Policy Pulse November

Welcome to the latest edition of our Policy Pulse Newsletter, your monthly update on key developments within our sector.

In these changing times, and with the next UK budget around the corner, it is more important than ever that we collaborate and support one and other. At Communities 1st we have a variety of online Stronger Together Networks for our local member charities and community groups to enhance your connection to like-minded organisations and work together to help each other's missions. Further information and links can be found below.

There is still time to sign up for our Introduction to Governance on 26 of November. This training course will cover everything your organisation needs to know about governance, from complying with guidelines to how to have effective governance. 

Best wishes,

Kelly Wright
Voluntary Sector and Partnerships Manager

Communities 1st has joined more than 150 civil society organisations from across the UK in signing an open letter to the Prime Minister, led by Equally Ours and supported by NCVO and many other national and local charities.

The letter urges the government to show clear and consistent leadership in advancing equality, inclusion and respect — and to take decisive action against the growing threat of far-right activity that is fuelling division, discrimination, and hostility in communities across the UK.

Signatories call for a positive national vision of compassion and shared humanity, for renewed efforts to tackle structural inequalities, and for stronger education and engagement to build resilience to hate and extremism.

As part of the voluntary and community sector, we see first-hand the strength, kindness and solidarity that exist within our communities every day. We believe that standing together in defence of equality, fairness and respect is essential to a thriving and united society.

You can read the full letter on the Equally Ours website or you can Read the full Guardian story.

Following the closure of the British Youth Council, a new national body, Youth Council UK, has launched under the National Youth Agency to restore young people’s influence in policymaking. It aims to be youth-led, inclusive, and independent, with elections set for early 2026. 

New research from Citizens Advice shows four million people in England and Wales are living in negative budgets with another half a million close to crisis. The charity is urging the government to act on living standards in the upcoming Budget.

Google’s new AI-powered search features are transforming how people find information online and how organisations get seen. While many sectors have lost web traffic, charity and not-for-profit sites remain relatively resilient, thanks to the trust and intent driving users to verified sources. 

Ahead of the publication of the new Charity SORP 2026, which is expected later this month, the SORP-making body has published an update blog.

It also wants to remind charities that they need to get ready for some critical changes to requirements that are being introduced to the UK accounting standard that will apply to those producing SORP accounts.

It began in summer 2020. Stuck at home during the first COVID lockdown, we were searching for something meaningful to do on Zoom. One of our leaders knew someone in Ghana who introduced us to a Scout leader in Tamale, Northern Ghana. The internet connection was terrible, but the Cubs were captivated by hearing stories of Scouting life so different from their own.

Not long after, we received an email from Scouts Against Malaria.  We hadn’t heard of them before, but it felt like perfect timing. The Cubs could take real action from home, so we challenged them to raise £10 each to buy mosquito nets. They jumped at it, running bake sales, doing sponsored walks, litter picks, climbs, tree planting, and making and selling paracord keyrings.

Together they raised £1,600, which went directly to our friends in Tamale. Working with the Ghanaian Health Service, they bought and distributed nets to protect pregnant women, young children, and the elderly. The Cubs watched videos of the nets being distributed, seeing the direct impact of their efforts.

Five years later, we’ve raised over £7,000, helped protect more than 2,000 families, and supported villages where Malaria has now almost been eradicated. Our Cubs even featured on BBC Newsround.

We’re incredibly proud of what they’ve achieved, but Malaria still infects around 200 million people every year and causes over 600,000 deaths, 95% of them children under five.

If you’d like to learn more or support the work of Scouts Against Malaria, visit scoutsagainstmalaria.org.uk or contact us at griffincubs@yahoo.com.

Even small efforts can save lives.

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: 10 November 2025
Time: 9:30am to 11:30am
Venue: WelHat Community Hub, 1st 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 encouraged to attend these online meetings to share resources, knowledge and opportunities for working in partnership, to build meaningful connections and make a difference together.

To join remaining Stronger Together Networks this year, please register via links below.

St Albans charities, community groups, and supporters of Lions are warmly invited to an inspiring social evening celebrating the recent projects funded by St Albans Lions Club.

