Making a Difference Newsletter

With another sunny week ahead, we hope you are all enjoying the lovely weather spring has to offer.

Check out our upcoming events section below, where you can find out where Communities 1st will be over the next few months, and how you can take part!

We are particularly seeking volunteers to support us at the St Albans Spring Festival on Sunday 17 May. As an age‑friendly district, St Albans is committed to making the event welcoming and accessible for people of all ages and abilities. Volunteers will play a key role in helping everyone feel included and supported, ensuring visitors can fully enjoy the day. You can also enjoy the festivities whilst helping to make a difference in the community. If you would like to help, get in touch!

We’ve also got a range of training sessions and activities lined up for you. We hope there’s something that inspires you to get involved!

To find out more, please contact us by email at volunteering@communities1st.org.uk or give us a call on 01727649900.

All the best,

Stephen Craker
Chief Executive

Communities 1st Annual Conference

Save the date! Communities 1st Annual Conference for Volunteers and the Charity Sector - 9 July 2026

We are busy planning our annual conference for Volunteers, Local Charities and Community Groups, which will take place on Thursday, 9 July at Verso Vineyard Church in St Albans.

We look forward to welcoming volunteers and local voluntary and community groups for a day of informative talks, insightful workshops, and of course, plenty of networking opportunities. Please save the date in your diaries and share it with your fellow volunteers.

Watch out for further information in the coming weeks!

Volunteer with Communities 1st

Final Call for Volunteers - St Albans Spring Festival

St Albans Spring Festival is just around the corner on Sunday, 17 May, and Communities 1st will once again be supporting this fantastic event. We’ll be running the Quiet Zone tent and helping the festival team throughout the day to ensure that everyone gets to enjoy the day. We’d love a few of our amazing volunteers to join us.

How you can help:

Supporting accessible seating areas at the stages (with a great view of the performances!)
Welcoming and guiding members of the public
Sharing information and being a friendly face around the festival

Volunteer shifts:

12pm – 3pm
3pm – 6pm

If these times don’t quite work but you’re still keen to help, please do get in touch, we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

If you’ve been thinking about getting involved, now’s the moment.

Interested? We’d love to hear from you:

01727 649955
us@communities1st.org.uk

Thank you, as always, for your continued support

Training Assistant Volunteers

We are looking for Volunteer Training Assistants to support the delivery of our training courses across Hertfordshire.

This is a great opportunity to get involved in learning and development, build your confidence, and support others in a welcoming and supportive environment.

What you’ll be doing:

Welcoming attendees and helping create a positive first impression
Supporting with room set-up and course preparation
Assisting with enrolment and light administration
Handing out materials during sessions
Supporting the lead trainer to ensure sessions run smoothly

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and abilities, whether you’re looking to gain experience, meet new people, or give back to your community.

If you’re organised, friendly, and enjoy supporting others to learn, this could be the perfect role for you.

Sign up here

New Creative Café Session

Final opportunity! Writing for Wellbeing

Discover the joy of poetry and personal expression in a welcoming, relaxed setting.

There's one session left to explore the rhythm and meaning of words with writer Penny Black from the Royal Literary Fund. Through short, themed poems, you’ll be encouraged to share ideas, explore different viewpoints, and experiment with simple writing exercises designed to build confidence and creativity.

No previous reading or writing experience is needed, just bring yourself along. While each session connects to the last, you’re welcome to attend as many as you can.

When: Tuesday 5 May

Time: 10:30am to 12 noon

Where: Farriers Way Community Centre, Borehamwood, WD6 2TB

For more information, call 01727 649970 or email welcome@communities1st.org.uk

Sign up here

Training courses

Deaf Awareness and Basic BSL

Come and learn about effective ways to communicate with deaf people, as well as some basic sign language, at this deaf awareness online workshop. Participants will gain the confidence and basic skills to communicate with those who are living with deafness and hearing loss. It will enable them to understand deafness, signs that someone can’t hear you, body positions and communicating.

There will be time for questions and answers at the end.

This session is online on Zoom.

If you have any queries regarding this, please contact training@communities1st.org.uk.

More information

A New You Course

Looking to boost your confidence and build essential life skills? Join our fun and supportive four-day course on 6, 7, 13 and 14 May (10am to 3pm) at the Skills Hub in Hertford!

Open to all individuals who want to grow in confidence and strengthen their everyday skills, this interactive programme covers teamwork, assertiveness, stress awareness, and communication. Through relaxed activities and practical exercises, you’ll learn how to work well with others, express yourself clearly, manage stress, and feel more confident in different situations.

It’s a great chance to invest in yourself, meet others, and pick up skills you can use both in volunteering and everyday life.

If you have any queries regarding this, please contact training@communities1st.org.uk.

More information

Safeguarding Training

It is time to update your safeguarding training. Safeguarding training is there to protect you as a volunteer as well as the individuals you support.

The course can be accessed via our Moodle system, and an email will be sent to you in the coming weeks with further information.

If you have any queries regarding this, please contact training@communities1st.org.uk.

Mental Health Awareness Training

Join Hertfordshire Talking Therapies for any of the following free live and interactive webinars during the week to help improve your wellbeing.

These sessions will be running during Mental Health Awareness week from 11 May to 17 May 2026.

Monday Sessions

How to cope with stress - 10am

Improving body image - 3pm

Tuesday Sessions

Living well with a long-term condition - 10am

Dealing with depression - 5:30pm

Wednesday Sessions

Mental Health Awareness Training 10a,

Thursday Sessions

Bereavement: Living with grief and loss - 1pm

for more information and register

Volunteer with Youth Talk

Community Outreach Volunteer

Are you a people person? Do you enjoy meeting new people, supporting others and working as part of a small team to make a real difference?

The demand for Youth Talk's local counselling service has grown exponentially and they are looking for people to connect, represent and in some cases deliver presentations (community outreach team) to help raise awareness and funds to enable them to support more local young people.

Youth Talk is here to make sure young people in the St Albans District get the best possible mental health support. Their vision is that every young person can talk to someone, whatever is worrying them. By providing free, confidential counselling services delivered by qualified counsellors, they make sure everyone from 13-25 in the area can access this, whatever their background or circumstances.

Apply here

CareFest 2026

Support your body, mind and wellbeing - all in one place

This June, join Hertfordshire libraries at their annual CareFest and discover simple ways to feel better, move easier and live more comfortably.

They will be providing practical daily-living aids free of charge to those who need the, (like jar openers, sock aids, car support handles and long-handled brushes). To qualify, you'll just need to chat with a friendly occupational therapist, who will help you find what works best for you.

Take a look at the list of drop-in sessions below - no need to book anything.

Stevenage Library - Monday 1 June

North Watford Library - Tuesday 2 June

Borehamwood Library - Wednesday 3 June

Baldock Library - Monday 8 June

Cheshunt Library - Tuesday 9 June

Abbots Langley Library - Thursday 11 June

Ware Library - Monday 15 June

Visit the blog here to find out more!

Meaningful May 2026

Take a moment to be more active this May!

Take part in Meaningful May with Action for Happiness, a monthly calendar packed with uplifting daily ideas to help you focus on what really matters and feel good.

Each day brings a simple action you can try, from connecting more deeply with others and spreading kindness, to reflecting on what gives you purpose and joy. It is all about making small, positive choices that add more meaning to your everyday life and help you feel more connected, inspired and fulfilled throughout the month.