Latest News

 I would like to wish Happy Eid to all our community who are celebrating this week, Eid Mubarak. All of us at Communities 1st are sending you warm wishes of joy and happiness.  Following the government announcement on lifting Covid Restrictions from today, we have carefully considered…

Razzle Dazzle are a Dance Supply shop based in Hemel Hempstead, with a wide range of uniforms, tutus, shoes and accessories for Girls, Boys and Adults. This amazing locally-based organisation is working with Para Dance UK  over 2021-22 to show the community locally and nationally that no…

There is a lot to celebrate as #Kind July Begins, and for many, the easing of government restrictions will bring immense relief. We know this will mean a lot of you will be returning to work and reconnecting with family and friends. We hope those of you who will be leaving us have had a good…

Written by one of our volunteers: After trying out a wide range of volunteering roles, Rod was encouraged and uplifted by the many acts of kindness he encountered with people in the Hertfordshire community, who give up their time for the less fortunate. A resident of Welwyn Garden City, Rod first…

With Kind July well underway we continue to reflect on the incredible impact that simple acts of kindness can have. We'd like to encourage anyone that can to “do something kind” every day during July, and hopefully continue this trend in their everyday lives. After all, kindness isn’t…

Para Dance UK the NGB for Para Dance Sport and Inclusive Dance and LimbPower the National Disability Sports Organisation for amputees and individuals with limb impairments have come together with Youth Sport Trust to enable more of our community to dance, using the knowledge of both organisations…

Written by one of our volunteers: Phil reckons he retired too early. Whilst it did give him more time to enjoy his golf, he found that he missed the contact he'd had with so many people during his career as a Post Office Manager. Instead of simply settling into his early retirement, Phil decided to…

Volunteering is good for us! It can provide fantastic opportunities to improve both our mental and physical health. We've heard first-hand from many of you that giving your time during this difficult period had a positive effect on your mental health. When you give your time meaningfully you can…

June has been and continues to be, a busy month. Pride Month is celebrated every June as a tribute to those who were involved in the Stonewall Riots. It’s the perfect time to think about and discuss issues related to equality, diversity, and inclusion within the VCFSE sector and consider how we…

National Volunteers’ Week may be over for another year but that doesn’t mean we’ll stop being grateful for the dedication and kindness of our volunteers. It was incredible to get the chance to meet some of you in person last week. We will be organising more opportunities to connect with you…

Written by one of our volunteers: That's the view of Lesley Landes who has lost well over 10lbs in weight since becoming a volunteer and, more incredibly, is now no longer suffering from diabetes. As far as Lesley is concerned, she is in absolutely no doubt that all the activity, as well as being…

Isobel Hatfield (Partnerships and Development Coordinator at Communities 1st) was joined by Peggy Sharp (Community Engagement, Equality and Grants Officer at SADC) and Alison Glennie (Community Engagament Project Officer at SADC) to hold an information event on the St Albans…

Today is the last day of Volunteers' Week, a time when volunteers are celebrated for their efforts and achievements, and a chance for us to say thank you to our own dedicated team of volunteers.  The community response effort that we have helped to coordinate over the past year would not have…

Next week is National Volunteers’ Week, a time when volunteer contributions to society are recognised and celebrated. With the amazing feats, you have helped us achieve over the past year, including over 100,000 hours supporting vaccination centres and countless more helping the community response…

This July our annual conference is taking place, a time when we reflect on the challenges of the last year, and examine what we would like to do differently in the future. We want to explore how the past year has impacted the VCFSE sector, and how we might use our collective experience to help…

With the Paralympic Games only a few months away, a new digital, illustrated jigsaw has been released in celebration of the sports and organisations who promote the heritage of disability sport. The ‘Animal Para Games’ is a beautifully illustrated artwork created by Jessica Hartshorn, transformed…

This week is Mental Health Awareness week. For many, the gradual easing of lockdown will bring opportunities to reconnect with family and friends, do things we enjoy like playing sports, and return to work that we value. For others, the prospect of a lockdown ending will bring difficult …

This week is mental health awareness week, so remember to do something good for your mind. Whether it’s talking to a friend, going for a walk or just taking a few deep breaths, a few small actions can make a big difference. If you think someone you know might be struggling with their mental health…

Written by one of our volunteers: Throughout the long winter months of lockdown, local Hertfordshire resident Lesley tried to keep herself busy. She bought herself , planned new home projects, and invested in some tapestry making kits and piano music. Although the lockdown was a…

Written by one of our volunteers: At the beginning of lockdown in March 2020, Alison found herself unexpectedly living on her own. The Nursery where she worked had closed and her Mum was self-isolating elsewhere. She felt a little lonely and wanted to find something to do to keep busy, as well as…