Future Focus December Edition

As we wrap up the year, the last month brings learning opportunities to improve your health and wellbeing, and practical tips on being financially smart.  

Dementia is currently the biggest killer in the UK. There is a lot of fear and stigma attached to a diagnosis, which can make living with dementia challenging. Join our general information session and take the opportunity to become a Dementia Friend, joining over 3 million others. Register HERE.

Domestic abuse often occurs behind closed doors, but its impact reaches far beyond the home—into workplaces and across entire organisations. Join our Domestic Abuse and the Workplace webinar to understand what this means for you and your organisation, and learn how to create a safer, more supportive environment for everyone.

Our four-day interactive and engaging A New You course helps build confidence, makes you feel more in control, more positive about yourself and your future and take steps towards work or a new direction. Register HERE.

Read on to explore more training opportunities.

As always, we look forward to hearing your views and feedback on our training especially the ones you would like to see in the new year. Email to training@communities1st.org.uk.

Juli Riley
Head of Wellbeing, Employment and Skills

Join us to for a presentation by Jan Payne (a Dementia Friends Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society) to learn more about dementia and the ways we can all help to improve the quality of life for those living with it. This is a general information session and not a medical presentation and will last about 45 minutes. At the end there will be an opportunity to join over 3 million people in the UK, by becoming a Dementia Friend.

3 December 2025, 12pm - 1pm

When: Thursday 4 December, 10am - 11am

Phone: 01727 649960
Email: training@communities1st.org.uk

The online scam awareness session aims to help individuals in identifying and avoiding the numerous scamming schemes that they may encounter.

10 December 2025, 11am - 12pm

This one hour online session on Menopause Awareness is aimed at getting a basic understanding of what is menopause and how it affects women. The session will also provide information on the support available.

11 December 2025, 12pm - 1pm

If you wish to take your first steps towards volunteering, this one hour Teams session will aim to answer the how, where, when, why and what of volunteering. The session will cover an understanding of volunteering and its roles, volunteering with benefits, researching volunteering roles and identifying skills. 

These sessions are for anybody looking to embark on their volunteering journey.

16 December 2025, 10am - 11am

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 to ask questions at the end of the session. 

17 December 2025, 10am - 12pm

 This one hour online session will give an understanding of the signs and symptoms and risk factors of Type 1 and 2 diabetes. It will provide participants with preventive measures they can take and talk about the correlation between food and diabetes, and information about possible treatments and complications that arise from the condition. It will give participants guidelines on signposting and how those living with diabetes can be supported. 

13 January 2026, 12pm - 1pm

If you are finding your journey towards employment challenging, our employment support team can help. 

We can help with the following:

• Creating online job-seeking profiles
• Writing CVs, personal statements, and cover letters
• Interview preparation techniques
• Communication tips and more!

• Leeming Road Hub in Borehamwood every Friday, 9.30am to 3.45pm - Drop-in available or make an appointment
• Ver House, Park Street on Monday (by appointment)
• Caledon Community Centre, in London Colney on Thursday (by appointment only)
• Civic Centre, St. Albans (by appointment only)
• Appointments are available at other venues upon request
• Self/professional referral form

The Communities Thirst coffee cart at St Albans Civic Centre is an extension of Communities 1st's mission to provide volunteers with opportunities to learn, grow, and support their community. Whether you're a seasoned barista or looking to learn the art of creating the perfect cup of coffee, you can volunteer to help us run the coffee cart and make it a success. You'll have the opportunity to develop a variety of skills and - if you're interested - mentor those who are also eager to learn but find it a bit harder than others. The coffee cart is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.

Interested in joining us? Call us on 01727 649950 or email volunteer@communities1st.org.uk.

We'd love to tell you more!

Research plays a crucial role in improving health and social care services, and you can be a part of it.

Ways you can get involved:

• Take part - join studies that interest you and help improve healthcare services
• Share your experience - give feedback on research priorities and help shape future studies
• Become a Community Research Champion - work with us to make research accessible and meaningful to your community
• Spread the word - encourage friends, family, and community groups to learn more about research and how they can get involved.

If you are interested in becoming a Community Research Champion or want to know more, visit our website here or click the button below. Scan the QR code above to find out about research studies you could take part in.

Email: communityresearch@communities1st.org.uk

Tel: 01727649900