Fantastic Friday Update

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August has arrived and with it we hope that some warmer and sunnier spells will soon offer some relief from the recent rainy days.

"National Allotments Week" marks its 21st birthday this year! The campaign runs from 7th-13th August and the theme this year is "Soil Health". If you are curious to know how to nurture a thriving allotment, you can find some advice here.

Next week you can visit us at an event! On Monday 7th August, Communities1st will be holding a stand at Summertime Radlett (10.30 am - 1.30 pm). Do come to say hi to our friendly team and find out more about our services!

We are very happy to announce that we are very close to reopening our Community Hub, at 5 Leeming Road, Borehamwood following flood damage earlier this year.

In the meantime, support is still available! Alternative provision is at hand 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

COMMUNITIES 1ST INFORMATION AND SUPPORT

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.

HEALTHY HUBS

Come and visit us at one of our Hubs this week :

MONDAY 7th AUGUST :

Creative Cafe Windsor Hall - (10.30 am - 12.30 pm),
Computers and a cuppa, Wylyotts Centers, Potters Bar - (10.30 am - 12.30 pm)

TUESDAY 8th AUGUST:

Creative Community Café at Phillimore Place, Radlett (12 pm - 4 pm)

WEDNESDAY 9th AUGUST:

Creative Community Café at Aberford Community Centre (1 pm - 4 pm),
Aberford Bowling Green is available from 1 pm -3 pm

THURSDAY 10th AUGUST:

Bushey Library - (10 am - 12 pm),
Introduction to Air Frying at Aberford Community Centre - (10 am -1 pm)

FRIDAY 11th AUGUST:

Creative Community Café at Organ Hall, Borehamwood (10 am -2 pm)

INFORMATION TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS

Introduction to Air Frying

Have an Air fryer or considering buying one? Looking to cook cheaper and healthier meals? Come along to our 3-hour cooking with an Air Fryer session. Learn to cook with one, add new recipes to your weekly menu and learn about the cost savings. Cooking tips will be provided at 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. (Eligibility criteria apply)

Thursday August 10th, (10 am - 1 pm)

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, (10 am - 1 pm)
Wayside Jubilee Centre, Potters Bar EN6 5NE

More Information

Help your child learn proper oral hygiene

With the recent government reports about the shortage of dentists, now more than ever we need to teach our children proper oral hygiene to prevent cavities, toothache and infections. This short film about 'Elliot' from our Family Centre Service might help you to encourage your child to brush their teeth, or you can borrow a book like ‘Lets Brush our Teeth’ from your local library.

More information

Hertfordshire County Council Residents' Survey 2023

Hertfordshire County Council would like to hear what you think about them and how they communicate with you. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. It closes on 15 September:

To complete the survey click here

The Hertfordshire Local Offer

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

More information

Be aware of Oak Processionary Moth

Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) is a non-native pest found in oak trees and is now present throughout Hertfordshire. The hairs from the caterpillars can cause serious skin irritation and less frequently eye and throat irritations, whilst the moths themselves are short-lived and pose no harm.

Find out what to do if you come across a nest.

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 well-being.

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

Graffiti Art Workshop

Join the artist Ant Steel, who will be running this free drop-in graffiti workshop in the South Churchyard.

Learn how to create art with spray paint and add your creativity to a collaborative piece on a custom wall.

Saturday 12th August, 11.30 am - 1.30 pm
More information

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

Communities1st has 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 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

Let’s Give

Communities 1st has launched a new service for volunteers. You can 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 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 recruit.

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 helped to establish a new social group in Borehamwood where men can meet other men and connect over good conversation, games etc.

Tuesday 1.30 pm - 4 pm
Windsor Hall (WD6 4EE)

For more information

Take a photograph of your dog (at work, in your home office, or just out and about). Upload it to Twitter (X), Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #C1stDogs . Follow Communities 1st and engage with other entries via the hashtag.

If you are interested please contact us at:

Email: travel@communities1st.org.uk
Tel: 01727 649980

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.