Voluntary Sector Briefing

The coming weeks and months will certainly throw up some challenges, including the continued cost of living crisis and its effects, but there will be opportunities too.  Our Annual Conference for the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector is taking place on Thursday 20 July in person and opens for bookings very soon, so please do mark the date in your diary now.

We are also looking forward to the next sessions in our monthly programme of Meet the Funder events.  These free sessions are a chance to hear directly from funders what they are looking for and what makes a successful application. Members tell us these events have really improved their applications, so read on for further details. 

I also mentioned challenges.  Please remember that Communities 1st offers a wealth of support to member organisations. To learn more about the support we can give, or when you need to share the burden, do contact us at memberservices@communities1st.org.uk, or drop into our Weekly Virtual Drop In, details below.

Stephen Craker

Chief Executive

Warm Welcome Hubs (also known as Warm Spaces or Warm Places)

Warm Welcome Hubs are community spaces which are open throughout the winter months, providing people who are struggling to heat their homes with somewhere to get warm, stay warm and enjoy a little company. Some Warm Welcome hubs offer additional activities, a hot meal and information and signposting. Many Warm Welcome Hubs will be closing at the end of March as originally intended. However, some will remain open and will offer activities over the coming months. Communities 1st are delighted that our four Warm Welcome Hubs will remain open as Creative Community Cafés. Please click here for more details.

Please contact other Warm Welcome Hubs directly for opening details. 

To view the register of Warm Welcome Hubs, please click here.

Meet the Funder

These events are a fantastic opportunity to ‘Meet the Funder’. To learn directly from a funding body about the grants or funds currently available.

A representative from a funding body will attend to deliver a presentation about the grants or funds currently available to your group or organisation. The event will include information on eligibility criteria, application process, any support on offer, deadlines, and the amount you can apply for. There is a chance to ask questions.

Upcoming events:

• 27 April 2-3pm
  
  Co operative Community grant
  
  presenter Co operative Avni Lakhani 

• 4 May 11am -12pm
  
  Groundwork East - Tesco Community grant
  
  Presenter Sarah Holloway  

• 20 June 11am - 12pm
  
  Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation – Near Neighbours Fund up to £5,000 and Trust Fund up to £10,000. Presenter Francesca Johnstone. Please note this fund is open to groups working in St Albans.

To know more and book you place click here.

Virtual Weekly Drop-in Support Sessions

Did you know, that as a member of Communities 1st, we can offer you support on a wide range of topics, including funding, governance, policies and volunteer recruitment, as well as opportunities to network and work with other voluntary sector organisations? Our weekly Virtual Drop-in Support Sessions for voluntary sector organisations take place every Wednesday at 11am via Zoom. Drop in to tell us what you are working on, what support you need and to connect with other local voluntary sector organisations.

The sessions are friendly, informal and constructive. Come along anytime you need to. If you would like to access any of the support above, but cannot attend the weekly session, please email memberservices@communities1st.org.uk to request an alternative time. 

To register please click here.

Ukraine Peer to Peer Support Sessions

Communities 1st are hosting weekly sessions where Ukrainians can meet other Ukrainians in the UK and hosts can meet other hosts, to come together, chat and make friends. These sessions are open to all, on both the Homes for Ukraine scheme and the Friends and Family visa. 

Come along to:

Phillimore Community Centre

 Come and join us at:

• Phillimore Place, Radlett, WD7 8NN  
• Every Tuesday, 12pm - 2.00pm
  
  Please note, these sessions formerly took place in Aberford Hall but have recently moved.

There is no need to book theses sessions, just turn up.

For more information email us@communities1st.org.uk

Herts with Ukraine Website

The Herts with Ukraine website is hosted by Community Help Herts, a partnership of voluntary sector organisations delivering projects to support the communities in Hertfordshire. This website provides information and resources to help you if you are sponsoring or supporting Ukrainian guests, or are considering doing so. It also provides a wealth of information and resources to support Ukrainian guests, such as local activities and information on where to go for advice on a range of topics. 

The Herts with Ukraine website aims to be a community resource. If your organisation would like to post something on the Herts with Ukraine website, please email Gary Franklin at Communities 1st

paula.geere@communities1st.org.uk

Please click here to visit the Herts with Ukraine website. 

Alban Fest is happening in St Albans on Sunday 25 June

Communities 1st are hosting the ‘Community Safe Zone’ tent, a quieter place, for anyone who needs some peace and time away from the crowds.  This is an ideal chance to signpost individuals and families on to the huge diversity of voluntary and community sector support that exists locally. 

