This week marks the anniversary of the first national lockdown. Over the last 12 months, we have been inspired and sustained by the amazing work carried out by local volunteers, as well as Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations and their funders, who rapidly adapted their practices and made grants available. Our work has been facilitated by grants from 19 different funders; their support is hugely appreciated by us all.
As we approached the anniversary of the first lockdown, myself and other local and national VCFSE leaders have been reflecting on the challenges and opportunities that the pandemic has created, the lessons we have learned, and the implications for a future that combines face-to-face contact and remote working.
For me, three concerns stand out:
- Transitioning to the ‘new normal’ – It feels like we’re at a turning point. However, it also feels a little like ‘déjà vu’ with nuanced differences and an unknown short-medium term future.
- Managing emotions – Noticing and dealing with how the pandemic has affected us personally.
- Juggling demand, funding and resources – Whilst we all want to do more, resources will be more scarce.
Collaborative working and supportive funding structures can help provide certainty for our sector. We need to continue to work together to ensure:
- Trust and patience – These remain crucial for both delivery organisations and funders. Collaborative approaches to setting priorities allow funding to be attuned to the unpredictable and uncertain present.
- Learning – Despite moving into a time of recovery and renewal, we must continue supporting the frontline, sustaining valued services and creating spaces for regrouping, as the long-term impact of the pandemic becomes clearer.
- Unrestricted funding – In this context, unrestricted funding is the most useful and important contribution that funders can make to the work of VCSE organisations.
Many thanks,
Stephen Craker
Chief Executive
COULD YOU BE A COVID INFORMATION CHAMPION?
To ensure our communities are receiving accurate, up to date COVID guidance, we are engaging with COVID Information Champions, in partnership with Community Help Herts. The information champions disperse accurate, current information through their networks, to keep us informed and safe.
Anyone can be a COVID Information Champion. All you have to do is reach out to your community and share information from Hertfordshire County Council. The information is easily shared through social media, email, text messages and online messaging apps, and can also be printed out and used as a poster.
To get involved email Christine at CIChampion@communities1st.org.uk or call 020 8940 4869.
INFORMATION TO SUPPORT VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR ORGANISATIONS
Weekly coffee mornings for member organisations
Our weekly Virtual Coffee Mornings for voluntary sector organisations are a chance to say hello, tell us what you are working on, what support you need and to hear from other local voluntary sector organisations.
Every Wednesday at 11am.
The sessions are friendly, informal and hopefully useful. Come along whenever you can!
Register using our calendar.
For more information, please email memberservices@communities1st.org.uk or phone Christine on 01727 743018.
Thinking about your group's volunteering activities?
Contact our Volunteer Centre team who can help direct you to volunteering activities you can do safely, whether in person or remotely.
Email: volunteer@communities1st.org.uk
Communities 1st Report on the Impact of COVID-19 on the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector
We have put together a report on the impact of COVID-19 on the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector. It is informed by a survey of 89 VCSE organisations carried out in December 2020.
The report contains details of how VCFSE organisations operated during summer 2020, and the impact the pandemic had on their services and users. It explores the financial impact of the latest lockdown, as well as discussing the new needs of voluntary/community sector organisations.
Read the full COVID-19 Impact Report here.
Member organisation urgently seeking new space
One of our member organisation urgently needs a new space in the WD6 area. This could be a small storage space, with room for 5 fridges and freezers to operate, or a larger space they can move their entire operation to, which includes the storage space.
For more information please contact memberservices@communities1st.org.uk.
HYOC2020 celebration event
Tuesday 2nd March saw creative and cultural organisations from across the county gather to reflect on 2020, its challenges, its opportunities and how the experience will change how we work in the future. All the information from the day can be downloaded here.
Year of Learning briefing document on case escalation
Those who are part of the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Partnership are encouraged to use this document as a reference, to help them know when to refer or escalate individual cases.
Barnardo's Safeguarding Children -See, Hear, Respond update
Police officers can prevent families in England with children under 5 from slipping into crisis during Covid-19, by referring them to the See, Hear, Respond Partnership. To refer a family for early support and prevent crisis, please use Barnardo's secure website or call 0800 157 7015.
