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Welcome to our Volunteer Centre newsletter.    We are thankful for the ongoing support of volunteers, constituting the backbone of our communities. Volunteering for all the fantastic organisations and community groups in the local areas. …

We are approaching September and leaving behind a lovely and very warm summer break. We are thrilled to be back with our newsletter filled with new opportunities of training and awareness sessions that are free and open to all.  Our September training sessions…

Hertsmere Borough Council's hot meal programme will be coming to a close next week, and we would just like to take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers who helped make this project a success. Your tireless work has ensured that the hot meals have always made it to their…

We are moving towards the end of August and it is already possible to sense a feeling of back to "normality". But since we do not want to say our goodbyes to the summer yet, in this newsletter you can still find multiple ideas of events that will keep you and your family active and…

We would like to thank all our volunteers who persevered through the hot weather to continue their volunteering roles last week.  Communities 1st offers an array of volunteering roles for you to try, and while you may have signed up with one project in mind, we encourage you to…

Welcome to our Volunteer Centre newsletter.    We are thankful for the ongoing support of volunteers, constituting the backbone of our communities. Volunteering for all the fantastic organisations and community groups in the local areas. …

Many of you will be reading this as you look forward to a summer break or perhaps you have just returned feeling refreshed and ready to face new challenges.  Either way, read on for details of events that will support you in your work, including the Stronger Together Networks in…

"nothing is more important than the community and people" and that is one of the reasons why Jeremy volunteers. He strongly believes that "volunteering is very satisfying and gives a sense of purpose. It also, makes me grateful for what I've got." Jem Silverstone, in his early sixties, has lived…

Cheryl*, in her sixties, is a volunteer with Communities 1st.  She has undertaken two very different roles – collecting and delivering oxygen monitors to vulnerable people and being a telephone befriender.  Cheryl’s experience highlights the important part that volunteers can play in…

While waiting for cooler temperature to kick in we would like to remind you simple actions that can help in these current hot days: 1. Keep curtains on windows exposed to the sun closed while the temperature outside is higher than it is inside. 2.Water external and internal…

With the impending heatwave, we hope you are keeping safe and cool. Please keep an eye on any vulnerable friends, family and neighbours to ensure everyone is safe during this amber hot weather alert. You may have signed up for a particular role but we wanted to make you  aware that…

Welcome to our Volunteer Centre newsletter.    We are thankful for the ongoing support of volunteers, constituting the backbone of our communities. Volunteering for all the fantastic organisations and community groups in the local areas. …

As the cost of living increase continues to impact upon us, Communities 1st are working in partnership with charities including NCVO and The Community Transport Association in calling for an immediate review of the approved mileage rate that can be claimed by volunteers, owing to its…

We want to welcome you in the first week of August  by offering you a variety of information about events that can keep kids and grown-ups busy, informed and entertained both physically and mentally.    Next week is "National Allotment Week"  (8th-14th) and it…

Well done to the Lionesses on their recent triumph in the Euros. It was a great achievement and amazing to watch. Our New website has launched, so do be sure to come and check it out! We would like to thank you for your patience while the website has been experiencing some glitches.…

Simon, like many of our volunteers, started volunteering during the COVID pandemic when he helped at a vaccination centre.  He has since become a volunteer driver and what came across from my chat with Simon is his great enthusiasm for the work.  This is perhaps a little surprising…

Thank you for another wonderful week of volunteering. We have heard positive things from all projects, and especially from the Computers and a Cuppa. One of our volunteers told us that a few weeks ago, one lady "came along and said she had just programmed her new Smart TV and was very…

In this newsletter we hope to offer you a variety of ideas on how to keep you busy, informed and entertained in this coming week.    Remember that you can find help with the cost of living crisis by contacting the following organisations: The Healthy Hub St Albans and…

This week we offer you lots of ideas on how to get the most out of the nice weather that is ahead of us but also how to be active while helping and supporting different charities.  Between June and September is possible to organise Great British Picnic, a very nice idea that…

Claire started volunteering with Communities 1st as a response to the COVID epidemic.  She hadn’t any experience of volunteering in this country and, to be honest, she hadn’t heard of Communities 1st!  However, her experience has been very positive, and she was keen to tell me that she…