Covid-19 has caused pain and loss for all of us directly and indirectly. The response in communities is the adrenaline which kicks in and strengthens our ability to cope. We may not look back fondly on 2020 but there is a lot we can learn from it.

Disability Awareness Day (DAD) is recognised as the largest annual event of its kind in the world. Due to COVID-19, the 29^th event will be held virtually online via www.dadvirtual.org.uk it is totally free, and goes live at 10am on Sunday 25^th October. A week of free, complimentary workshops will also be available the following week between Monday 26^th till Friday 30^th. The website will remain available online for the year ahead.

Safely coming out of lockdown

Take time to look after yourself and each other
As a sector we have been working harder than ever before to continue to provide support to those most in need.  For volunteers and volunteer leaders alike, it has been a very busy time, adapting to new circumstances and working with others to support local people and communities.

While the priority has rightly been to help those most at need, how much time have you given to your own health and wellbeing?

Take time to look after yourself and each other
As a sector we have been working harder than ever before to continue to provide support to those most in need.  For volunteers and volunteer leaders alike, it has been a very busy time, adapting to new circumstances and working with others to support local people and communities.

While the priority has rightly been to help those most at need, how much time have you given to your own health and wellbeing?

Save the date for Communities 1st Voluntary Sector Conference and AGM
We will be hosting three 2-hour zoom meetings over three days in early September for this year’s Voluntary Sector Conference and our AGM.  The theme for the conference this year is Sustainability and we have an exciting line up planned.

The three two-hour Zoom sessions which will take place on

Sharing the human spirit through friendship
Our world faces many challenges, crises and forces of division - to confront those crises and challenges, their root causes must be addressed by promoting and defending a shared spirit of human solidarity that takes many forms - the simplest of which is friendship.

Almost a quarter of charity organisers believe that without additional support, their organisation would not last until this time next year.

Charities across the districts of St Albans, Hertsmere and Welwyn/Hatfield were invited to take part in the ‘Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) Resilience Survey’ during month 4 of the coronavirus pandemic to help measure the impact that the coronavirus is having on the sector.

Earlier this month, NCVO released their annual data snapshot of the charity sector, the UK Civil Society Almanac 2020. Although most of the data itself comes from the 2017/18 financial year, we can see some tell-tale signs about what the future may hold for charities post Covid-19 by analysing this data.

Micro-volunteering can be beneficial to both volunteers and organisations