Voluntary Sector Briefing

We are well and truly into spring now, enjoying blue skies and huge downpours within the same hour!  As the weather is  improving, many Warm Spaces have closed and we are thinking ahead to next year.  If your organisation opened as a Warm Space and you are happy to share your experiences to aid planning for the future, please contact us at memberservices@communties1st.org.uk. 

There are lots of useful and informative events to look forward to, including a ‘Meet the Funder’ session with The Coop Community Fund and our May programme of Stronger Together Networks.  This May, we will be introducing a new ‘Community Spaces’ STN- this is aimed at organisations managing any community spaces, including community centres or those hiring out rooms.  Come along to share the challenges and to discuss the ways in which we can maximise these assets. 

Finally a reminder that the Communities 1st Annual Conference for the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise Sector will take place on Thursday 20th July in St Albans. The conference will start at 9am and conclude at 1pm followed by lunch. Booking will open very soon so do save the date in your diary now!

Stephen Craker
Chief Executive

It is time again to register to attend our Stronger Together Networks!
There will be 10 Stronger Together Network meetings in May, all offered as hybrid meetings. Our members are welcome to join online or in person at our Frogmore, St Albans offices. 

Following feedback from members, we are excited to now offer the Community Spaces Network as the latest addition to the Stronger Together family. It is an excellent opportunity for organisations managing community spaces, including community centres and rooms for hire, to come together and discuss ways to maximise use of spaces, share experiences, best practise and challenges they face. It's also a chance to develop partnership working opportunities and promote your offer. 

The complete list of meetings, short descriptions and links to registration pages can be found here.

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

Shape Up back for Potters Bar!
Shape Up is a 12 week FREE weight loss course aimed at men aged 18 to 65 who have a BMI of 30+.

The course starts on Wednesday 26 April 7:30-9pm 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 at shaun.murphy@watfordfc.com now to secure your place.

Shape Up is run by the Watford FC Community Sports and Education Trust. If you would like further information on this programme, please visit their website.

FREE NHS Health Checks for 40-74 year olds
Everyone is at risk of developing heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and some forms of dementia. The good news is that these conditions can often be prevented – even if someone has a history of them in their family.

If you’re aged 40-74, Hertsmere's Healthy Hubs are offering you the opportunity to have a free NHS health check on Monday 22 May and 26 June at The Wyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar, EN6 2HN.

You’ll be assessed on your personal heart health, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and risk of diabetes. Your personal advisor can also help with information on diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol, and risk reduction. Places must be booked in advance so please contact us for more information.

To be eligible you must:

• be 40-74 years of age
• not have had an NHS Health Check in the last five years
• not have had a stroke or heart disease
• not been diagnosed with high blood pressure or atrial fibrillation (fast irregular heartbeat)
• not be taking cholesterol lowering medication
• not already been diagnosed with a risk of 20% or more of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years

To register your interest please complete the online registration here. Or for more information you can contact Hertfordshire Health Improvement Service here.

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 

Accessing GP Services – Views from Hertfordshire’s Parents and Carers - Healthwatch report
Healthwatch Hertfordshire worked with the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) to hear from parents and carers about their experiences of accessing their GP practice for their child, or the young person they care for.

They have now published the report, which can be found here. The report details their findings and includes recommendations which have been shared with the ICB Primary Care Board to take forward.

The ICB Primary Care Board has already put into action some recommendations, including improvements to phone lines, with 95 practices awarded funding to support upgrading their telephone systems and development of online services for patients. We will continue to monitor progress to ensure that parents and carers are able to access their GP practice on behalf of their child, or the person they care for, with greater ease and confidence.

Research on the Barriers Facing Trans+ Survivors of Domestic Abuse
This research is conducted for Safer Places, a domestic abuse service based in Essex and Hertfordshire. The aim of this research is to understand the barriers facing trans+ domestic abuse support services, and to understand how best to encourage trans+ survivors of domestic abuse to come forward for support. The survey is for transgender and non-binary people living in Essex and Hertfordshire - they do not have to have experienced domestic abuse in order to take part in the survey.

As part of this research, Safer places are looking to conduct interviews with people who work with trans+ people in a professional or semi-professional manner in Essex or Hertfordshire (e.g. an organiser of a trans+ support group, a staff member within an LGBT+ or trans+ specific organisation, an organiser of a trans+ sport team, etc). If this sounds like you, and you would like to take part in an interview, please email the research lead on sophie.howarth@saferplaces.co.uk. Any person who takes part in an interview will receive a £20 Amazon voucher. You do not need to be trans+ to take part in these interviews, but it is preferred.   

If you have any more questions, or have experiences not covered within the survey that you'd like to share, please email the research lead on sophie.howarth@saferplaces.co.uk.

Sustainable Period online workshops
Hertfordshire WasteAware and Sustainable Hertfordshire have launched a campaign, Herts Sustainable Periods, to reduce period waste and poverty, and improve period health in Hertfordshire. All residents in Hertfordshire are able to apply for a 15% discount when buying reusable period products with their suppliers.

To support this offer, they are offering schools and community organisations free training at an online workshop. 

If you would like to attend the workshop and receive a demonstration kit, please complete this survey. 

Online Workshop dates:

Tuesday 25th April, 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Monday 29th May, 3:30pm – 5:30pm 

If you have any questions, please email periods@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

Regional Youth Work Unit survey on Youth Work Level 2 & 3 Qualifications Bursary
The trustees of the Regional Youth Work Unit would like to encourage youth organisations to participate in the survey which will help to assess the resources available across the membership, to secure the round 4 bursary funding from National Youth Agency, and ensure L2 & L3 Youth Work qualifications are made available across the regions and delivered by local services wherever possible. The survey will close on the 20th May. 

Charity Commissioner warns charities not to ‘stray into party politics’
The Chair of the Charity Commission has warned the sector never to ‘stray into party politics, promote or be seen to promote, a political party of candidate.  He also warned charities to ‘expect increased scrutiny’ over their duty to show ‘prudence’, saying they must ‘understand the sacrifices (their) donors and volunteers are making’ during the cost-of-living crisis.

Small Charities Advisory Panel formed after infrastructure body closures
The Small Charities Advisory Panel has been launched to champion the voices and experiences of small charities. The panel will ensure this vital part of the voluntary sector can continue to access tailored help, support and advocacy.

The creation of the panel was a key part of the agreement to transfer services from the Small Charities Coalition (SCC) when it closed last year. The SCC's services are currently delivered by NCVO in partnership with the FSI.

Following the announcement the FSI will close in Spring 2023, the panel will now help NCVO to continue the legacies of both the FSI and SCC. The panel sits independently but will play a vital advisory role. It will also hold NCVO and any future partners to account. Read more.

The Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference 2023
The event is organised by the Voluntary Sector Studies Network (VSSN), in partnership with Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS), and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). It will provide a unique opportunity for academics, policy makers and practitioners from the UK and further afield to come together to share findings and discuss the implications of research for civil society.

The organisers would welcome submissions for individual papers, panel sessions and workshops. They are particularly keen to receive proposals for the conference theme, but will also welcome papers that address any issues relevant to volunteering and the voluntary sector. The list of topics and more information about the event can be found here. Please submit your abstract here, or email vsvrconference@gmail.com for more information. 

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.

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