Let's Give Volunteering Newsletter

Welcome to the latest edition of the Let’s Give newsletter, your monthly update on the power of reverse volunteering in action. Whether you’re a new supporter or a long-standing volunteer, we’re thrilled to have you as part of our growing community, where giving and receiving go hand-in-hand.

We believe everyone has something valuable to offer, and something to gain. Reverse volunteering is about breaking down barriers, challenging assumptions, and building more inclusive, connected communities.

A quick reminder that it's not too late to book for our conference taking place next Thursday, 26 June in St Albans. With expert speakers and workshops tailorered specifically for volunteers and groups alike, there is something inspiring for everyone! All the details are below. 

Best wishes

Julie Yorston
Assistant Manager Volunteer Centre

Rennie Grove Peace Hospice is looking for volunteers with a keen eye to sort through donations and to pick out those that would be best sold on ebay or Vinted to get the best price. Other donations will be distributed to their 32 shops to ensure that they make the most of everything they are given.

Age UK Hertfordshire is looking for befrienders for their service. Volunteers will be carefully matched with an older person, providing friendship and sharing news, views and interests. Volunteers will regularly visit somebody in their own home every week, perhaps for a cup of tea and a chat or you may choose to take them into their local town or garden centre.

Jersey Farm Day Centre is looking for volunteers to help at their community centre. Volunteers are needed to help set up the hall from 10:30am. During the day, you will interact with their clients and help with serving morning tea/coffee. At lunchtime, they serve clients a hot two course meal. Volunteers then help with the washing up on a rota basis. In the afternoon, they have various forms of entertainment during which clients may require some help. Clients return home at 3pm and volunteers will be needed to help with clearing the hall.

Over the summer, Communities 1st will attend various community events and we would love to have the help and support of our amazing volunteers.

• Health and Wellbeing event            Date: Saturday 28 June 2025          Time: 10am-1pm                      Location: St Albans United Reform Church

• Festival in the park Bushey              Date: Sunday 13 July                    Time: 12:30pm-9pm                      Location: King George Recreation Ground

• Fun in the park Radlett                  Date: Monday 11 August                    Time: 11am-2pm                      Location: Phillimore Recreation Ground

If you are interested email us@communities1st.org.uk or call 01727649900

Could you help engage with older people, make tea and coffee, cook or serve lunch and run games and activities?

Age Concern St Albans is looking for volunteers to help run their lunch clubs. Every Wednesday and Friday they provide an opportunity for older people to meet up for chat, entertainment and a cooked lunch.

 

HAWA Multicultural Services CIC (HAWA) is a dynamic organisation with a rich history of serving ethnically diverse communities in St Albans. Established in 2008 as the Hertfordshire Asian Women's Association. They are seeking a creative and enthusiastic individual to run their Social Media. As a volunteer, you will play a crucial role in enhancing their social media presence and engaging with their audience. 

Viewpoint provides an independent, recovery focused, united voice for individuals living with mental health and/or addiction challenges to share their experiences of accessing support services to help shape future provision. The role of the Chair is to provide leadership and direction to the board of Trustees. The Chair’s aim is to enable the board to fulfil their responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the organisation.

The Sight Loss awareness training is designed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with sight loss, along with practical skills to better support them. The session covers various aspects of sight loss, including causes, functional and emotional impacts on daily life and strategies for effective communication and assistance. 

Date: 23 June 2025                     Time:11:00am to 12:00pm
Where: Online

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 coming to this session 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 a question and answer session at the end of the training.

Date: 25 June 2025                            Time:  10.00am to 12.00pm
Where: Online

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.

This is an online session.

The objectives of the course 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.

Date: 1 July 2025                                Time: 10:00am to 11:30am 
Where: Online

This Scam Awareness session is being delivered by Hertfordshire Police and aims to help identify and avoid the numerous scamming schemes that one may encounter.

Date: 2 July 2025                                Time: 11:00am to 12:00pm
Where: Online

Are you looking to get out and about more this year? Why not become a volunteer driver for Communities 1st's transport services?

From exciting day trips, to essential shopping trips and doctors appointments, the Communities 1st transport service helps to support those in the local community who are unable to confidently use public transport.

By volunteering with Communities 1st as one of our drivers, you will have the opportunity to drive one of our accessible minibuses and get the chance to meet and support those in your community that need it most.

For many of us, the garden is a place that we can escape to for relaxation and to enjoy those 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. We are looking for green-fingered volunteers to help undertake various light duties in the garden including:

• Mowing the lawn
• Weeding
• General tidy up
• Digging

Are you passionate about helping others?
If you are looking for a new volunteering opportunity that allows you to engage with the local community, support others and have a positive impact, then the Community Supermarket might be for you.

The Hertfordshire Community Supermarket, delivered by Community Help Hertfordshire (CHH) and supported by Hertfordshire County Council, is a project that requires the support from dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers who are looking to give back to the community.