Register

Communities 1st

Communities 1st Conference for Charities, Groups and Volunteers 

The road ahead 2025: Powered by People, Fuelled by Purpose

A conference for charities, groups and volunteers 

Thursday, 26 June 2025 from 9.30am to 2pm

The Vineyard, Unit 7 Brick Knoll Park, Ashley Rd, St Albans AL1 5UG

9.30am Registration, Refreshments, Networking and 

chance to attend marketplace  

10am Welcome and Housekeeping  

Jason John, Chair, Communities 1st

 

10.10am The Road Travelled and the Path Ahead  

Stephen Craker, CEO, Communities 1st

 

10.25pm AGM 

Jason John, Chair, Communities 1st

 

10.45am Keynote session: Transforming Operations for a Sustainable Future

Tim Kidd, Scouts

 

11.20am Refreshments, Networking and chance to attend marketplace

 

11.40am Workshop 1

Workshop 1 – for Charities & Groups

Workshop 1 – for Volunteers

a)  Trends and Challenges in Charities Governance

Sue Pearlman, TP Consultants

a) Discovering Your Volunteer Journey

David Harrison, Volunteer and 

Julie Yorston, Assistant Manager, Volunteer Centre

b)  Achieving your fundraising goals in 2025/26

Helen Snowden, Funding Officer London South East and East, The National Lottery

b) Personal Skill Building for Effective Volunteering

Gez Dunne, Volunteer and 

Debbie Charles, Life Skills Tutor

c)  Building Partnerships for Sustainable Change

Duncan Lewis, Emmaus St Albans

c) Volunteering and the Power of Personal Stories

Ann Rogers, Volunteer and

Irina Pirtac, Volunteer

 

12.20pm – Break

 

12.30pm Workshop 2

 

Workshop 2 – for Charities & Groups

Workshop 2 – for Volunteers

a)  Storytelling as a Fundraising Tool

Emma Price, The Saltways

a) Volunteer Safety, Wellbeing & Self-Care

Chris Cloke, Communities 1st Trustee and Volunteer and Sarah Yexley,  Communities 1st Trustee and Volunteer

b)   Impact Measurement 101

Jyoti Bhojani, Policy Manager – Health and Wellbeing, Hertsmere Borough Council

b)Reflecting on Impact: Celebrating Your Contribution

Sue Pearlman, TP Consultants and 

Mike and Helen Venn, Volunteers

c)  How do you get the best out of AI and tech

Janinah Mckenzie Knowland, 

JMK & Co and Consultants for Good and Chloe Parker, Core Insights and Consultants for Good

c)Resilience & Overcoming Challenges

June Chapman, CEO Citizen’s Advice St Albans

 

1.10pm Lunch, Networking and chance to attend marketplace

 

2pm End

 

1:1 Funding Advice Surgery Sessions with the following funders: 

(20 mins bookable sessions from 11.20am to 2pm) 

  • Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCF) 
  • National Lottery
  • St Albans City & District Council
  • Wellfield Trust

 

 

1:1 Advice Surgeries

(20 mins bookable sessions from 11.20am to 2pm) 

  • Top Tips for Bid Writing
  • Successful Impact Reporting
  • Volunteer Recruitment and Management
  • Trustee Recruitment  (12.40pm – 2pm)
RoundtablestallsPresentation

Please book one workshop from each of the two sessions below.  Places on each workshop are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Please select one of the Workshop 1 options below.

Please select one of the Workshop 2 options below.

In addition to the workshops, you may choose up to three twenty minute one to one sessions.
Please choose your first, second and third choice from the list below and our team will contact you with details of your assigned session(s).
Please note, one to one session are allocated according to demand and it is likely that most delegates will be allocated one of their three choices.

 

Funding one to one sessions

B) St Albans City and District Council

C) The National Lottery

D) Groundworks

Other one to one timed sessions

A) Top Tips for Bid Writing

B) Successful Impact Reporting

C) Trustee Recruitment