For more information about this scheme, please email trevor.lawson@barnardos.org.uk.
The health and social care White Paper explained
On 11 February the Department of Health and Social Care published the White Paper Integration and innovation, which sets out legislative proposals for a health and care bill, built on recofummendations made by NHS England and NHS Improvement in Integrating care. This article summarises these proposals and provides an initial assessment of them. Read more.
TRAINING & WEBINARS
Safeguarding adults at risk- Designated Person
Wednesday, 31 March 10.00-12.30 Cost: £15.00
Data protection for non-profit organisations
Wed 01 April 10.00-12.30
Book here.
Safeguarding adults at risk- Level 1 (£15)
Wed 21 April 10.00-14.00
Book here.
Better Boards
This is a comprehensive programme of training developed to improve the effectiveness of Hertfordshire charities. There are up to 10 places available for organisations providing Adult Care Services.
Application deadline for funded programme: 31 March 2021
The Herts Sports and Physical Activity Partnership Induction Session
This induction session is aimed at recent starters within external partner organisations. The session enables recent recruits to learn about the structure, work and current priorities of the Herts Sports Partnership.
Thursday 22 April from 10.30am to 11.30am.
FUNDING
Grants for Groups Helping to Tackle Identified Need in Hertfordshire
The HCF Large grants invite applications of up to £5000 from projects that are addressing identified need within Hertfordshire. Successful applications from this programme are funded by a range of the individual, family and corporate funds managed by HCF. Application Deadline: 5pm 13 April 2021 for a panel meeting at the end of May. Read more.
Grants to Promote the Health and Wellbeing of Older People in Bushey and the Surrounding Areas.
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to groups working to promote health and wellbeing for older residents of Bushey and the surrounding areas (including Watford, Radlett and Borehamwood). Application Deadline: 5pm 13 April 2021 for a panel meeting at the end of May. Read more.
Funding for Creative & Mental Health Opportunities for Ethnically Diverse Communities
The Baring Foundation’s Arts Programme has launched a new Fund supporting projects that promote the use of art to address mental health problems in people from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Grants of between £10,000 and £40,000 are available to charities and not-for-profit arts organisations that focus on offering creative opportunities to people living with mental health problems in ethnically diverse communities across the UK. The type of work funded might include shadowing, internships or apprenticeships, or mentoring or free training opportunities. £500,000 is available in total for this Fund, and the Foundation expects to award in the region of fifteen or more grants. The deadline for applications is 12pm on the 21 April 2021. Read more.
Small Grants for Summer Playschemes
Grants of between £500 and £1,000 are available to registered charities to fund summer playschemes for children between the ages of 5-16 years. To be eligible for funding, the charity will have to have an annual income of less than £100,000 and the playscheme must run for a minimum of 2 weeks or 10 days during the summer holidays. Priority is given to small local playschemes involving a large number of children especially those with disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds. The funding is being made available by the Woodward Charitable Trust and the closing date for applications is midday on the 8th April 2021. Read more.
Boost Choose Now Change Lives programme Opens for Applications
Boost Drinks has launched the Choose Now, Change Lives community grants scheme to help groups benefit their local area. The scheme is inviting charities, community groups, local authorities, health authorities, social housing, and other not-for-profit organisations to nominate themselves for a share of the £20,000 grant fund. This could include community sports clubs, community action groups, youth work, music groups and food banks, etc. Three organisations will be shortlisted to receive a grant of between £1,000 and £10,000. For this funding round nominations must be submitted by 11.59pm on the 9th May 2021. Read more.
Warburtons – Community Grants Scheme
Charities and organisations with charitable aims can now apply for up to £400 worth of funding for projects that have a direct and tangible social impact on families and solve significant social issues. Funding is available for projects that meet the following themes: Health, Place or Skills for families in their community. The Community Grant scheme is being made available by Warburtons and is administered by the Charities Aid Foundation. The next closing date for applications in this round is the 10 May 2021. Read more.
