Let's Give Volunteering Newsletter

Spring is in full swing, and so is the spirit of giving! Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen a steady increase of new faces joining our Let’s Give community and stepping up to make a difference. It’s heartening to witness this growing momentum and the eagerness of individuals who want to use their time and skills for good.

Thank you for continuing to embrace the mission of Let’s Give—together, we’re building a stronger, more compassionate community, one volunteer effort at a time.

As in previous years, Communities 1st will be attending some of the big street festivals organised in St Albans and we will be looking for volunteers to help out at these events. The first event is the St Albans Spring Festival, which will take place in St Albans on Sunday, 18 May from 11pm to 5pm, find more details below.

Julie Yorston
Assistant Manager Volunteer Centre

Spotlight

Trustee with Youth Talk

Are you a legal professional passionate about making a real difference?

Youth Talk is looking for a Trustee with legal expertise to help steer their growing charity through its next exciting chapter.

By volunteering with their committed Board, you’ll help shape the future of a service that is truly life-changing for young people across St Albans and District. If you’re ready to put your skills to powerful use, are passionate about giving back and want to be part of something really special and inspiring, then apply using the button below!

Apply here

Fundraising Volunteer with Citizens Advice Hertsmere

Citizens Advice Hertsmere is an independent charity specialising in providing confidential information and advice to assist local people with benefits, debt, consumer, housing and other problems. The aims of the service are to provide the advice people need for the problems they face, and to improve the policies and principles that affect people's lives. Citizens Advice Hertsmere is shortly to launch a new initiative aiming to create a new revenue stream sourced from businesses located in the Hertsmere community that they support, and they are seeking two volunteer fundraisers to spearhead the project.

Apply here

Bookshop Volunteer with Free Books Hatfield

Are you reliable, friendly, and like books?

Free Books Hatfield would love to hear from you!

There is an opportunity to join an independent book rehoming charity that aims to promote reading and prevent books from going to landfill by giving out free books. Volunteers help sort and categorise books, fill shelves, and answer any questions from our customers. Full training will be given by a senior volunteer or one of the trustees during the trial shift as well as in subsequent shifts after joining the team.

Apply here

Short-term and Micro volunteering roles

Health Walk Leaders for Hertfordshire Health Walks

The Countryside Management Service would like to recruit more volunteers to support existing Hertfordshire Health Walks and set up new, shorter walks for people who are not currently active or are returning to activity after an injury or illness. Join their team of more than 200 volunteers who help others become healthier and happier by walking together outdoors. No experience is necessary. You can lead walks or provide support from the back. Volunteer once a week or once a month - it is up to you! Training is free and nationally accredited.

Apply here

Longer term volunteering roles

Sight Life Assistance with Herts Vision Loss

Herts Vision Loss is a local charity providing a wide range of support and services to visually impaired people, their families and carers in Herts. They are looking for volunteers to help with running the charity’s informal working- age group which meets to chat, have fun, go on outings and trips and generally help to alleviate social isolation.

Apply here

Audio Programme Producer with St Albans & District Talking Newspaper

St Albans & District Talking Newspaper creates an audio programme designed for those in the St Albans & District whose visual impairment puts them at risk of being excluded from what is happening around their local community. They are seeking an additional producer to provide backup or to job-share with existing producers. The task is to follow a programme template creatively, drawing on an established team of readers and guests to record, create and deliver an audio programme that is of value to their listeners. They are looking for someone who has either relevant experience or a creative instinct or a love of radio.

Apply here

Volunteer befrienders, ESOL teachers and team members with Herts Welcomes Refugees

Herts Welcomes Refugees (HWR) is looking for volunteers to become befrienders, to serve as ESOL teachers or to join the team. These volunteers would continue the work HWR does to support refugees and asylum seekers who have come to Hertfordshire.

As a Befriender you would be supporting a family or individual as they settle in to their new community.
As an ESOL teacher you would be providing structured ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) support to individuals or small groups. This can be face to face or online.
As a team member, you would be volunteering at asylum seeker hotels, providing support with a range of activities, such as helping with events, classes, outings etc.

Apply here

Let volunteering roles come to you!

Let volunteering opportunities find you by creating your own personal profile on Communities 1st's Let’s Give website! If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, showcase your skills and experience, including relevant qualifications and interests and your availability and we do the rest - selling your skills and experience to organisations searching for volunteers!

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 are interested in you volunteering with them.

Join Let's Give and start making an impact today!

Sign up for Let's Give here

Events

Can you help out at the St Albans Spring Festival on 18 May?

The St Albans Spring Festival is a new event this year, celebrating, wellbeing, community spirit, food and sustainability with activities and entertainment for everyone.

Communities 1st will be looking after the Quiet Zone tent, located between the Civic Centre and the Alban Arena.

The tent will provide a space for anyone who feels overwhelmed or needs a break from the activities and crowds.

We are looking for at least six volunteers to help us with the following tasks:

Help at the stages: There will be musical stage where volunteers will ensure that people with disabilities have suitable seating to enjoy the shows. You will also get to enjoy hearing the bands play while you do it!
Wayfinding - Provide support to the public by walking around and offering information to attendees. Maps and information will be supplied to you
Help in the tent - Providing additional capacity and supporting the Communities 1st staff in the Quiet Zone tent to ensure that people are looked after

There are going to be two shifts: 11am - 2pm (start time of 10.45am to enable briefing) and 2pm-5pm (start time of 1.45pm to enable briefing)

If you would like to help, let us know which shift works for you. If your availability differs from the shifts mentioned but you would still like to volunteer, please reach out to us anyway.

Broxbourne Volunteers Fair

Communities 1st has partnered with Broxbourne Alliance PCN and Broxbourne Borough Council to host the a volunteer fair in Cheshunt. If you are interested in volunteering come along to find out what opportunities are available.

There will be local community groups and charities there so you will also be able to find out what support and services are available to you!

Date: Wednesday 21 May 2025
Time: 9.30am - 12.30pm

Save the date: Communities 1st Annual Conference for the VCFSE Sector

The Road Ahead: 2025
Powered by People, Fuelled by Purpose

We are delighted to invite you to our Annual Conference taking place on Thursday, 26 June in St Albans. This event is set to be an exciting and motivational day, featuring insightful workshops, expert speakers, and plenty of chances to network.

The programme will be packed with a variety of workshops and speakers specifically tailored to be useful to organisations and also to volunteers, focusing on topics such as partnership building, fundraising, sustainability, impact measurement and more!

More details are to follow very soon, but in the meantime, make sure you save the date!

Communities 1st Volunteering roles

Community Supermarket Volunteer with Community Help Hertfordshire

Are you passionate about helping others and having a positive impact in your community? The Hertfordshire Community Supermarket, delivered by Community Help Hertfordshire (CHH), is a project that requires the support from dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who are looking to give back to the community.

What will you be doing?

Some of the duties for the community supermarket will include:

Greeting and assisting customers, including vulnerable individuals
Helping to stock and organise products
Assisting with check out and handling transactions
Ensuring good hygiene standards are kept
Engaging with the community and raising awareness

Apply here

Gardening Volunteer with Communities 1st

For many of us, the garden is a place that we can escape to for relaxation and to enjoy the warm and sunny days.

We receive lots of calls from people in the local community who are desperate to enjoy their garden, but need help with some maintenance before they can.

If you have knowledge and experience or even just a passion and love for gardening, you can register as a gardening volunteer.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer gardener with Communities 1st please apply below.

Apply here