This is a wonderful opportunity to discover more about the Lions Club and explore how they can support your organisation.

When: 18 November 2025 at 7.30pm
Where: The Goat Inn, Sopwell Lane, St Albans, AL1 1RN

Manchester Metropolitan University is seeking adults with a learning disability who use a digital device and / or received a free device during the Covid-19 pandemic, to complete an online survey. 

If you support anyone at your organisation who meets this criteria, or have network links to others who do, we’d be grateful if you can share the survey with them.

The survey is accessible, with different ways for people to take part, and is open until the end of December. There are also multiple chances to win up to £100!

More information for participants can be found here. 

St Albans City and District Council (SADC) distributes funding to voluntary and community groups in the form of grants. These grants support the delivery of projects and activities that benefit the local community and meet the council’s priorities. 

To help organisations understand the criteria and current priorities, the Council is holding a Grant Information Session

Where: Online
When: 6 November 2025
Time: 4.30pm - 5.30pm

To get a link to join the meeting, email vcsgrants@stalbans.gov.uk 

This training course will provide your organisation with essential knowledge about governance, including compliance with guidelines and methods for achieving effective governance.

Where: Online
When: 26 November 2025
Time: 10am - 2pm

Member fee - £25
Non-member fee - £40

Join The National Lottery session on funding priorities and community grants. You will have a chance to ask questions and discuss your applications with the funders directly. Establishing this connection could enhance your chances of securing funding.

Where: Online
When: 3 December 2025
Time: 10am - 11am

This session is for members only.

To receive the registration link, email memberservices@communities1st.org.uk 

Hours:35 hours per week
Salary: £25,358 - £30,870 depending on experience
Main places of work: Based at the Head Office in Hatfield, but required to travel to see clients.

The Support and Development Worker will provide high-quality, one-to-one support to individuals transitioning from homelessness and recovering from complex life challenges. This includes helping clients sustain tenancies, access services, and achieve personal goals. The role is deeply rooted in building trusting relationships, fostering resilience, and promoting behaviour change in line with trauma-informed, person-led principles.

Hours: 30 hours plus per week
Salary: £34,000 pro-rata
Main places of work: Ver House, Park Estate, Frogmore, AL2 2DR plus various community locations across Hertfordshire

Communities 1st is looking for the right person to focus on developing and expanding our enterprise activity, ensuring services are innovative, inclusive, and financially sustainable. The role combines day-to-day service management with broader strategic input and business development support, helping embed a culture of enterprise across Communities 1st.

Hours: 2/3 days a week
Salary: £27,090 pro rata
Main places of work: Ver House, Park Estate, Frogmore, AL2 2DR

The Community Transport Service Facilitator plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of accessible transport for individuals with mobility challenges or those who find using public transport challenging. You'll coordinate daily operations, support drivers, liaise sensitively with customers and stakeholders, use our booking system and provide information and answer queries relating to the Travel Link service, and ensure vehicles meet safety and compliance standards. This dynamic role combines logistics, customer service, and community impact—perfect for someone passionate about making a difference.

This role is a temporary role to cover maternity leave.

Hours: 16 hours plus per week
Salary: £12.60 per hour
Main places of work: The role is based primarily in Hertsmere, Three Rivers, Watford and Welwyn and Hatfield districts, although you may be required to work throughout the county of Hertfordshire.

Communities 1st runs Shopper Bus services, day trips and transport to and from social fun clubs. Working for the community as a Community Transport Minibus Driver for our Community Transport Scheme, you will provide a valuable service for our elderly and/or disabled members of the public who request transport from door to door. Many of our clients require assistance and therefore drivers need to be physically fit with a caring personality. If you like driving and have caring nature and want to be part of a growing transport team this role could be for you!

Hours: Zero - casual hour
Salary: £12.60 per hour
Main places of work: Frogmore, with travel to Borehamwood and Radlett.

The Cleaner/Caretaker will provide a comprehensive cleaning service at the Community Centres managed by Communities 1st and 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.