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"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…

Last week Communities 1st and our Community Help Hertfordshire partners hosted a webinar to outline the voluntary, community and faith sector response to the Ukraine crisis. Speakers included the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, The British Red Cross, Herts Mind Network and Citizens…

Elly might have helped you at a vaccination centre or brought you your shopping. Many more of you may have heard her voice on local radio! Elly O’Mera is a volunteer with both Communities 1st and  Radio Verulam! Like many volunteers, Elly supports more than one group…

V is also the name by which a very special lady likes to go by when she is doing voluntary work for Communities 1st.  Born in Europe, V came to England over 35 years ago and first lived in West London.  She explained to me that her name can be quite difficult to pronounce, so when…

Ben started as a volunteer shopper with Communities 1st in 2020, as the Covid epidemic was sweeping the country, and he has continued ever since. Ben, who is in his early forties and living in St Albans, hadn’t done any voluntary work before, but it was a wish to help tackle the pandemic that drove…

“Doing shopping for frail, elderly and vulnerable people who can’t get out is such a vital service. It’s a real lifeline,” Mary told me as I chatted with her while she drove home! She was, of course, on speaker phone so she could reassure me that she was driving safely. It soon became apparent that…

Both in their late 80's, Betty and John have now enjoyed 65 years of marriage. They met up when John was completing National Service in the R.A.F., moved to Wembley, and have juggled working lives with bringing up two daughters. Betty managed various temporary jobs until she finally…

It all started with Beryl's Blue Bus. A few years ago, Beryl noticed an unusual wagon off-loading shoppers outside her local Sainsburys and enquired who the bus was for. She learned that this was one of the many helpful services provided by Communities 1st and, now in her late 80s, …