Fantastic Friday Update

We hope you managed to find time to enjoy the Easter bank holiday last weekend. It’s good to find moments to relax, spend time with friends and family and reflect. 

During April, Communities 1st is supporting National Stress Awareness Month and its aims of raising awareness of the negative impact of stress.
If you want some ideas on how you can relieve stress, have a look here.

Pyjamas for PanCan is happening on 21st April. It's a fun fundraising campaign for Pancreatic Cancer support. If you want to find out how you can take part in this campaign, click here. 

Please note that due to flooding our Community Hub, at 5 Leeming Road, Borehamwood remains closed for repairs. We’re still working hard to ensure alternative provision is available for those who need to meet with us but in the meantime please do give us a call at 01727 649930.

We stand in solidarity with those in our communities that will commemorate the approximately six million Jews and five million others who perished in the Holocaust. Yom HaShoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day will be marked from the sunset on the 17th to sunset on the 18th of April. We will keep these people and their families in our thoughts.

Stay safe, warm and have a lovely weekend!

Nicola Oneill

Wellbeing Services Manager

If you or someone you know is in at risk group or having to isolate, and need help or support with shopping, prescription collection, pet sitting, or 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.

Heart Health - Tell us your experience

Healthwatch Hertfordshire has launched a survey, in partnership with the NHS to understand public awareness and understanding of heart disease and related high-risk conditions, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol. It is open to anyone in Hertfordshire, with or without a heart-related diagnosis. 

The results of this research will support the NHS with the identification, diagnosis and management of preventable heart disease and its related conditions.

The survey closes at the end of April.

Emergency Alert System 

The UK government’s new Emergency Alerts system is now live. The system will enable people to be contacted via their mobile phone when lives are in danger. 

It will be used to warn you in the event of emergencies, such as severe flooding.

If you get an Emergency Alert on your phone, you’ll hear a loud, siren-like sound. A message on your screen will tell you about the emergency and how best to respond.

if you're a survivor of Domestic Abuse with a secret or secondary phone, the government's new Emergency Alerts could reveal your phone even if it's on silent. The tech team at Refuge have created an easy guide to turning off alerts on Androids and iPhone

For more information

A Campaign to Get More People Volunteering - 8th May 23
The Big Help Out campaign aims to promote volunteering and increase participation among those who traditionally do not volunteer. By showcasing the benefits of volunteering and encouraging more people to get involved, the campaign is helping to create a culture of volunteering and community involvement in the UK.

Help us spread the word by sharing information on the upcoming Big Help Out event! More information can be found on our website and social media channels. 
For more information
 

Carers Active April.

This is a campaign month supporting unpaid carers to be physically active and raising awareness of the the benefits of physical activity for carers and the barriers they may face.

By signing up to Carers Active April today you’ll receive:

- Weekly online physical activity sessions throughout April.
- The opportunity to take part in the Move Into Spring movement challenge, running throughout April.
- An invitation to a free virtual Healthathon event on 29 April.

-Helpful ideas, tips and links during the month.

For more information

New online mental health digital advice service for 10-25s

The Sandbox is an NHS-funded service to support children and young people in Hertfordshire with their mental health and well-being.

This new free NHS funded service launched on 1st April 2023 and offers a website, with access to games, worksheets, group chats and online events for children, young people, their parents/carers, teachers and other professionals. The Sandbox provides access to internet enabled Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT), or one to one support from professional therapists by text, phone, online chat or video call, based on a triage of the young person’s needs: 

Therapy sessions: 7am-10pm Mondays-Fridays and 10am-10pm Saturdays and Sundays
Live Chat: 10am-8pm Mondays-Fridays

For more information

Stream Woods Walk, Hatfield
A special, one-off grade 2/3 walk to see the bluebells at Stream Woods in Hatfield is available.  

Meeting point outside Hatfield Station  

Monday 17th April from 1.45pm for a 2pm start and walk for up to an hour. 

More information

Bikes for Asylum Seekers 

Communities 1st is looking for some donations of bikes, helmets, hi-vis vests and any bike related equipment like padlocks and locks for asylum seekers living locally.

The specification for the bikes are as follows:
-Men's bikes
-Straight handle bars
-In a suitable condition for reuse

We know how important it is to keep fit and active, and a bike can also be so helpful for aiding people in getting around when they do not have a car.

