Fantastic Friday Update

The end of July is approaching, but we still have some great events coming up before the month is out.
Beginning with something for nature enthusiasts, from Saturday 22nd July until the 6th of August, the spotlight is on "National Marine Fortnight". This year the focus is on unsung heroes of the marine world. There are species you might not have known we get in the UK, some you might not have ever heard of before. You can find more about these enigmatic creatures here

 

Samaritans The Big Listen 2023 will be celebrated on Monday 24th. Every July, Samaritan branches across the UK and Ireland hold local events to talk about the services they offer in their communities. Their "Talk To Us" campaign is one of the ways they raise awareness that they are always there for anyone who needs someone to listen.

 

International Self-Care Day is a worldwide event observed on the 24th of July each year, signifying the need to practise self-care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It marks the final day of international self-care month (24th of June-24th of July). Click here to find out more about the campaign.

 

National Schizophrenia Awareness Day takes place every year on July 25th. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about schizophrenia, a chronic mental health condition which can affect anyone indiscriminately. 

 

Our Community Hub, at 5 Leeming Road, Borehamwood is still closed for repairs due to flood damage, but the good news is that we’ll be open for business again very soon!

Please note that support is still available! Alternative provision is available for anyone who needs to meet with us but in the meantime please do give us a call at 01727 649930 or write to us. We can’t wait to open our doors to you again in the very near future!

 

Stay safe and have a lovely weekend!

 

Nicola Oneill

Wellbeing Services Manager

COMMUNITIES 1ST INFORMATION AND SUPPORT 

If you or someone you know is in at-risk group or having to isolate, 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.

HEALTHY HUBS

 

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

MONDAY 24th JULY        : Creative Cafe Windsor Hall (10.30am - 12.30pm), Money Management session at Hatfield Hub (10am - 1pm)  

TUESDAY 25th JULY:      : Creative Community Café at Phillimore Place, Radlett (12pm - 4pm), Creative Fun with Numbers at Organ Hall, Borehamwood (12.30pm - 3.30pm).

THURSDAY 27th JULY    : Bushey Library (10am - 12pm), ), Drop-in Session on Domestic Abuse with ASAHWR Outreach at Windsor Hall, Borehamwood (10am - 12pm) - every other week

FRIDAY 28th JULY          : Bushey Foodbank (10am - 12pm)

 INFORMATION TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS

Money Management 

Managing personal finances and making decisions about money are an important part of everyday life.
In this session you will understand how to budget and keep track of your spending and gain an overview on how finance is designed whilst improving your numeracy skills.
This course is funded by Multiply a nation wide project to help adults improve their numeracy skills.  Please note this is an in-person course. 

 

Monday July 24th, 10am - 1pm

Hatfield Hub, 56 Town Centre AL10 0JT

 

More Information

Creative Fun with Numbers

Come and join Communities1st staff for 3 hours of free summer fun with your child!.

Help them explore numeracy through a range of creative and physical activities. Make new friends and play with numbers!

Please note parents and guardians are required to participate with their child/children at this event.

 

Tuesday July 25th, 12.30pm - 3.30pm

Organ Hall, 37 Bairstow Close - Borehamwood, WD6 4TB

 

More Information

The Summer Reading Challenge 2023

This year's challenge's them is "sports and games" and children are encouraged to read 6 library books over the summer holidays. This could include listening to an e-audiobook, reading independently or even parents or carers reading picture books to younger ones!

Here's how it works:

- Visit a local library to sign up for the challenge from Saturday 8 July
- Borrow 2 books with the participant's library card
- Read the 2 books, come back to the library and tell us something about them in exchange for some stickers and a reward
- Repeat steps 2 and 3 until all stickers and rewards are earned
- Receive a personalised certificate, medal and gift on completion.

Children who complete the challenge will be entered into a prize draw to win a ticket to a creative workshop with Loretta Schauer, official illustrator for Ready, Set, Read!

For more information

Love Parks Week 2023

This annual campaign - made possible thanks to the players of People’s Postcode Lottery - celebrates parks, green spaces, and the dedicated volunteers and workers that look after them all year round. 

 

Click here for events in Hertfordshire 

CBA Festival of Archaeology

This the UK's biggest annual celebration of archaeology. 

The Festival incorporates hundreds of in-person and virtual events delivered by community groups, heritage organisations, universities, commercial units, and more in-person and online across the UK.

15th - 30th July 2023

More information

Martyn's Law update
As highlighted previously, the government are introducing new requirements for public venues in response to terrorist attacks. More details have been released, along with forms that can be found on their website.
Reading the drafts, trying to understand all requirements and looking for practical solutions may seem daunting. To help  make sense of this we have been working closely with the Principal Emergency Planning and Community Safety Officer at St Albans and District Council and invited him to speak at our next Stronger Together Network for Community Spaces in September.

This meeting will help everyone to understand legal the requirements of Martyn's Law and help with planning. More details and links to register will follow in the next newsletter.

