Fantastic Friday Update

We are leaving behind a month, October, that has offered us some interesting food for thought regarding issues that affect our community and we are welcoming a new month with new campaigns equally important.

Every year, International Stress Awareness Week (30th October - 3rd November) raises awareness for stress-related mental health issues, including the stigma preventing people’s recovery, the physical and mental impact of stress, as well as what we must all do to safeguard our wellbeing.

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Lung Cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the UK. It's also difficult to spot the symptoms early on, so it's important to know what to look out for and how you can reduce your risk. Find out more about signs and symptoms, where you can find information and support, and how you can make a difference this Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

This weekend (Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th October) Communities1st will be attending Black History Month Pop-Up Market  at The Galleria Hatfield, come to say HI!

You can also find us on Thursday 2nd November at the "Free Safety Information, Help and Advice for 60+ " at the Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue (10am -1pm). Come to see us and find out where to find free information and help available to you. Details can be found in the newsletter. 

More and more people are celebrating Halloween and, unfortunately, this event might offer some risks so we would like to remind you the information on how to stay safe at Halloween.

Have a lovely weekend! 

Nicola Oneill

Wellbeing Services Manager

If you or someone you know is in at-risk group or is isolated, 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.

Any Hertfordshire resident aged 19 and over is welcome to attend this course. Participants are eligible for the draw to win an air fryer if they have obtained a D grade or below in their Maths GCSE (or equivalent), or are in receipt of any benefits.

- IN PERSON COURSE - Potters Bar

2nd November 2023, 10am -1pm
Elm Court Youth and Community Centre, 363 Mutton lane, Potters Bar, EN6 3BP

More Information 

Help Your Child Love Numbers 

Learn how to improve your child's confidence in numbers by incorporating activities and awareness in everyday tasks.

The best way to improve confidence in numbers is by doing tasks where children are focused on something they enjoy and numbers are part of an activity. This in turn will improve your confidence as a parent to continue to help your child develop this important life skill.

This course is free and  funded by Multiply, a nation wide project to help adults improve their numeracy skills.  Please note this is an in-person course

- IN PERSON COURSE - Borehamwood 
31st October 2023, 9.30am - 12pm
Borehamwood Library, 96 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, WD6 1EB
Register here

Herts libraries slipper swap 2023

We all get less steady on our feet as we get older, and it's easy to take steps to prevent a slip or a trip.
Hertfordshire County Council has some great advice and helpful services, including a slipper swap to make sure we all keep a good grip on our floors at home. Bin your old slippers and come along to one of our events to pick up a new non-slip pair.

Slipper Swaps 2023 will be held at the following libraries:

• Stevenage Library - Monday 30 October
• Hatfield Library - Wednesday 15 November
• Hoddesdon Library - Wednesday 29 November
• Hemel Hempstead Library - Thursday 7 December

All events run 10am – 1pm

More information

You are invited to our festive, holiday catch up!
Communities 1st is happy to share the dates of this year’s upcoming Christmas events for December 2023 and we can’t wait to see you there! 
Volunteers, clients and members of staff are all welcome, so we hope to see you as we share a festive hot chocolate and a chat together.
It is a small gesture to say thank you for all the help and support received this year and we hope you can make it! 
If you are interested in coming along, please feel free to put the following dates in your calendar and keep an eye out for more details on the locations and times in our upcoming newsletters and on our website.

- Tuesday, 5th December 2023 - Hertsmere.

- Wednesday, 6th December 2023 - Broxbourne. 

- Thursday, 7th December 2023 - St Albans.

How has the rising cost of living affected your access to food?

We are inviting one adult from every household in Hertfordshire to complete a 15-minute anonymous survey to help us understand how your access to food is being affected by the rising cost of living (for financial or other reasons).

The results will help us understand how we can best support residents.

Please do take the time to complete the survey and share this newsletter with your friends and family so that everyone has the chance to have their say.

More information

Free Safety Information, Help and Advice for 60+

Do you know where to find FREE information and help available to you?
Come along to an OPALS event (Older Person's Activity Learning and Safety) in Elstree and Borehamwood Synagogue to find out!

With a range of services and FREE kosher lunch provided, it is not one to be missed.

Thursday 2nd November, 10am -1pm

Borehamwood & Elstree Synagogue

For more information

Cost of Living Webinar

Hertfordshire County Council has organised two webinars on supporting Hertfordshire residents with the cost of living.

Whether you interact with the public in your day job or as a volunteer, we understand how important it is that you can direct residents to trusted sources of help and advice in Hertfordshire when needed. 

You can choose one of the following dates:

- Supporting with the Cost of Living event 

  Wednesday 1st November, 11am-12pm 

- Supporting with the Cost of Living event

  Tuesday 7th November, 2pm - 3pm. (A British Sign

  language interpreter will be present at this event).

This webinar will help you identify when a resident may need support, be able to signpost them to a trusted source of advice, and know when and how to refer someone who may need more in-depth support from one of our specialist services in the County. 

Register for the St Albans Business Summit

Local businesses and other organisations can register for the Free annual St Albans Business Summit. 
This is a fantastic networking opportunity as well as a chance to hear about major topics such as local economic data and sustainability. 
There will be a number of presentations as well as break-out sessions on issues such as recruiting and retaining top talent. 
Everyone with an interest in local business is welcome to register for the event.

Wednesday 15th November, 5.30pm - 7.30pm

Oaklands College, St Albans Campus. 

To register

Every year, over 100,000 people are diagnosed with stroke in the UK. World Stroke Day 2023 takes place on Sunday 29 October and local health partners are using the day to raise awareness of how some simple lifestyle changes can be made in order to reduce personal risk.

Mental Healthcare Outreach Worker 

• Hours: Full time (37.5 hours) per week (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm)
• Salary:  £24,000 – £25,000 per annum incl. Outer London Weighting (OLW). In addition, this role will have a yearly staff retention bonus of up to £2106. This payment is allocated at the discretion of HMN.
• Location: Borehamwood Wellbeing Centre or Hemel Wellbeing Centre

More information

Peer Support Worker

• Hours: 37.5 per week and will consider Full/Part time
• Salary: £21,500 – £22,500 Pro rata based on FTE
• Location: To work within East, North and West Hertfordshire, depending on client need and waiting lists

More information

Children's Information and Advice Officer

• Hours: 37 hours per week
• Salary:: £23,620 with the opportunity to progress to £26,845
• Location: Stevenage 

More information

Information and Advice Support Assistant

• Hours: Full-time 35 hours
• Salary: £21,600 per annum
• Location: Hybrid, remote and Head Office

More information

Marketing and Communications Assistant

• Hours: Full time (working 37 hours per week)
• Salary: UH5 £27,181 pa with potential to progress to £30,487.00 pa by annual increments on
  achieving designated skills and experience.
  Annual Leave: 25 days (pro rata) plus stand
• Location: : De Havilland Campus, Hatfield

More information