If you have some bikes and equipment that you would like to give to a new home, please contact us on 01727 649900 and let us know. We can support you in donating this equipment. 

Act F.A.S.T. campaign
NHS England, in association with the Stroke Association, has re-launched the Act F.A.S.T campaign, to raise awareness of the signs to look out for when someone is having a stroke and highlight the importance of taking action quickly by calling 999 immediately.

Spotting the signs quickly could reduce the amount of time between someone having a stroke and arriving at hospital where they can get the right care.

F.A.S.T. stands for:

Face – has it fallen on one side?
Arms – can they raise both arms and keep them there?
Speech – is their speech slurred?
Time – even if you are unsure, call 999 if any of the above are true.
If you are aged 50 or above you are more likely to experience a stroke but everyone should be aware and vigilant.

For more information

Worrying About Money?

The rising cost of living is on everyone’s mind right now and is having an impact on most people’s personal finances.

Money worries can also have an impact on our mental health and wellbeing. If you're having to make hard decisions about what you can afford, it's normal to feel stressed or down, but there are things you can do to help.

More Information 

Are you interested in setting up a walking group in your community?

Join a fantastic team of volunteers from all walks of life. Hertfordshire Health Walks are free, friendly and safe, offering free training and support to get you started. No previous experience is required.

Walking groups are a great way to stay fit and healthy, while having fun exploring your local area. If you’re interested, please call 01992 588126 or email

More information

Shape Up is back!
The course starts Wednesday 26 April 7:30pm - 9pm and runs at Cranborne Primary School, Laurel Fields, Potters Bar EN6 2BA. During the course, you can find out about simple lifestyle changes you can make to help lose weight in a safe, friendly way.

If you, or anyone you know could benefit from this course register your place here. Alternatively, please contact Shaun Murphy to secure your place.

The next "Dementia Friends Information Session" will be on Zoom on April 19th 11am - 12pm

Cleaner/Caretaker

• Hours: 7.5 hours per week 
• Salary: £10,53 per hour
• Location: Phillimore Community Centre, Radlett and Ver House, Frogmore

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• Partnerships Support Officer
  Hours: 36 hours per week - Permanent full time 
• Salary: £25,155 - £31,521 per annum (depending on experience)
• Location: Civic Offices, Borehamwood

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Nightlight Helpline Coordinator

• Hours: Permanent and Fixed Term available. 4 / 5 nights out of 7 working includes regular weekends. Out of hours working all evenings 17:30 – 01:30).
• Salary: £23,970 – £25,424 pro rata
• Location: Watford, with an expectation to travel to other sites if necessary

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Family Conflict Worker

• Hours: 37 hours per week 
• Salary: £24,000 – £26,000 per annum 
• Location: Hybrid. Office in Hatfield

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Youth Co-Ordinator – Young Carers

• Hours: Full time (37 hours).
• Salary: £21,164.26
• Location: Hybrid working from the Hertford or Borehamwood office

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Family Group Leader for the St Albans and Hemel Hempstead Family Group

• Hours: 8 hours per week
• Salary: £19,650 pro rata ( £10.19 hourly rat)
• Location: St Albans and Hemel Hempstead

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Finance Manager

• Hours: 30 hours 
• Salary: NJC Scale SO2 26 – 28, £30,984 – £32,798 pro rata (£25,122- £26,593)
• Location: Based at Head Office in Stevenage

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Team Leader – Meal Services

• Hours: 22.hours per week--Thursday’s, Friday’s and Saturday’s 8am to 4pm
• Salary: FTE - £25.569.96 per annum (Pro-rated to agreed hours)
• Location: St Albans -Jubilee Centre -AL3 5BU

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Recruitment Coordinator

• Hours: Flexible 18 hours per week, Monday to Friday, hours to be negotiated with the successful candidate with potential for further hours as role progresses
• Salary: FTE £24,980 per annum, depending on experience, pro rata for part time
• Location: Letchworth SG6 1HB- with occasional travel to other HILS’ sites within Hertfordshire, surrounding areas.

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Community Manager 

• Hours: 15 - 20 hours per week 

• Salary: £14.50 per hour 

• Location: St Albans

  More Information and details

Planning Officer  

• Hours: 37 hours per week 
• Salary: £38,296 with the opportunity to progress to a maximum of £42,503pa
• Location: Hertford

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