Fantastic Friday Update

We hope you are all enjoying the lovely summer weather. Please take care to wear SPF if you're going out and remember always to drink plenty of water! 

Attending awareness events and festivals in the sunshine makes it extra enjoyable !

If you're looking for somewhere to go this coming Sunday 25th June, Communities1st will be at the St Albans Festival in St Peter's Street next to Barclays Bank! We will be there offering shelter and time for a chat! We have the pleasure of sharing the tent with representative from Mind in Mid Herts, Earthworks and Emmaus. 

Next week (26th -2nd July) sight and hearing conditions are in the the spotlight with two awareness weeks coinciding.

One is Glaucoma Awareness Week, an annual awareness-raising opportunity where people across the UK are encouraged to talk about glaucoma. If you  want to know more about this condition, click here.

Deafblind Awareness Week 2023 aims to raise awareness of the people with multi-sensory impairments, or deaf blindness in particular.  

Please note that whilst our Community Hub, at 5 Leeming Road, Borehamwood is closed for repairs due to flood damage, support is still available! We’re making every possible effort to ensure alternative provision is available for those who need to meet with us but in the meantime please do give us a call at 01727 649930 or write to us.

Stay safe and cool in this warm weather this weekend and have a lovely weekend!

Nicola Oneill

Wellbeing Services Manager

If you or someone you know is in at-risk group or having to isolate, and needs help or support with shopping, prescription collection, pet sitting, urgent supplies or tech support, you can contact us.

Email: help@communities1st.org.uk.

Phone: 01727 649930.

Alternatively, if you would like to volunteer yourself to support this service, please contact us or visit our website for further information.

Alban Street Festival - 25th June

Communities1st will be present at the street party that will take place on St Peter’s Street and Market Place, with much of the City Centre closed to traffic.

It will feature a mix of music, food, street entertainment, arts and crafts, games and activities to celebrate the rich and diverse history and heritage of St Albans. 

Come and say HI!!!

Sunday 25th June, 12pm - 6pm

For more information 

Family Budgeting Session - Communities 1st Training 

This in-person session will help to create a family budget in easy steps and how to keep track of your spending, which in turn, can make your money go further. You will learn how to keep a track of your spending, whilst improving your numeracy skills at the same time!

Thursday 29th June, 10am -1pm

Phillimore Community Centre - Radlett

For more information

New guide to mental health support in Hertfordshire

An online directory of mental health services in Hertfordshire is now available, helping you get the support you need.

Whether you are looking for self-help resources to boost your mental health, need a listening ear or emotional support, or are in crisis and need urgent help, you can find a service to support you.

For more information 

Bushey Festival (9th of July)

This year the Festival will be celebrating its 40th birthday, so it is a very special year.

Bushey Festival is looking for volunteers to help with the festival working alongside committee members who have been running the park event for several years and who are all very friendly and approachable. Tasks involve keeping areas clean and tidy, marshalling, helping stall holders, car park duty and directing bands when they arrive on site. You will be given full instruction and they will provide food and drink for those who volunteer. It is a fun event, and the focus is on volunteers feeling fully supported whilst enjoying the event themselves.

Sunday 9th of July, 3 hour shifts between 12pm-9pm 

King George’s Recreation Ground.

You can sign up for the event on your dashboard.

Dacorum’s Armed Forces Day Celebration 2023

The day will be for the whole community to enjoy. There will be an arena with a number of different acts, including the Silver Star Parachute Display Team, as well as different stalls and interactive entertainment.

Partners from the Armed Forces, including local branches of the RBL and Cadets, will attend to engage with local residents.

Alongside this, local residents can enjoy the Hemel Old Town Market, who will be running in conjunction with the DBC Armed Forces Day.

Saturday 24th June, 11am - 3pm

More information

Let’s Give

Communities 1st is launching a new service for volunteers. You will be able to create your own space on our website so that organisations can find out about you and reach out about their volunteering roles. You won’t need to display any personal contact information as we will do all the brokerage, so we will put you in touch with the organisations that have reached out to you. It’s a great way to showcase your skills and experience to local community groups and can help match you with a role where you can make a real difference.

Instead, if you work for an organisation you will be able to find out about volunteers accordingly to the role you need to cover. 

For more information contact us by email or call 01727 649953.      

Men That Meet 

June is Men's Health Month. It is thought that 1 in 8 men have a common mental health problem such as depression or anxiety, and social media can often play a part in making these feelings worse. 

Communities 1st has supported the organisation of a new social group in Borehamwood where men can meet other men and connect over good conversation, games etc. 

Tuesday 1.30pm - 4pm

Windsor Hall (WD6 4EE)

For more information

An extension on the £2 bus fare cap scheme

From 1 January to 31 October 2023, a single bus journey will cost no more than £2 on most routes across England. The £2 bus fare cap will apply to single journeys regardless of the length. 

The scheme has been designed to provide affordable travel to support families and individuals with the pressures from the cost of living.

Come Along & Bowl!

Ever fancied trying your hand at bowls? Free sessions take place in Borehamwood and during these session you will be given techniques and tips on how to improve your play. No previous experience needed and equipment will be provided.

Everyone is welcome and there will be refreshments provided as well as other activities to try.

Every Wednesday from 1pm-3pm

Aberford Community Centre, WD6 1PL. 

For more information please email here.

Virtual Patient Engagement event

This online event will look at future plans for delivering GP and other primary care services, such as community pharmacists, dentists and optometrists, that work well for patients and the NHS workforce.

The NHS will give an overview of how their plans are shaping up and invite you to have your say on what you think needs to be in their plans so that they can be sure that they’re meeting patients’ needs around delivery of patient care and access to services.

If you would like to join in this session please let the organisers know and more details, including the meeting invite, will be sent nearer the time.

Thursday, 29 June, 9.30am - 11am via MS Teams

The next "Money Management" session will be held on June 26th (10am - 1pm) in Hatfield.

Group Coordinator

• Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Full time).
• Salary: £24,000 – £25,000 FTE per annum incl. Outer London Weighting (OLW).
• Location: Countrywide

More information

HertsHelp Service and Development Manager 

• Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Full time). Flexibility will be required. Some evenings and/or weekends
  
  to meet the needs of the service
• Salary: £30 --£40,000 DOE
• Location: Hybrid - Office base will be in Stevenage. There will be some travel across Hertfordshire
  
  for meeting/event attendance.

More information

Head of Family Services

• Hours: 21 hours per week,
• Salary: Remuneration equivalent to NHS Band 8a (pro rata), dependent on experience, with a pension option. DBS checks are required, and candidates need to provide references
• Location: Watford and Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

More Information

Information & Advice Coordinators x 2

• Hours: Fulltime, 35 hours per week
• Salary: £25,594 per annum
• Location: Hybrid working - Head Office Hertford and remote working

More Information

Events & Fundraising Administrator 

• Hours: 22.5 hours per week
• Salary: £21,575 – £22,369 annual salary (pro rata £13,120 – £13,603)
• Location: Based at Stevenage Head Office

More Information

Business Support Officer

• Hours: 22.5 hours per week
• Salary: £21,575 – £22,369 annual salary (pro rata £13,120 – £13,603)
• Location: Based at Stevenage Head Office

More Information

Community Care Officer

• Hours: Full time, Part time, Flexible hours and weekend hours available
• Salary: £27,344 progressing £30,151
• Location: Hertfordshire

More Information