This week is mental health awareness week, so remember to do something good for your mind. Whether it’s talking to a friend, going for a walk or just taking a few deep breaths, a few small actions can make a big difference. If you think someone you know might be struggling with their mental health, send them a message to check in.

This week we’ve welcomed some new Kickstart employees into our team. The government’s Kickstart scheme aims to help young people at risk of long term unemployment to find work. Earlier this year Communities 1st became a Kickstart gateway.

Written by one of our volunteers:

Throughout the long winter months of lockdown, local Hertfordshire resident Lesley tried to keep herself busy. She bought herself , planned new home projects, and invested in some tapestry making kits and piano music. Although the lockdown was a wonderful opportunity for her to focus on self-development and fulfilling hobbies, she increasingly began to miss her friends and family, and felt an empty space where they should be.

Written by one of our volunteers:

At the beginning of lockdown in March 2020, Alison found herself unexpectedly living on her own. The Nursery where she worked had closed and her Mum was self-isolating elsewhere. She felt a little lonely and wanted to find something to do to keep busy, as well as helping others in a similar situation. Volunteering was the answer. So began (in Alison’s words) the “warm fuzzies” experience with Communities 1st.

As things start to re-open and we return to some normality, we must ensure we don't brush over the deep-rooted, systemic inequalities in our society that the pandemic has exposed.

Thanks to the government’s #CultureRecoveryFund we can continue to be #HereForCulture. Para Dance UK are thrilled to be launching a new programme, especially designed for social dancers, on getting back into inclusive dance. Tour Of The Floor will let you explore different dance genres from all over the world and will help get you dancing again in a fun and safe way.

Thanks to the government’s #CultureRecoveryFund we can continue to be #HereForCulture. Para Dance UK are thrilled to be launching a new programme, especially designed for social dancers, on getting back into inclusive dance. Tour Of The Floor will let you explore different dance genres from all over the world and will help get you dancing again in a fun and safe way.

Thanks to the government’s #CultureRecoveryFund we can continue to be #HereForCulture. Para Dance UK are thrilled to be launching a new programme, especially designed for social dancers, on getting back into inclusive dance. Tour Of The Floor will let you explore different dance genres from all over the world and will help get you dancing again in a fun and safe way.

Written by one of our volunteers:

As the true impact of coronavirus became increasingly real for the strained NHS, and families and individuals losing loved ones, many of you embarked on a quest to find something useful to do. Ann became a volunteer in May 2020, combining it with her work as an NHS medical secretary. Although she hadn't volunteered since her children were young, she felt compelled to contribute to the pandemic response effort, even in a small way.

Over the course of the pandemic, here at Communities 1st we have had a mixture of working from home and in the office. Speaking to colleagues across the voluntary sector has got me thinking; how do we support our member organisations as they reopen their spaces, and how will we work in the future?

Summer Festival

Para Dance UK is pleased to announce that the booking system for our first online competition, Summer Festival, is now open! Click on the link to go to our Eventbrite page where you’ll find the rules, terms and conditions. Please read these before you book.

https://paradanceuksummerfestival.eventbrite.co.uk

Payment on Eventbrite is by debit/credit card.