We are seeking voluntary and community organisations to commit to spending one hour (or more!) in the tent, with Communities 1st.  This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your work, share information about what you do and to meet people who could really benefit from your services.

We plan to display information about local voluntary sector support in the tent and can display a small amount of literature on behalf of your organisation. 

To arrange a time to join the Community Safe Zone with Communities 1st, or to arrange to drop off literature, please email memberservices@communities1st.org.uk 

Cost of Living Support Information

The rising cost of living is affecting everyone. To date, a staggering 9 in 10 adults have reported an increase in their cost of living, with nearly a quarter finding it difficult to pay their usual household bills.

Voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations are also experiencing difficulties because of the rising prices, as well as concerns about the welfare of staff and volunteers and increased demand for their services. 

Please take time to explore the support resources on our website which provide details of organisations offering support, as well as grants to support individuals.

Free equipment available

Are you looking for chairs or a fridge for your community space? Communities 1st have some pre-loved equipment available to our member organisations. 

To know more, please email: memberservices@communities1st.org.uk

Items are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Spring Budget 2023: NCVO Response

Funding and implications for charities

Following the announcement of the Spring Budget, NCVO have released more on what this means for the voluntary, community and faith sector.

Charities have struggled with rising demand for their services, falling income and increasing operational costs for over a year now. Many are worried about surviving.

The commitment in the 2023 Spring Budget to support the voluntary sector shows the power of our collective voice.

Click here for more on NCVO's reflections on the budget, and what it could mean for voluntary organisations. 

VCS Emergencies Partnership - latest bulletin on food insecurity

The Emergencies Partnership is supporting partners to share and learn from examples of good practice, and to jointly develop lessons from the sector’s response to the Cost-of-Living crisis. Read their latest update, on food insecurity, here.

Energy saving tips for charities 

Charities Aid Foundation have published useful tips and advice on how to save energy when running a charity. Answers to what has most impact on your quarterly bills, how the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard affects your business can be found in this article, in CAF Online.

FSI announces closure

It was announced last week that Trustees at the Foundation for Social Improvement (FSI) will formally wind up the infrastructure charity, due to funding issues. FSI had recently partnered with NCVO to deliver the legacy of the Small Charities Coalition, after it closed down in 2022.

Read more here.

Body Positivity Posters

As part of Hertfordshire’s programme of support for young people’s emotional wellbeing, the County Council’s public health team have co-produced with young people a positive body image campaign. One of the things they were really keen to make happen, was to get posters containing inspiring and positive affirmations put into changing rooms and toilets across the county, as they reflected that it may distract people from any negative thoughts they are having about the way they look, and help people to feel more positively about themselves. 

Would you be able to help with this at all?  The posters can be found here: Real Bodies Affirmation poster (justtalkherts.org).

Hard copy versions of the posters can be provided – please contact Jen Beer on jen.beer@hertfordshire.gov.uk or 01438 843309

Cyber threat report for the UK charity sector

According to a new report by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the UK charity sector is facing increasing cyber security threats. The report highlights the importance of charities taking proactive measures to protect sensitive information and prevent cyber-attacks. You can read the cyber threat report using the link to the NCSC website below. 

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/files/Cyber_threat_report-UK-charity-sector.pdf 

Free Community Learning Courses Available

Communities 1st is offering free, informal training for your members and volunteers to help boost confidence with numeracy.

We are able to offer the sessions at your base/ centre. We have three different courses available:

• Shopping on a Budget
• Make Do and Mend
• Make Do and Cook

Please contact training@communities1st.org.uk or call 01727 649950, or see our training page. 

Digital Training Offer for Communities 1st Members

We are offering Communities 1st members access to an extensive programme of e-training. Training is available from the following categories:

• Digital Skills 
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity 
• Essential Skills 
• Food and Hygiene
• Health & Safety 
• Leadership & Management 
• Mental Health & Wellbeing 
• Personal Development 
• Policy & Legislation 

All training is available now. 

£125 gives access to 25 people per organisation to any of the courses. 

£200 gives access to any of the courses to 50 people per organisation. 

If you would like to take up this excellent offer but are not currently a member of Communities 1st, please contact memberservices@communities1st.org.uk

Please email Juli Riley, Head of Volunteer Centre and Skills, Communities 1st for further information Juli.Riley@communities1st.org.uk. 

Learning Together Programme from the National Academy for Social Prescribing

The Learning Together Programme offers development opportunities and support for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups and organisations who are providing for communities needs by delivering socially prescribed activities.

