Policy Pulse Newsletter

Spring has well and truly sprung and I am sure we are all enjoying the sunshine and lighter evenings. With the new season upon us, the CVS team is looking forward to providing you with lots of opportunities and resources, to continue to support the growth, efficiency and impact of your organisation.

Following the merger with Welwyn Hatfield CVS, we are hosting our first Networking Breakfast to connect with and welcome our members in the Welwyn Hatfield borough. Find out about the event below. The member spotlight this month features the Ukrainian School of Herts, based in Welwyn Garden City.

The annual calendar of Stronger Together Network meetings is available, and we invite you to register to join us online to share insights and discuss current trends in your respective fields.

We hope that you continue to find this Policy Pulse newsletter to be informative. Please get in touch with the team with any feedback or suggestions.

Best wishes,

Stephen Craker
Chief Executive 

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is hosting a Summer Preparedness Stakeholder webinar on 10 April 2025, featuring updates on heat-health guidance, weather alerts, reflections on 2024, and public health preparedness. 

The Charity Commission is warning charities about scam letters pretending to be from its officials, requesting actions like removing trustees or sharing personal documents. For tips on spotting scams and staying safe, click the button below.

New rules to make recycling easier for people in England came into force on 31 March.

Simpler Recycling enables consistent, more streamlined collections from all households, businesses and relevant non-domestic premises such as charities, schools and hospitals. These will affect charities in England with 10 or more employees.

The Ukrainian Saturday School of Herts C.I.C. is more than just a place of learning—it is a vibrant community dedicated to preserving language, history, and identity. Our mission is to support Ukrainian children living in the UK by ensuring they maintain fluency in their native language, stay connected to their cultural roots, and receive the emotional support.

Many Ukrainian children face the challenge of studying in both UK and Ukrainian school systems, often struggling to adapt to different curriculums. At our school, we provide structured lessons that help students keep up with their Ukrainian education while also fostering a sense of belonging. Beyond academics, we create a safe space where children can freely express themselves, build friendships, and strengthen their mental wellbeing.

We celebrate Ukrainian traditions, organise cultural events, and bring families together. Our school is not just about education—it is a hub where the community finds support, connection, and a sense of home. Whether through language lessons, festive celebrations, or simply a friendly conversation, we are here to ensure that Ukrainian heritage continues to thrive for generations to come.

The Road Ahead: 2025
Powered by People, Fuelled by Purpose

We are delighted to invite you to our Annual Conference taking place on Wednesday, 26 June in St Albans. This event is set to be an exciting and motivational day, featuring insightful workshops, expert speakers, and plenty of chances to network.

The programme will be packed with a variety of workshops and speakers specifically tailored to be useful to organisations and focusing on topics such as partnership building, fundraising, sustainability, impact measurement and more!

More details are to follow very soon, but in the meantime, make sure you save the date!

You are invited to attend the next quarterly networking breakfast for existing, new and enquiring member organisations.

Come along and enjoy light refreshments while making connections with other voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations. 

Find out about all the membership benefits available, including:

• Funding advice and support
• Help with volunteer recruitment
• Training and workshops 

Share your initiatives and projects and discuss local priorities and current trends. 

Date: Monday 28 April 2025
Time: 9.30am - 11.30am
Venue: WelHat Community Hub, First Floor, White Lion House, White Lion Square, Hatfield, AL10 0JL

We look forward to welcoming you!

Communities 1st has 12 Stronger Together Networks for local charities and community groups to connect, collaborate and support each other’s missions. As a member, you are welcome to attend the online meetings to share resources, knowledge and opportunities for working in partnership and to build meaningful connections and make a difference together.

Communities 1st is pleased to offer fully-funded bursaries for individuals in specialist driving roles. This opportunity is available to staff, volunteers, or those supported by our member VCFSE organisations who live or work in Watford, Three Rivers, Dacorum, Hertsmere, St Albans, or Welwyn Hatfield.

The bursaries are designed to help people who are employed, under-employed, or seeking work, and cover a range of specialist driving licences to enhance employability and meet local skill shortages. Licenses covered by this bursary include but are not limited to HGV, D1, and PSV (C and D categories).

If you or someone you support could benefit from this funding, please contact us directly at training@communities1st.org.uk for more information.

The Better Business scheme promotes and creates new working partnerships between local businesses and the VCFSE sector.

As a valued member, we would love to hear your thoughts on how local businesses can support the important work of charities and community groups in the area. Communities 1st can introduce your organisation to companies committed to making a positive impact through corporate social responsibility, benefiting your organisation directly and the wider VCFSE sector as a whole.

Look out for our Better Business survey arriving in your inbox soon. Let’s create meaningful connections, strengthen partnerships, and achieve greater success together.

For more information, please contact memberservices@communities1st.org.uk

The Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference 2025 (VSVR ’25) invites you to discuss issues related to the conference theme and hear about the latest research on various topics in the voluntary sector and volunteering.

They welcome submissions for individual papers, panel sessions, and workshops. They especially encourage proposals that relate to the conference theme and welcome papers on any relevant topics in volunteering and the voluntary sector.

The Police Crime Commissioner is calling for passionate young people aged 14 to 25 to join the first Hertfordshire Youth Commission (HYC) on Police and Crime. This peer-led research project offers a chance to influence policing, engage with decision-makers, and drive meaningful change.
They seek a diverse group from all backgrounds, including children in care, refugees, individuals from marginalised communities, and those with experiences in the criminal justice system.

Application Deadline: Friday 2 May 2025

This online Professional Boundaries training session will help you to understand how to develop and maintain professional relationships that adhere to appropriate boundaries. 

Date: Thursday 24 April 
Time: 10am - 1pm

Join the upcoming webinar to explore the dynamics of intergenerational environments and learn how to create inclusive spaces in the sports sector. Learn about the characteristics of different generations, strategies for effective engagement, and best practices for working and competing in diverse age settings.           

Date: Monday 13 April 2025
Time: 11:00am - 12:30pm 

This varied role demands focus, creativity, independent thinking, and an entrepreneurial spirit. It emphasises community engagement and proactive collaboration with colleagues from the voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector, as well as the private and public sectors.

The Community and Partnerships Coordinator is a high-level administrative and operational role that supports the organisation by engaging with stakeholders and coordinating a diverse range of activities.

You can view the full details of this role here.

Hours: 25-30 per week
Salary: £28,228 pro-rata

Application deadline: 17 April 2025

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

The primary function is to deliver hot community meals and tea packs to vulnerable, disabled, and elderly clients across Hertfordshire. Every visit includes a caring welfare check to help every client to stay happy, healthy, and independent in their home, meaning that employees will need to show personable skills when interacting with clients to ensure that each client’s needs are met. 

Reference: CTM-Hertfordshire-1804
Hours: 11am to 2pm
Salary: £12.25 on weekdays, £12.75 on weekends
Location: Various

For more information about this role and to apply, please click here.