Latest News

Thank you to all of the volunteers who kindly supported Communities 1st at the St Albans Festival last Sunday. Once again Communities 1st were able to offer a safe and relaxing space for those who attended the event and even a space to escape some of the rain. Thank you for all your…

I hope you have had a wonderful week. As the days grow shorter, have you taken a moment to gaze at the bright full moon illuminating the autumn sky this week? The Autumn equinox is upon us, bringing a sense of renewal and transformation. This week, let's embrace the changing seasons…

    To go back to the start Ann, in her sixties and living in Bishop’s Stortford, worked for many years in banking. After her son was born, and he is now grown up and left home, she transferred to work in the local branch of the bank in Bishops Stortford. “I loved being branch based,”…

What the Darzi Report Means for Our Communities By Stephen Craker, Chief Executive of Communities 1st   The Lord Darzi Independent Investigation of the National Health Service in England offers a vital snapshot of the current state of healthcare. It reveals significant pressures on the NHS,…

  As we shift into autumn, with yellow leaves beginning to fall and cooler winds setting in, it’s a wonderful time to embrace change and new opportunities. This week, we're excited to bring you a range of engaging training courses to explore. Whether you're interested in…

If you'd like to support Communities 1st at a local event this September, please continue reading. We are inviting volunteers to come along to the St Albans Festival this year and help out with our Communities 1st Safe Zone. You can find out how to get involved below.  We want…

Welcome to the latest edition of our Policy Pulse newsletter! Earlier this year we produced “What we Stand For” a range of policy statements on key areas produced as a result of extensive engagement with local VCFSE organisations. These were distributed to local elected…

I hope you've had a fantastic week. It's great to connect with you again through this week's newsletter. As National Pension Awareness Week kicks off this week, let's take a moment to reflect on the importance of saving for retirement. It's never too early or too late to start…

As we bid farewell to the warm days of August, September arrives, bringing with it a renewed focus on health and wellbeing. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about cancer, particularly blood and childhood cancers. By understanding these diseases, we can prioritise our own…

We hope that you had a lovely bank holiday weekend. Don't forget that we will be hosting our Afternoon Tea Celebration at the Aberford Community Centre in Borehamwood this week in celebration of Hertsmere Borough Council's 50th anniversary. If you would like to come along for some…

Patricia’s Path to Positivity with Communities 1st Patricia*, originally from the north-east and now in her early seventies, has been using Communities 1st services for some nine years. I was looking forward to chatting with her and learning about her experience. I was richly rewarded. Patricia* is…

As usual, this month's newsletter provides information on numerous potential sources of funding but we also have news of an event taking place next month which could provide you with even more opportunities. After a break of several years, the Hertfordshire Funding Fair…

As August winds down, we've had the extraordinary opportunity to witness a blue moon. Did you catch this rare celestial sight? If not, don't worry, summer still has plenty in store. Discover exciting activities below. Did you know next Monday, 26 of August, is National Dog Day? Let'…

We are taking a short break from all the online dance sessions, but not for long! We will start the week commencing 2 September with our regular online dance sessions. Please see below all the information about our courses and the IDT (online dance training), our online training…

It's the height of summer! Enjoy the sunshine, but remember to stay safe during periods of high heat and humidity. Drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen, and take breaks from the heat. Looking for fun activities to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays? Check below…

This time last month we were preparing for our Annual Conference and AGM, this proved to be a very successful event. There was a compelling thought provoking keynote address from Emma-Jame Hampsheir, National Youth Participation Lead for St Johns Ambulance on engaging young…

With summer well underway, we encourage everyone to make the most of the good weather while taking care. Let's also send our best wishes to the incredible athletes representing Great Britain at the Paris Olympics.    The past week marked the beginning of our new exciting…

August has arrived and although we hope that warmer and sunnier spells will continue a bit longer, please remember to stay cool and hydrated this summer. This month, you'll find members of the Training team running some FREE "Creative Fun with Numbers" sessions for children and…

We hope that you are enjoying the lovely summer weather we have been experiencing over the last few weeks. We would like to remind you to make sure you are keeping cool and hydrated. This year Hertsmere Borough council is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and to celebrate this…

We are on the verge of August, hoping to enjoy again some sunny and warm days.  August is National Road Victim Month. Visit the website if you want to find out more about this campaign, or need support after losing someone in a car accident.  August is also…