Fantastic Friday Update

December has arrived and planning is well under way for our annual Christmas calls and the door to door visits for the elderly and isolated. Although the festive season will be an exciting time for many of us, we are aware that many people in our communities struggle with loneliness and isolation at this time of the year.
December offers us some great opportunities to build awareness of issues affecting our community through key health campaigns.

"16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence" which started on Friday 25th of November will continue until Saturday 10th of December. If you or someone you know needs any help or support please contact Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline. This is a confidential, free, support and signposting service for anyone affected by domestic abuse. (Call 08 088 088 088 9am-9pm Monday to Friday and 9am-4pm weekends).

Today, 1st of December is World AIDS Day. This is an opportunity for everyone to spread awareness about the current status of the disease and encourage more progress in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care around the world. You can find support and help here. 

This coming week is all about the voluntary sector and the benefits it brings to society.

UK Charity Week (or #UKCharityWeek) is an annual awareness campaign that takes place on Monday 4th. It is designed to enable the people of the United Kingdom to promote greater awareness of the charitable work that tirelessly supports its citizens and publicise fundraising efforts for charities at a time of the year when people are statistically at their most giving. If you want to have more information about the charities we work together, click here.

International Volunteer Day (IVD), offers an opportunity for volunteer-involving organisations and individual volunteers to shout about the volunteering work they do and encourage governments to support volunteers' indispensable efforts.

Next week we are happy to welcome volunteers, clients and members of staff all together to share a festive hot chocolate and a chat together. We can’t wait to see you there! See below all the details!

We would like to say "Hanukkah sameach!" to anyone who will be celebrating Hannukah, the festival of lights, this month (7th-15th December).

Take care, stay warm and have a lovely weekend! 

Nicola Oneill

Wellbeing Services Manager

If you or someone you know is in at-risk group or is isolated, 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.

Introduction to Air Frying

Have an Air fryer or considering buying one? Looking to cook cheaper and healthier? Come along to our cooking with an Air Fryer 3 hour session. Learn to cook with one, add new recipes and learn about the cost savings. Cooking tips will be provided on this free course along with a chance to taste food cooked in the air fryer.

Any Hertfordshire resident aged 19 and over is welcome to attend this course. Participants are eligible for the draw to win an air fryer if they have obtained a D grade or below in their Maths GCSE (or equivalent), or are in receipt of any benefits.

- IN PERSON COURSE - St Albans
5th December 2023, 10am -1pm
Cottonmill Community and Cycling Centre
Off Old Oak, Cottonmill Ln, St Albans, AL1 2EF
Register here

- IN PERSON COURSE - Potters Bar
6th December 2023, 10am -1pm
The Clayton Centre, 32 Barnet Road,
Potters Bar, EN6 2QU
Register here

You are invited to our festive, holiday catch up!
Communities 1st is happy to share the dates of this year’s upcoming Christmas events for December 2023 and we can’t wait to see you there!
Volunteers, clients and members of staff are all welcome, so we hope to see you as we share a festive hot chocolate and a chat together.
It is a small gesture to say thank you for all the help and support received this year and we hope you can make it!
If you are interested in coming along, please feel free to put the following dates in your calendar and keep an eye out for more details on the locations and times in our upcoming newsletters and on our website.

 - Tuesday, 5th December 2023, 4pm - 6pm

37 Bairstow Close, Borehamwood, WD64TB

More information

- Wednesday, 6th December 2023, 4pm - 6pm

 Broxbourne Theatre Company (by spotlight car park)
"Bollescroft" Cock Lane, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, EN11 8BE

More information

- Thursday, 7th December 2023, 4pm - 6pm

The Jubilee Centre, Catherine Street, AL35BU St Albans

More information

Help over winter

Winter’s darker nights and plunging temperatures can be tough for people’s mental health and wellbeing. The impact of the rising cost of living is also causing emotional strain for many people who might be worrying about their families, health, jobs and finances. 
Hertfordshire County Council has compiled a directory of organisations that are delivering services to support your mental health and wellbeing this winter. 
Among the organisations you can reach out to are Herts Mind Network, the Alzheimer’s Society, the Samaritans, Carers In Herts and the Domestic Abuse Helpline. 

