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Welcome to Volunteering Vision, our new Volunteer Centre newsletter.   If you have some extra spare time this summer, please let us know and we’ll find meaningful ways for you to spend it. Our team are here to help you offer your skills to positively contribute to our…

Ahead of the general election on Thursday, I am pleased to share with you a collection of policy statements developed in partnership with our local charity partners. These statements, covering eight important areas, reflect the real experiences and expertise of those working within our…

Communities 1st Annual Conference and AGM Sector Supporting an Inclusive and Sustainable Future I am delighted to invite you to attend Communities 1st‘s annual conference for the local Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector,…

With the Communities 1st Annual Conference for the VCSFE sector just around the corner, we wanted to remind you that there is still time to register and come along.  The conference is taking place on Tuesday 16 July and we would love to see you there! The event promises to be a…

At Communities 1st, we are always seeking to improve the way that we communicate with you and ensure that you receive news from us that is interesting and relevant to you. Therefore, we will be making some changes to the newsletters we create for member organisations. Very soon,…

Strengthening communities through building connections  “What I like to do is make connections. I enjoy talking to people, thinking about connections, and then putting people in touch with each other,” Colin told me when I asked him about his experience of volunteering with Communities 1st.…

Unfortunately, the weather in June is throwing a bit of a tantrum but we are still hopeful that sun and warmer temperatures will be with us soon. In the meantime, be reassured that there are plenty of events raising community awareness to attend, filled with fun and information.…

Communities 1st is a great antidote to the view that “there is no such thing as society”! “It’s fantastic what Communities 1st is doing,” Mike told me when I eventually tracked him down and he told me about his experience as a volunteer. “You provide a wide range of valuable services to support the…

At Communities 1st, we are always seeking to improve the way that we communicate with you and ensure that you receive news from us that is interesting and relevant to you. Therefore, we will be making some changes to the newsletters we create for member organisations. Very soon,…

June is here and hopefully it will bring us sun and warmer temperatures and with it come new events to attend and awareness campaigns to celebrate.     National Carers Week will start on Monday (10 -16 June) and within its celebration on Thursday, 13  June…

Happy Volunteers Week! Thanks to you, our committed volunteers, Communities 1st is able to deliver services across the local community, bringing people together and making a positive impact on their health and well being.  It was great to see some of you at our afternoon tea…

The Role of Community Organisations in Tackling Inequalities    In our communities today, inequalities manifest in various forms, impacting health, opportunity, and wellbeing across different demographics. The NHS Long Term Plan and the pervasive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have…

Laughter is the Best Medicine  Liz has a great sense of humour! I’m often struck while talking to volunteers that they have a huge sense of fun; we laugh a lot! Liz is no exception. One of the reasons she volunteers is because she enjoys helping bring a smile to people’s faces. This isn’t to…

This coming week marks the end of a very busy month and opens its way to June packed with important social and health campaigns.  Garden Wildlife Week 2024 in the UK begins on the spring bank holiday Monday 27th May and runs for 7 days until Sunday 2nd June. It is an…

We hope that you are all looking forward to the Bank Holiday weekend! Whatever the weather we hope that you are able to have a relaxing and enjoyable break. To celebrate Volunteers Week, Communities 1st have organised events as well as an online get-together to acknowledge our…

Half term is round the corner! Looking for activities that you can do with your kids and incorporate some learning too? Then do have a look at our Creative Fun with Numbers sessions! These sessions are fun, engaging and help you explore numbers through creative games and…

We are slowly approaching the end of a very busy month. June will also be a month packed with opportunities aiming to increase awareness in our Community and we wait for it with excitement.  "National Children's Gardening Week" will run from the 25th of May until the 2nd…

Welcome to our Volunteer Centre newsletter.   Last week we hosted a Volunteer Fair at the Laura Trott Centre in Broxbourne. It was great to see so many volunteers and organisations attend the event, which was a great success! If you are local to Broxbourne and East Herts, check…

Hopefully, the recent bank holiday has given you a chance to rest and recharge. "Dementia Action Week" (13th-19th of May) aims to promote awareness and the importance of a prompt diagnosis, which is also this year's theme. Through greater community awareness and more healthcare…

In October 2023 Communities 1st welcomed Para Dance UK that brought in an inspiring element of inclusive dance, championing the values of inclusion, accessibility, and participation for all, irrespective of ability. Together we have created a series of courses suitable for a wide…