Click here to register.

Better Boards In-house Training

Fully funded spaces available for 10 hours of bespoke consultancy and training for your trustee board. Whatever the challenges your board is facing, one of the Better Boards trainers will support and guide you through.

The topics will be explored in an interactive format with practical exercises to ensure they are made relevant and that what is learned can be applied to improve the effectiveness of your organisations. For more information please email hcftraining@hertscf.org.uk

New Leaf College

New Leaf College offers hope for the future despite life's challenges, offering opportunities, learning from other student's experiences and equipping students with skills to make changes to support their wellbeing. 

The college offers sessions in Stevenage, Watford, Ware and Hemel Hempstead as well as continuing to provide sessions online. 

They would like to work with partners who may be able to offer access for residents to join their online sessions from a local venue. If you can provide a venue, please call 01442864966 or contact louisa.whorrod@nhs.net. 

Please visit the New Leaf College here.

Cleaner/Caretaker

Hours: 7.5 hours

Salary: £10.53 / hour 

Full Details: You can view the full details of this role here. 

How to Apply: 

You can send your application for this role via email to us@communities1st.org.uk or you can call us on 01727 649900.

About The Role: 

The Cleaner / Caretaker role is to provide a comprehensive cleaning service at the Phillimore Community Centre managed by Communities 1st and to provide occasional holiday cover for office cleaning at Ver House.

The successful applicant will be required to open and close the community centre for occasional hirers as required both during the week and at weekends. Regular hirers of the centres have their own keys and do not need this service.

Sessional Cookery Programme Leader

Salary: up to £30 per hour

How To Apply:

For an informative chat about the role, please contact us at Communities 1st on 01727 649900 or us@communities1st.org.uk

About The Role:

Communities 1st are seeking an enthusiastic nutritionist, chef or food technology teacher to deliver a sessional cookery programme, which aims to teach families how to cook healthily on a budget. The ideal candidate will have appropriate qualifications and experience of teaching cookery skills to small groups. 

Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser

Hours: 35 hours per week, ideally full time, open to part time / job-share

Salary: £25-30,000 depending on experience

Full Details: You can view the full details of this role here. 

How to Apply: 

Applications should be submitted to rachel.simkin@youthtalk.org.uk

The closing date for applications for the role is midnight on Monday 10th April.

Interviews will be conducted in St Albans on 17/18th April.

For more information and an informal and confidential discussion please contact Rachel Simkin, Fundraising Manager on rachel.simkin@youthtalk.org.uk

About The Role: 

This role is being introduced to help identify, develop and manage new corporate partnerships and individual giving opportunities. The Corporate Partnership Fundraiser will lead on and shape our local business offering. Implement a Business Club initiative to grow Youth Talk’s corporate fundraising income and manage new relationships.

You will be working with all fundraising team members, the CEO and Operations Manager primarily to help diversify the charity’s income portfolio and sustainably grow our income.

You will have excellent interpersonal, organisation and time management skills. Be able to identify, nurture and manage relationships to grow a strong pipeline of new income.

Community Engagement Officer

Hours: 36 hours

Salary: £27,979-£31,521 depending on experience

Full Details: You can view the full details of this role here. 

How to Apply: 

Please note, that Hertsmere Borough Council  will not accept CV’s submitted without a fully completed online application form. The guidance notes can be found here. Closing date is 9am, Tuesday 11th April.

 

About The Role:

This is an exciting opportunity within the Council to improve and co-ordinate communication with our hard to reach groups.

This position is based in the Partnerships and Community Engagement Unit.  Your work will be an essential part of improving local people’s lives and understanding the needs of our residents. You will contribute towards the Council’s response to tackling health inequalities, by addressing the wider determinants of heath and working with local people and local organisations to make positive changes.

The post is offered on a fixed term contract to 31st March 2024. 

Cleaner / Home Helper

Hours: Flexible part-time hours. Work is available Monday to Friday between 9am and 4.30pm.

Location: Work locally across Hertfordshire.

Salary: £11.10 per hour PLUS paid holiday pay.

How to Apply: To apply please send an email to recruitsouth@ageukherts.org.uk or call 01923 627 055

About the role:

The work involves cleaning, shopping and other domestic duties such as changing bedlinen and helping with the laundry. You always see the same regular clients, allowing you to become that vital contact that keeps them independent and living in their own home.

For full details of the role please go to Age UK Hertfordshire | Become a Home Helper. No application deadline