We strongly encourage all venue hirers and owners of venues with a capacity of over 100 people to attend this briefing.

 

More Information

Free, anonymous mental health support for anyone
Talking can feel hard. Let’s make it easier.
If you or someone you know is feeling low or struggling to cope, sharing how you feel can help.
Togetherall is a free, anonymous online mental health community.
Anyone aged 16+ can join, to share what’s on their mind and get (or give) support from a real community of people who understand.
It is available 24/7 and monitored by professionals.

Help for School Holidays
For many schools, summer holidays in Hertfordshire starts today Friday 21st July and end in September. 

Communities1st have compiled a list of all available low-cost meal deals and travel options for you.

More information

Household support fund in Hertfordshire
To support with the cost of living, Hertfordshire has been provided with funding from the government’s Household Support Fund.
This will be used to help people in need with things like the cost of energy and food.
Applications should be made via the HertsHelp Welfare Assistance Scheme. 

More information

HAPpy camps back this summer

The free HAPpy activity camps are back for the summer holidays (24 July - 31 August).

The camps provide eligible children and young people with the chance to meet friends, learn new skills and enjoy nutritious food.

If you are eligible, you should get a booking code from your child’s school and reserve a place at a camp near you as soon as possible.

 

For more information

Creative Strategy Survey

Hertsmere Borough Council is working with Counterculture to develop a new Creative Strategy aimed at supporting the local arts and culture sector and creating new experiences for residents and visitors in Borehamwood, Bushey, Elstree, Radlett, Potters Bar, Shenley and the surrounding areas.

Information and views from people across the Borough are collected to gain a deeper insight into the current arts and culture landscape and how it could be enhanced in the future. Your feedback will help shape a local Creative Strategy.

Survey

Let’s Give

Communities 1st is launching a new service for volunteers. You will be able to create your own space on our website so that organisations can find out about you and reach out about their volunteering roles. 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 have reached out to you. It’s a great way to showcase your skills and experience to local community groups and can help match you with a role where you can make a real difference.

Alternatively, if you work for an organisation that needs volunteers, you will be able to search for volunteers with the skills and interests that match the roles you need to cover. 

For more information contact us by email or call 01727 649953.      

Men That Meet 

It is thought that 1 in 8 men have a common mental health problem such as depression or anxiety, and social media can often play a part in making these feelings worse. 

Communities 1st has supported the organisation of a new social group in Borehamwood where men can meet other men and connect over good conversation, games etc. 

 

Tuesday 1.30pm - 4pm

Windsor Hall (WD6 4EE)

For more information

Cyber & Fraud Aware?

All day drop-in with cyber & fraud crime prevention experts to answer your questions.

Password & 2-step verification; Phishing and social engineering and Phone, email, text scams and other top tips.

Talks will happen at: 

  • 11 am -12pm - Victim Support - VST/Fraud Hub & Hertfordshire Beacon Victim Care
  • 12.30pm -2pm - Cyber Crime Awareness - Police
  • 2.30pm -3.30pm - Scam Aware - Trading Standards

More information

 

 

Free summer sporting activities - Moatfield Park, Bushey
FREE summer activities have been planned for Moatfield Park in Bushey across the summer holidays for young people aged 11 – 17 years. Booking in advance is not required as all sessions are drop-in. Activities will be delivered by Watford FC and Sporting Inspirations and supported by Hertfordshire County Council's Services for Young People and will include Football, Tennis, Dodgeball and Rounders! The activities will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Full times and dates are included in the flyer below.

SOCIAL MEDIA 

 

If you want to find out more about our huge array of projects and activities, you can follow our posts on our social media accounts:

Twitter - Facebook - Instagram - LinkedIn - YouTube

VACANCIES

 

 

Community Support Worker  

  • Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Full time).
  • Salary: £23,500 – £24,500 
  • Location: Watford / Hemel / Borehamwood Wellbeing Centre (Depending on applicant’s home location)

More information

Mental Health Outreach Worker  

  • Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Full time).
  • Salary:  £23,500 – £24,500
  • Location:  Watford & Three Rivers. Main base will be Watford Wellbeing Centre.

More information

 

 

Receptionist/Duty Supervisor

  • Hours: 40 hours per week - Permanent
  • Salary: £25,250 
  • Location: Meriden Community Centre

More Information

Community Coach – School Sport Team

  • Hours: 35 hours per week - until 31/08/2024
  • Salary: £19,110 
  • Location: Watford FC Training Ground / Vicarage Road / Trust Community Facilities / remote working due to nature of the role

More Information

Business Support Officer

  • Hours: 30 hours
  • Salary: £12.06 / hour
  • Location: Ver House, Park Estate, Frogmore, AL2 2WH

More information

 

Creative Therapist Practitioner & Coordinator

  • Hours: 30 hours per week
  • Salary: £34,685 - £41,798 per annum (pro rata)
  • Location: Peace Hospice, Watford

More information