Funding to Support Charities & Community Groups Affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic
Charities and local community groups across the UK who are in need of financial assistance due to the coronavirus pandemic can apply for funding of up to £1,000 to continue their work during the crisis. The Arnold Clark Community Fund will award 500 grants through a monthly draw to help charities and community groups continue their important work which may be at risk due to the pandemic. Only one application will be accepted per organisation and entries must be received by 11.59pm on the last day of each month to be considered for that month. Applications that are unsuccessful one month will be kept in the draw for the following month. The final deadline for applications is the 31st May 2021. Read more.
Grants of up to £5,000 Available for Projects that Help the Homeless
Homeless charities can apply for capital grants of up to £5,000 for projects that aim to help homeless people return to the community and enabling them to resume a normal life. Typically, such organisations may operate small or medium-sized residential or training facilities to assist homeless people. To be eligible to apply, the charity must have an annual turnover of under £1million and with ‘unrestricted reserves’ of under six months. The closing date for applications is the 15th June 2021. Read more.
Funding of up to £5,000 Available to Tackle Problems within Families
Registered charities that work to tackle family problems or problems facing one or more of its members can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000. Funding is available for both capital and revenue grants as well as grants for core funding and projects-based grants. The funding is being made available through the Kelly Family Charitable Trust which actively encourages applications from relatively new organisations to help them become established. The trust prefers to support charities whose income is below £500,000. However, larger charities with pioneering pilot projects will be considered. The next closing date for applications is the 1 September 2021. Read more.
Grants to Help Disadvantaged People Overcome Complex Social Issues
£9.5 million in funding is available to charities in England and Wales helping disadvantaged people overcome complex social issues. The Lloyds Bank Foundation are making two-year unrestricted grants of £50,000 available to 190 small, local charities with a yearly income of £25,000 to £1 million, to tackle complex social issues such as homelessness, trafficking and domestic abuse. At least 25% will be ringfenced for Black, Asian and minority ethnic led charities. Read more.
Funding to Reduce the Likelihood of Children Becoming Involved in Violence
The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has announced that it will launch a second themed grant round for 2021 in September - ‘a supportive home: helping families overcome challenges’. The Fund will focus on finding out which approaches are most effective in helping families and carers to create a supportive home environment for 6-14-year-olds, reducing the likelihood of them becoming involved in violence. Activities could include family counselling, therapy approaches, and support programmes for parents, foster families and looked-after children. The funding will be made in partnership with Comic Relief. Read more.
Ocado Foundation for Good
Ocado has launched the Ocado Foundation for Good with BizGive, to support charity and fundraising activities across the UK. The programme will support ‘the many rather than the few’ by providing grants of up to £1,000 to charities, community organisations, community interest companies, academic institutions, and local authorities for community projects which focus their efforts on three core areas: skills for the future, natural resources and responsible sourcing. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, for volunteering, only applications for digital volunteering will be accepted. Applications can be made at any time until the 31 December 2021. Read more.
Funding to Support Grassroots Organisations During the Coronavirus
In response to the coronavirus, The Alpkit Foundation are prioritising funding to support projects that demonstrate an immediate impact on those affected by the crisis. Grants are available to grassroots organisations serving those affected by the outbreak. Funding can provide support for activities which might include helping vulnerable and elderly people who are self-isolating, supporting the homeless, providing access to food, medicines or social care, supporting foodbanks, increasing the number of meals on wheels deliveries, and bringing exercise indoors. Applications can be made at any time and will be checked on a daily basis. Read more.
INFORMATION TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS
If you haven't yet completed your Census form, you must do so as soon as possible. If you don't complete your form you could be fined up to £1,000.
You should have received a code in the post to complete your census. If you haven't, you can request one here.
If you need help completing your census form, have a look at this document. For more assistance and advice, you can visit the Borehamwood Healthy Hub. Call 020 8207 5115 to book an appointment.
Below are the latest COVID-19 public health guidelines to help you, your family, friends and community stay safe.
Advice on COVID-19 vaccination
COVID vaccinations
People should attend their COVID-19 vaccination appointments when invited to do so.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) continually monitors the safety of vaccines in the UK. You can read a statement from the MHRA here.
