Fantastic Friday Update

This new week we focus our attention on new campaigns for community awareness.

Monday 12th is "International Epilepsy Day", a day which aims to raise awareness of this disease and challenges myths and stigmas surrounding it. You can find more about it here.

Student Volunteering Week, led nationally by the Student Volunteering Network , will be happening from the 12th February to 18th February. Universities and schools across the country step up to take part in the week, organising opportunities or events to encourage their students to volunteer and help their local communities.

Communities 1st and our member organisations offer a variety of different volunteering roles which can be found here.

"Thank you" to everyone who came to see us at our community centres this past week (5th to 9th February) and attended our "Grow Your Own Sunshine - Family Activity & Learning Sessions", an inclusive community gardening project for all ages. We hope to keep on growing our sunshine in the summer time.

Communities 1st would like to wish "Happy Chinese New Year" to everyone celebrating it (Saturday 10th February)!

We wish you 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 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.

INFORMATION TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS

Our Health Matters - Support for Wellbeing Event

Save the date for our next health event!
We're delighted to be welcoming:

Alzheimer's Society
Citizens Advice Hertsmere
GP surgeries: Fairbrook Medical Centre, Manor View Practice, and The Grove Medical Centre
Hertfordshire County Council's Learning Disability team and Public Health's Health Improvement Service.
Hertfordshire Mind Network
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Hertsmere Healthy Hubs
Music for My Mind
New Leaf Recovery and Wellbeing College
Para Dance UK

Join us for an afternoon of support and information, talks and exercises, health checks, and free refreshments. More information will be released soon!

Monday 26th February, 1pm - 4pm

Aberford Community Centre in Borehamwood

More information

Para Dance UK

Para Dance UK aims to develop and promote dance as an inclusive leisure activity across the country for those who would otherwise be excluded.
Para Dance UK offers and runs courses online for people who want to provide their own inclusive dance classes.

Dance Club (Adults) - Mondays, 10am-10.30am
Through The Decades - Wednesdays, 11am - 11.30am
Primary After School Dance Club - Wednesdays, 4.15pm – 4.45pm
Dance Club (secondary school age and young adults) - Wednesdays, 5.00pm – 5.30pm

Mental Health Awareness
There is an increasing acknowledgement of the importance of the role of mental health in the wellbeing of individuals and the community as a whole. Being aware of your mental health can substantially reduce long term physical and mental health conditions and the stigma around it.

The objectives of this course, that is aimed at residents across Hertfordshire are:

To be able to recognise stress and anxiety and other mental health conditions.
To have a good understanding of what support is available to people with mental health conditions
To be able to manage stress in day-to-day life.

- IN PERSON COURSE - Wormley
07th March 2024, 9.30am -12.30pm
Wormley Community Centre, Fairfield Drive,
EN10 6DX
Register here

- IN PERSON COURSE - Cheshunt
19th March 2024, 10am -1pm
Cheshunt Football Club, The Stadium, Theobalds Ln,
Waltham Cross, EN8 8RU
Register here

Healthy Hubs Hertsmere

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

MONDAY 12th FEBRUARY: Creative Community Cafes at Windsor Hall, Borehamwood (10.30am - 2.30pm), Computers and a Cuppa at Radlett Centre (10.30am - 12.30pm), NHS Health Check at Healthy Hub in Leeming Road, Borehamwood. Please contact the hub to book it.
TUESDAY 13th FEBRUARY: Creative Community Café at Phillimore Place, Radlett (12pm - 4pm), Men That Meet, Windsor Hall (1.30pm - 4 pm).
WEDNESDAY 14th FEBRUARY: Creative Community Café and Computers and a Cuppa at at Aberford Community Centre (12pm - 4pm).
THURSDAY 15th FEBRUARY: Computer's and a Cuppa, Bushey Library (12pm - 2pm), Creative Community Café, Farriers Way Community Centre (10am - 2pm).
FRIDAY 16th FEBRUARY: Creative Community Café and Computers and a Cuppa at Organ Hall, Borehamwood (10am - 2pm), Bushey foodbank (10am - 12pm) at Phoenix Centre (4 Farrington Avenue).

Help Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust design and name their new dental van and enter a competition to win a £25 Love2Shop Voucher!

Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust are buying a new dental van. This will mean they can drive to see people who might struggle to come to one of their dental clinics.
They want to hear from you about what you think the van should be called and how it should look.

If you'd like to take part in the prize draw for your chance to win a £25 Love2Shop voucher, provide your name and contact details below the picture of the drawing or at the end of the survey, if completing online.

All entrants must be a patient under the Hertfordshire Special Care Dental Service or be a child with anxiety about visiting the dentist, and a resident in Hertfordshire.

More information

Home Upgrade Grant opportunities for households in St Albans

The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG2) Scheme that has been launched to assist families living in energy inefficient properties that are not connected to the gas network in the St Albans District. The grant is available to home-owners and private tenants.

The Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) is open to homes that meet the following criteria:
• Homes not heated by mains gas, which includes oil, coal, LPG or electric heating.
• Households with a combined annual income of less than £31,000 (gross) or receiving an income-related means-tested benefit such as Universal Credit.
• Hard to heat homes–(EPCs rated D or lower).

More information

Complete Hertfordshire County Council sustainability survey
Since declaring a climate emergency in 2019, Hertfordshire County Council has committed to becoming a more sustainable organisation, while also tackling climate change and its effects across the county with support from their partners.

To help deliver a more sustainable county and organisation, it would be good to have your thoughts about climate change, its impacts on Hertfordshire and the efforts to tackle it.
Please participate to the short survey which will help to better understand your priorities around climate change, including how to improve the communication and the engagement with you on this important issue.

Complete the survey before Sunday 17 March and help HCC to deliver a cleaner, greener, more sustainable Hertfordshire.

An easy-read version of this survey is available if required.

Books to celebrate LGBT+ History Month
LGBT+ History Month celebrates the LGBT+ movement and the road to progress in achieving equality for people in all their diversity. It aims to raise awareness and combat prejudice with education.

Explore the booklist for a selection of the adult non-fiction titles in stock).

More information

VACANCIES

Mental Health and Homelessness Outreach Team Leader

Hours: Full time 37.5 hours a week
Salary: £28,000 – £29,000 per annum per annum incl. Outer London Weighting (OLW).
Location: Flexible to one of our seven Wellbeing Centres dependent on location.

More information

Crisis Centre Coordinator

Hours: Part time 22.5 hours a week
Salary: £24,928 – £26,250 per annum (pro rata)
Location: City Centre - Hemel Hempstead

More information

Active Ageing Exercise Instructor

Hours: 37 hours per week (Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.)
Salary: Starting at £10.90 per hour, increasing to £12.00 per hour from 1st April 2024 (exact agreed hourly rate dependent on experience).
Location: This role is based at one of HILS five sites (St Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Letchworth, Hertford, or Hatfield) and agreed with successful candidate. Exercise sessions will be delivered to clients in their own homes and within community group settings..

More information

Team Leader - Meal Services

Hours: The successful candidate will be required to work 08:00 till 16:00 Monday to Friday including some occasional weekend days (There is some degree of flexibility with hours in this role to be agreed with line manager)
Salary: £26,541 – £28,678 (depending on experience)
Location: Letchworth SG6 1HB

More information