Fantastic Friday Update

With August just around the corner, let’s hope we’ll be able to enjoy a few more warm and sunny days before the summer is out. 

Following the death of Princess Diana on 31st August 1997, August was designated as National Road Victim Month, it also commemorates the first life lost due to a motor vehicle accident – Bridget Driscoll in 1896.

Visit the campaign website if you want to find out more about the work to create safer highways, or if you need support after loosing someone in a car incident. 

August is also Psoriasis Awareness Month. Psoriasis effects over 20,000 individuals every single year. Although some cases can be easily treated and rectified, some are unfortunately ignored because people are unaware of the warning signs, which can lead to more complications. Click here to find out more about this condition. 

Our Community Hub, at 5 Leeming Road, Borehamwood is still closed for repairs due to flood damage, but the good news is that we’ll be open for business again very soon!

Please note that support is still available! Alternative provision is available for anyone who needs to meet with us but in the meantime please do give us a call at 01727 649930 or write to us. We can’t wait to open our doors to you again in the very near future!

Stay safe and have a lovely weekend!

Nicola Oneill

Wellbeing Services Manager

If you or someone you know is in an 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.

Introduction to Air Frying

Have an Air fryer or considering buying one? Looking to cook cheaper and healthier? Come along to our cooking with an Air Fryer 3 hour session. Learn to cook with one, add new recipes and learn about the cost savings. Cooking tips will be provided on this free course along with a chance to taste food cooked in the air fryer.
Attending the course will also give you a chance of WINNING an air fryer. 

• Thursday August 10th, 10am - 1pm
• Aberford Park Community Centre, Borehamwood WD6 1PN

More Information

Creative Fun with Numbers

Come and join Communities1st staff for 3 hours of free summer fun with your child!.

Help them explore numeracy through a range of creative and physical activities. Make new friends and play with numbers!

Please note parents and guardians are required to participate with their child/children at this event.

• Tuesday August 15th, 10am - 1pm
• Wayside Jubilee Centre, Potters Bar EN6 5NE

More Information

Summertime Radlett 

Communities1st will be present with a stand at Summertime Radlett 2023. 

Look for us for a chat and for finding out more about our services 

• Monday 31st July (10.30am - 1.30pm)

More information

Survey on the quality and safety of local health services

Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) is keen to hear from our local community regarding the quality and safety of health and care services. They are looking to understand where you think health and social care services are doing well and where they can be improved, based on your recent experiences. 

To complete the survey click here 

The Hertfordshire Local Offer

The Local Offer lets parents and young people know what special educational needs and disabilities services are available in Hertfordshire, and who can access them.

More information 

The Summer Reading Challenge 2023

This year's challenge's them is "sports and games" and children are encouraged to read 6 library books over the summer holidays. This could include listening to an e-audiobook, reading independently or even parents or carers reading picture books to younger ones!

Here's how it works:

• Visit a local library to sign up for the challenge from Saturday 8 July
• Borrow 2 books with the participant's library card
• Read the 2 books, come back to the library and tell us something about them in exchange for some stickers and a reward
• Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all stickers and rewards are earned
• Receive a personalised certificate, medal and gift on completion.

Children who complete the challenge will be entered into a prize draw to win a ticket to a creative workshop with Loretta Schauer, official illustrator for Ready, Set, Read!

For more information

Cost of Living

The rising cost of living is affecting us all.

To make sure everyone knows what support is available, trusted sources of local and national information have been made available to help people manage their finances, make savings, and look after their own health and wellbeing.

All information can be accessed via Hertfordshire County Council’s ‘Cost of Living’ webpage.

Love Parks Week 2023 (28th July -6th August)

This annual campaign is made possible thanks to the players of People’s Postcode Lottery. It celebrates parks, green spaces, and the dedicated volunteers and workers that look after them all year round. 

Click here for events in Hertfordshire 

Free, anonymous mental health support for anyone
Talking can feel hard. Let’s make it easier.
If you or someone you know is feeling low or struggling to cope, sharing how you feel can help.
Togetherall is a free, anonymous online mental health community.
Anyone aged 16+ can join, to share what’s on their mind and get (or give) support from a real community of people who understand.
It is available 24/7 and monitored by professionals.

Help for School Holidays
Schools is out and the summer holidays are here until September. 

Communities1st have compiled a list of all available free and low-cost activities, meal deals and travel options for you. Enjoy your summer on a budget.

More information

Household support fund in Hertfordshire
To support with the cost of living, Hertfordshire has been provided with funding from the government’s Household Support Fund.
This will be used to help people in need with things like the cost of energy and food.
Applications should be made via the HertsHelp Welfare Assistance Scheme. 

More information

HAPpy camps back this summer

The free HAPpy activity camps are back for the summer holidays (24 July - 31 August).

The camps provide eligible children and young people with the chance to meet friends, learn new skills and enjoy nutritious food.

If you are eligible, you should get a booking code from your child’s school and reserve a place at a camp near you as soon as possible.

For more information

Creative Strategy Survey

Hertsmere Borough Council is working with Counterculture to develop a new Creative Strategy aimed at supporting the local arts and culture sector and creating new experiences for residents and visitors in Borehamwood, Bushey, Elstree, Radlett, Potters Bar, Shenley and the surrounding areas.

Information and views from people across the Borough are collected to gain a deeper insight into the current arts and culture landscape and how it could be enhanced in the future. Your feedback will help shape a local Creative Strategy.

Survey

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.

Alternatively, if you work for an organisation that needs volunteers, you will be able to search for volunteers with the skills and interests that match the roles you need to cover. 

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

Men That Meet 

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

Free summer sporting activities - Moatfield Park, Bushey
FREE summer activities have been planned for Moatfield Park in Bushey across the summer holidays for young people aged 11 – 17 years. Booking in advance is not required as all sessions are drop-in. Activities will be delivered by Watford FC and Sporting Inspirations and supported by Hertfordshire County Council's Services for Young People and will include Football, Tennis, Dodgeball and Rounders! The activities will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Full times and dates are included in the flyer below.

Administrator - Complex Needs & Community Service  

• Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Full time).
• Salary: £21,500 – £22,500 
• Location: Hemel Wellbeing Centre (can be negotiated to another Wellbeing Centre)

More information

Senior Crisis - Outreach Worker - Daylight 

• Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Full time).
• Salary:  £25,000 – £26,500
• Location:  Hemel Hempstead Crisis House

More information

Receptionist/Duty Supervisor

• Hours: 40 hours per week - Permanent
• Salary: £25,250 
• Location: Meriden Community Centre

More Information

Community Coach – School Sport Team

• Hours: 35 hours per week - until 31/08/2024
• Salary: £19,110 
• Location: Watford FC Training Ground / Vicarage Road / Trust Community Facilities / remote working due to nature of the role

More Information

Office Coordinator

• Hours: A part-time role of 25 hours per week over 5 days
• Salary: £19,500 pa 
• Location: Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore.

More information

Fleet Coordinator

• Hours: A part-time role of 20 hours per week over 4 days
• Salary: £15,600 pa 
• Location: the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore. 

More information

Business Support Officer

• Hours: 30 hours
• Salary: £12.06 / hour
• Location: Ver House, Park Estate, Frogmore, AL2 2WH

More information

Information and Advice Coordinators

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

More information