Residents aged between 50 - 54 years can now book vaccination appointments via the National Booking Service or by calling 119.
To make sure you get your call to be vaccinated, you should register with a GP surgery. You can find instructions on how to register here.
Vaccine Resources:
- Herts Care Providers Association
- Herts and west Essex Health and Care Academy website
- BBC Asian Network Resources
Your Care, Your Views
West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust has launched a public engagement programme, to gather feedback on plans to redesign its services.
The proposals for new ways to provide care are being developed alongside rebuild and refurbishment plans for the three hospitals the trust manages; Hemel Hempstead Hospital, St Albans City Hospital and Watford General Hospital.
Fit, Fed & Read Holiday Activity Programme
Herts Sports Partnership's Fit, Fed & Read scheme is a free holiday programme in Hertfordshire’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Every day will include literacy support, a physical activity, and a nutritious meal.
Read more or refer your child.
Food Poverty Needs Assessment:
Understanding Service Provision in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire residents are encouraged to take part in a research study about food poverty. This will help researchers and Hertfordshire County Council to understand how people are managing with food at this difficult time, and analyse services in Hertfordshire. You will also receive a voucher as reimbursement for your time.
Our Aberford Bowls Green is reopening on the 29th March
Our bowling green in Aberford Park is opening up again. This is in line with government guidelines, as outdoor sports facilities reopen across Hertfordshire.
Find out more and book by emailing: bookings@communities1st.org.uk or visiting our website.
Hertfordshire Gambling Addiction Forum
Discuss how to improve gambling support in the community, hear from clinical staff about resources, and meet clients who have beaten their addiction.
Tuesday 30th March 2021 - 2:00pm - 4:00pm
To book, email your name and contact details to: SamL@livingroomherts.org
More information here.
Together Talks - “Nine Leadership Habits That Inspire Results, Relationships and Reputation”
These fortnightly conversation events feature a range of leading speakers from the worlds of business, volunteering, the charity sector and more. They include in-depth conversation around important topics, Q & As, and a live chat room.
Book here.
New Leaf Recovery and Wellbeing College Spring Timetable
The New Leaf Recovery and Wellbeing College are offering a range of spring courses, including Art journaling, Practising self-care, Acceptance and recovery, and Living with long-term COVID.
Find their spring timetable here.
Bushey Acoustic Festival Cancelled
Bushey Festival will not take place as planned on Sunday 6 June 2021, due to COVID-19. Organisers are hopeful that the festival will be able to return next year (Sunday 5 June 2022) with more stages and many new and innovative ideas, all dedicated to the performing arts.
Hertfordshire Adult and Family Learning Service Courses
Hertfordshire Adult and Family Learning Service are offering a range of courses, starting this April. These include Jewellery Making Made Easy, Intermediate Word and Excel, and Photography for Beginners. Read more.
Online sessions for unemployed parents
The National Careers Service have organised free online sessions for people with children under 11 years, who are out of work.
The next session is 30 March 2021. Book here.
VACANCIES
Clinical Lead
Part Time - 7 hours per week
Main Tasks include strategy & team management, clinical & client care, recording, monitoring & reporting.
£37,000 per annum.
More information and how to apply here.
Closing date: 28 March 2020
Hospital & Community Navigator
Permanent, Full-time - 35 - 37.5 hours per week
22,500 per annum.
Responsible for working with volunteers.
Closing date: 11 April 2021
More information and apply here.
Poll Clerks
This role is inside the polling station. Training and PPE will be provided. Payment for this role is £190.
Count Assistants
Training will be provided on arrival at the count centre. Payment for this role is around £80.
If you or anyone you know would be interested please email the elections team on elections@stalbans.gov.uk or call 01727 819318.
Hertfordshire County Council: Polling Stations
Hertfordshire County Council have a number of roles available at Polling Stations around the county. These roles include:
- Polling Station Marshall
- Poll Clerks
- Count Assistants
Payment for these roles range from £80 -£190
Email your interest to the elections team at elections@stalbans.gov.uk or call 01727 819318.