Fantastic Friday Update

With summer well underway, we encourage everyone to make the most of the good weather while taking care. Let's also send our best wishes to the incredible athletes representing Great Britain at the Paris Olympics.   

The past week marked the beginning of our new exciting gardening event series - Grow Your Own Sunshine. You are invited to join us for some gardening fun in Borehamwood. Find out below how to sign up.

The upcoming 12th of August is International Youth Day. This year we will celebrate the power of youth and digital innovation under the theme "From Clicks to progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development".

Next week is the Afternoon Tea Week 2024, where we celebrate the great British tradition of Afternoon Tea. If you fancy a cup of tea over some refreshment while chatting about your hobbies, you are always welcomed to come along to one of our Creative Community Cafes. 

Also, come to say hi to us at the Hatfield Community Fair on Tuesday 13 August, 11am - 3pm at White Lion Square, Hatfield Town Centre. There will be many free and interesting activities waiting for you.

Enjoy your weekend!

Nicola O' Neill
Wellbeing Services Manager

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

• Monday 12 August: Better Days Hub at Wyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar (10am - 3pm), Computers and a Cuppa at the Radlett Centre  (10:30am - 12:30pm), Creative Community Café at Windsor Hall (10.30am - 12:30pm), Borehamwood Foodbank (12:30pm-3pm)
• Tuesday 13 August: Better Days Hub at the Hive in Hatfield, Wyllyotts Theatre in Potters Bar and Cottonmill Centre in St Albans (10am - 12pm), Men That Meet, Windsor Hall (1:30pm - 4 pm)
• Wednesday 14 August: Better Days Hub at Cotslandwick Leisure Centre in St Albans (10am - 12pm)
• Thursday 15 August: Book Swap Shop and Family Gardening Fun at Farriers Way Centre in Borehamwood (10am - 2pm) and Better Days Hub at Bushey Library and Welwyn Garden city Central Library
• Friday 16 August: Better Days Hub at Community Hub, 96 Shenley Road in Borehamwood (10:30am - 12:30pm)

Come and join us for fun with your child!

Help them to explore numeracy through a range of creative and physical activities.

Make new friends and play with numbers!

Drinks and light refreshments will be provided.

Phone: 01727 649960

Email: training@communities1st.org.uk

• 22 August, 2024 10am - 1pm
• Aberford Community Centre, Aberford Road
  Borehamwood, WD6 1PN
• 27 August, 2024 10am - 1pm
• Elm Court Youth and Community Centre, 363 Mutton lane, Potters Bar, EN6 3BP
• 29 August , 2024 10am - 1pm Bushey Library, Sparrows Herne, Bushey, WD23 1FA

More dates available in September.

The Hatfield Community fair is a free community outreach event, with local charities and organisations and it is returning for it's third year.

At the fair, you will have the opportunity to connect with local businesses, organisations, charities and more. Plus there will be FREE activities such as a climbing wall, face painting, BMX pump track and entertainment from the Electric Umbrella.

No need to book, just show up!

Communities 1st will be attending it, why don't you come to say hi? 

Tuesday 13 August, 11am - 3pm 

White Lion Square, Hatfield Town Centre (AL10 0JJ)

Throughout the summer holidays, our Community Centre in Farriers Way is getting busier and busier.

Every Thursday fun activities will take place in the garden and these will include: planting, plant pot decorating, growing your own veg and more.  

On the same day a book swap activity will also take place. Why don't you bring your old books and swap them for ones you haven't read yet? There will be a stand set up in or outside Farriers Way. You can also pop in for free refreshments whilst you select your books!

Both activities, every Thursday - 10am - 2pm

Farriers Way Community Centre, 27 Farriers Way
Borehamwood, WD6 2TB

Contacts: 01727 649980

welcome@communities1st.org.uk

HAPpy Camps under Hertfordshire’s Holiday Activity and Food Programme are still running throughout the Summer. Sign up for your child so they can enjoy fun experiences, including physical activity, enrichment, a healthy meal and snacks.

These camps are all FREE, for children aged 4-16 (reception to year 11) who are registered to receive benefits-related free school meals. Please contact your child's school or email HAF@herts.ac.uk for a booking code.

The Summer Reading Challenge 2024

The Summer Reading Challenge is a free holiday activity for children.

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is all about creativity. From dance to drawing, junk modelling to music, there's something for everyone. Children will be able to find new reads linked to their favourite creative arts and access free activities at the library.

Children can take part either at the library or online. The in-person and online challenges are separate.

If you are a Hertfordshire resident over the age of 40 who do not have a diagnosis of hypertension,  Healthwatch Hertfordshire is inviting you to attend focus groups to share your thoughts on having blood pressure monitoring available in dental practices and opticians. The focus groups will run on 13 or 15 August between 6pm and 8pm. Attendees will receive a £10 voucher for contributing to the research.

Healthwatch Hertfordshire would like to explore the views and experiences of Hertfordshire Residents regarding the use of online GP services and bookings. Participate in the survey and help make a difference to health and social care.

Would you feel confident enough to act in an emergency? Practice live-saving skills with the help of Hertfordshire Fire Service. Free CPR Awareness sessions are being run by fire crews at Borehamwood and Elstree Fire Station and the Hertsmere Community Safety Partnership.

At the sessions, participants will learn about the recovery position, how to deal with an unconscious person who isn't breathing, CPR and how to use a defibrillator.

The sessions will take place at Borehamwood Fire Station on these following dates:

• Tuesday 20 August, 7pm to 8pm
• Friday 20 September, 2pm to 3pm

For more information and to book your place:

Email: community.services@hertsmere.gov.uk

Call: 020 8207 7801.

Para Dance UK aims to develop and promote dance as an inclusive leisure activity across the country for those who would otherwise be excluded. Para Dance UK offers and runs courses online for people who want to provide their own inclusive dance classes.

For instructors, a limited number of fully funded courses (worth £650) are available to those who live or work in Hertfordshire. (A deposit is required)

For dancers, sessions will resume in September. Available classes are:

• Adult Dance Club - all adults are welcome on Mondays from 10am.
• Primary After School Dance Club - for primary school-aged children on Wednesdays from 4:15pm.
• Through the Decades Dance Club - suitable for care homes and older people on Wednesdays from 11am.
• Youth Dance Club - for young people aged up to 25 years on Wednesdays from 5pm. 

• Hours: 30 hours per week
• Salary: £36,100 - £43,470 per annum (pro rata)
• Location: Grove House, St Albans

• Hours: 30 - 37 hours per week
• Salary: £30,385 p.a. pro-rata
• Location: Ver House, Frogmore, St Albans AL2 2WH

• Hours: 37.5 hours per week  
• Salary: £25,000 – £26,000 per annum 
• Location: Working from Watford, Stevenage, Hatfield and Ware – Base to be negotiated based on home location