!Communities 1st is hosting a volunteer get together event on 14 October 2025 at the Radlett Village Institute Hall. As the event will be running within Community…

We have been busy putting in place our training programme for next year. As you will see below, we are offering a wide range of training sessions. If you have any particular training that you would like to see included in our programme, do let us know and we will see if we might…

Across the world, we are living through unsettled times. Wars, political divisions, economic pressures, and misinformation all create uncertainty. These global tensions don’t just play out on the news - they filter down into our communities. You can hear it in everyday conversations: worries about…