Future Focus Newsletter - 3 November 2026

Now is the perfect time to look ahead with increased attention on personal wellbeing and professional development. This month’s Future Focus newsletter emphasises important health issues that could affect us or those we care about.

Our Employability courses will be held in new locations; see details below. We would like to highlight that everyone is welcomed! Participants looking for finding paid employment, as well as anyone who wants to make positive changes in their lives, engage in meaningful activities (voluntary or paid), make progress, and ultimately lead a more full life. 

This month's Awareness sessions focus on two different but equally important topics. The Scam awareness session will look at current scams and provide advice on how to protect yourself. You will be amazed at how simple actions can safeguard you!

If you want to understand more about dementia and how we can all contribute to improve the quality of life for those living with it, join the Dementia Friends Information Session on November 25th, which will be run by a Dementia Friends Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society.

As always, we would love to hear your views on our training and what you would like to see from us in the future. Feel free to send us an email to training@communities1st.org.uk

Best wishes,

Juli Debono
Head of Wellbeing, Employment and Skills

Enhance your job search

This is a two-day workshop giving you the opportunity to improve your CV and boost your confidence in interviews to help you get the right job.

What you’ll learn:

• How to create a professional CV
• How to answer common interview questions
• Gain tips to impress employers

Take charge of your life and gain valuable skills.

Build confidence, feel more in control, more positive about yourself and your future, and take steps towards work or a new direction. This free four-day interactive and engaging course covers:  

• Teamwork - Work better with others and feel more confident in a team
• Assertiveness - Communicate calmly and clearly in everyday situations
• Stress Awareness - Understand stress and simple ways to manage it
• Communication/Life Skills - Speak about yourself in a way that helps you shine, in interviews or life in general

Want to improve your digital skills? This course is the perfect place to begin.

This is a two-day course in person offering you the opportunity to build your confidence with computers and learn how to create professional documents and a strong CV.

If you are finding your journey towards employment challenging, our employment support team can help. 

We can help you with:

• Creating online job-seeking profiles
• Writing CVs, personal statements, and cover letters
• Interview preparation techniques
• Communication tips and more!

• Leeming Road Hub in Borehamwood every Friday, 9.30am to 3.45pm. Drop-in available or make an appointment
• Ver House, Park Street on Monday (by appointment)
• Caledon Community Centre, London Colney on Thursday (drop-ins available) 
• Civic Centre, St Albans (by appointment only)
• Trestle St Albans (by appointment)
• 96 Shenley Road, Borehamwood (by appointment) 
• Hatfield Job Centre, 43-45 Town Centre, Hatfield AL10 0JJ on Wednesday, 12pm to 1.30pm (by appointment)
• Appointments are available at other venues upon request
• Self/professional referral form

Do you have a disability or mental health condition? Are you experiencing long-term unemployment, or facing language or accessibility barriers? Whatever obstacles you face, you are welcome to join Able2Enable!

Our Able2Enable programme develops people's skills, wellbeing, and employability through supported volunteering.

The ConnectU programme supports residents in the St Albans District, specifically London Colney, Park Street, Sopwell, Cottonmill, and Chiswell Green with wellbeing, volunteering, housing and employment support through free advice, signposting and referrals.

It is a partnership of five trusted local charities including Communities 1st, Hertfordshire Mind Network, Emmaus, Citizens Advice St Albans, and St Albans & District Foodbank.

Whether you are looking for work, need to learn new skills, or want support with your wellbeing, we will work together to make sure you get the right help. Visit www.connectu.org.uk for more information or call 01727 649960.

This inclusive barista training and English conversation group combines practical coffee skills with supported, real-life communication practice for people who lack confidence in customer service settings.

Participants learn how coffee is made, how to use and care for equipment, prepare espresso-based drinks, and work safely and professionally, while gaining confidence, teamwork skills, and a strong sense of community in a welcoming environment.

Every Tuesday

Next session: Tuesday 10 November 2026, 4pm to 5.30pm

The Scam Awareness session aims to help identify and avoid the numerous scamming schemes that one may encounter.

Please note this session is online. 

Nobody wants to hear the news that they have developed dementia and it is currently the biggest killer in the UK, ahead of heart attacks, strokes and cancer. There is a lot of fear and stigma attached to a diagnosis, which can make living with dementia (and caring for someone with it) very hard.

Join us to for a presentation by Jan Payne (a Dementia Friends Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society) to learn more about dementia and the ways we can all help to improve the quality of life for those living with it. Please note this is a general information session and not a medical presentation and will last about 45 minutes. At the end there will be an opportunity, for those who wish to do so, to join over 3 million people in the UK, by becoming a Dementia Friend.

In this awareness session, within the National Grief Awareness week and provided by Rennie Grove Peace, you will be provided with information to help you feel more confident when supporting people with a life limiting illness or those who have been bereaved. 

During this 2 hour session we will explore:

• What hospice care is and the support offered by Rennie Grove Peace
• Why conversations about loss, thinking ahead, death and dying are often avoided - and why they matter
• Common reactions in grief and misconceptions that surround it
• Some practical guidance for anyone supporting someone who is grieving due to a loss

Please note this is an online session on Teams and is being delivered by Alison May and David Kelly from Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care.

Date: Monday 7 December 2026

Come and learn about effective ways to communicate with deaf people, as well as some basic sign language. Participants coming to this session will gain the confidence and basic skills to communicate with those who are living with deafness and hearing loss. It will enable you to understand deafness, signs that someone can’t hear you, body positions and communicating.

There will be time for a Q and A at the end of this session. 

Please note this session is online on Zoom. 

Para Dance UK at Communities 1st offers inclusive dance sessions for those with disabilities, all ages and abilities, featuring various styles like street and folk. We focus on fun, physical activity and community. We offer inclusive dance programs for all abilities.

Join our fun weekly online sessions for adults and children, with instructors adapting to all levels. We also run local groups that foster a sense of family and belonging, plus an online after-school club for kids to explore dance.

Enjoy it all for just £10 per person or £100 per organisation per year (September to August).

The courses are:

• Adults Dance Club
• Shine Together Dance Club (primary school-aged kids)
• Through the Decades
• Youth Dance Club ( secondary school children and young adults up to 25 years old).

This webinar was created to provide a supportive space and offer practical guidance to help men look after their mental health.

Key topics covered:

• What is mental health: The webinar explores what mental health is and some of the misconceptions surrounding men’s mental health.
• What are some common mental health difficulties: The session explores what can cause these challenges and how they can impact men.

• How can therapy help: The webinar introduces cognitive

  behavioural therapy and offers some helpful coping mechanisms.

This webinar introduces common employment-related difficulties that may impact emotional wellbeing.

The webinar presents CBT-based self-help tips to manage employment-related stress, as well as practical tips to help during interviews and to remain in work. The webinar also includes information about the employment support services for anyone interested in receiving further help and guidance.

Key Topics covered:

• Common employment stressors
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Managing motivation and worry
• How to access further support

Come be inspired, get creative and make new community connections.

Enjoy hands-on activities, meet local artists, discover theatre inspired projects and connect with community organisations. Our inclusive and welcoming creative café will celebrate arts and crafts, culture, and heritage.

Are you interested in research? Do you want your community to be involved in shaping local services and research?

Communities 1st is looking for volunteers passionate about health, inequalities and research to become community research champions. This unique volunteer role will give you the chance to share health research opportunities with your communities and help them to get involved in the research process. 

If you're interested or would like to know more about this volunteering opportunity, please email communityresearch@communities1st.org.uk or call 01727 649900