More information

Festive Street

Get together with your neighbours in St Albans, Harpenden and villages and decorate your street’s windows during the winter months. Bring cheer to the neighbourhood and pull local residents together for an easy, fun-filled activity to do as a community. 

Sign up for the free Festive Streets information pack

More information

Christmas Singalong - Wheathampstead Community Group

Each year a fabulous concert of carols and other music is held at the Memorial Hall. It is a friendly and informal event with a glass of mulled wine with the Abbey Gateway Orchestra providing the music.

Thursday 14th December, 7.30pm

Marford Memorial Hall 

More information

Reverse Advent Calendar

It is not too late to start the St Albans and District Foodbank reverse advent calendar! From 21st Nov to 15th  Dec you can put aside an item of food and drop it off at the Foodbank on the 15th of December.

More information

Santa will visit Harpenden Trust
Working in collaboration with Harpenden Town Council, the Trust will be providing FREE craft activities for the children and refreshments in the Well Bean Café while people wait for a photo opportunity with Santa.

Please do share with friends and family, all are welcome.

Friday 1st December, 5.30pm - 7.30pm.
130 Southdown Road, Harpenden AL5 1PU

More information

Free NHS Health Checks in Potters Bar

Aged 40-74? Free NHS Health Checks are being offered in Potters Bar. 

An NHS Health Check can help you reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, diabetes or dementia.

Appointments need to be booked in advance.

Check if you’re eligible and book to be checked now.

If you cannot make this date, you will be placed on a waiting list and offered the next available date

Monday 4th December

Healthy Hub Hertsmere, Potters Bar, Sixty Plus Centre (near Wyllyots Theatre).

16 Days Of Action Against Domestic Violence
This international campaign lasts from 25th of November to 10th of December and calls for an end to gender-based violence, in particular violence against women and girls.

Refugee and Asylum Seeker Caseworker

• Hours: 22.5 per week
• Salary: £24,500 – £25,000 per annum pro rata
• Location: Flexible across their 7 wellbeing centres

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Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser

• Hours: 35hrs per week, open to part time / flexible working
• Salary:£25,000 – 30,000pa
• Location: Home based – with occasional work in the office and meetings in St Albans, Herts

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Office Receptionist and Administrator

• Hours: 12 hours per week over Monday, Tuesday and Thursday (see recruitment pack for more information)
• Salary: £20,529 (FTE) pro-rated to £7,039 per annum for 12 hours a week (this may increase to 16 hours in the future)
• Location: 64 London Road, St Albans, Herts, AL1 1NG - occasional work from home.

More information

Reception Administrator

• Hours: 26.5 per week
• Salary:: £23,114 progressing to £23,500 pa
• Location: Stevenage 

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Services Coordinator

• Hours: 30 hours per week
• Salary:£24,000pa or split proportionally according to shared hours (full time equivalent £30,000pa
• Location: Redbourn Village Hall

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Communications Apprentice

• Hours: 37pw - 2 year Fixed Term Contract
• Salary:: £16,500 rising to £19,500 in the second year
• Location: Hoddesdon

More information

External Affairs Officer 

• Hours: 37pw 
• Salary:: Circa £37,000
• Location: Hoddesdon

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Volunteer Manager – East Herts

• Hours: 15 hours per week
• Salary: £24,496 per annum FTE (pro rata £9,930.81) or £.12.70 per hour
• Location: The role is home-based however a driving licence and access to a car is essential as you will be visiting families across East Herts Area A.

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Age UK Hertfordshire Support Worker to Dietetics

• Hours: Job Share - 17.5 hours per week
  Weds (3.5 hours) Thurs (7 hours) Fri (7 hours)
• Salary:£11,969 per annum (£23,938 FTE)
• Location: Office based in St Albans. However, the role involves remote working across localities in West Hertfordshire

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Park Team Leader 

• Hours: 37 hours per week - Permanent full time.
• Salary: Up to £32k, depending on experience
• Location: : Highfield Park Visitor Centre

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Park Grounds Person

• Hours: 37 hours per week - Permanent full time.
• Salary: Up to £26k, depending on experience.
• Location: : Highfield Park Visitor Centre

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