Voluntary Sector Briefing

Many of you will be reading this as you look forward to a summer break or perhaps you have just returned feeling refreshed and ready to face new challenges. 

Either way, read on for details of events that will support you in your work, including the Stronger Together Networks in September and the Communities 1st/ Welwyn Hatfield CVS webinar for sponsors of Ukrainian guests. 

The cost of living continues to rise and impact upon our communities. Communities 1st want to understand how the cost of living crisis is impacting on your organisation and your members.  If you are able to share this information, please contact christine.halpin@communties1st.org.uk

Finally, our membership renewal emails will be sent out in the next few days, please look out for it and renew your membership as soon as you can. 

Wishing you a restful summer.  

Stephen Craker

Chief Executive

Communities 1st Membership Renewal

Communities 1st membership year runs from 1 May until 30 April (it is a yearly membership, not a rolling membership)

Due to a planned upgrade to our website and CRM, we have chosen to send out membership renewal notices a little late this year. Please do look out for the membership renewal email in the next few days.

Membership of Communities 1st is very competitively priced, starting at just £30 per year and offers voluntary sector organisations a huge range of fantastic benefits including:

• Support with all areas of small group development
• Advice on locating sources of funding and writing funding applications
• Access to a monthly funding newsletter, packed full of information about potential sources of funding
• Guidance on governance and policy development
• Promotion of volunteer vacancies
• Promotion of events and activities
• Access to networking events including the Stronger Together Networks. 
  
   

All of the above activities are for C1st member organisations only. Following the membership renewal process these services will no longer be accessible by organisations who do not renew their membership. 

For any queries about membership benefits, or to check the membership status of your organisation please email memberservices@communities1st.org.uk.

Virtual Weekly Drop-in Support Sessions

Did you know, that as a member of Communities 1st, we can offer you support on a wide range of topics, including funding, governance and policies and volunteer recruitment, as well as opportunities to network and work with other voluntary sector organisations? Our weekly Virtual Drop-in Support Sessions for voluntary sector organisations take place every Wednesday at 11am via Zoom. Drop in to tell us what you are working on, what support you need and to connect with other local voluntary sector organisations.

The sessions are friendly, informal and constructive. Come along anytime you need to. 

To register please click here

Stronger Together Networks

The Stronger Together Network Meetings are held quarterly, in February, May, September and November by Zoom.

Each Stronger Together Network gives an opportunity for organisations working in a similar field to network, share experiences and challenges and work together. 

There are 6 Stronger Together Networks:

Mental Health Network: A positive and welcoming network of mental health providers, facilitating meetings, networking, sharing of ideas and discussions of best practice to meet the needs of their service users.

Children & Young People Network: A network to provide space for organisations working to support and help children & young people to meet, network, create and share information and ideas across county.

Transport Network: An informative and informal network of local community transport organisations, providing a great networking and information sharing opportunity and a forum to discuss provision of the different services provided within local schemes.

Disability Network: A fantastic opportunity to meet, learn and talk to other organisations working to help people with disabilities in the locality.

Culture and Environment Network: A network giving a fantastic opportunity for BAME organisations, museums, theatres, cinemas, galleries, parks and leisure centres to come together, share information about their facilities, work and network.

Older People Network: A welcoming space for organisations working with older people to network, to share ideas, activities, and promote good physical and mental health and well-being, reduce isolation and loneliness so older people may live healthy and meaningful lives.

You can find the dates and times for the next STN below: 

September

• Culture and Environment, Tues 13 Sept 10:30-12:00 
• Disability, Tues 13 Sept 14:00-15:30 
• Older People, Weds 14 September 14:00-15:30 
• Transport, Tues 20 September 10:30-12:00 
• Mental Health, Tues 20 September 14:00-15:30 
• Children and Young People, Weds 21 September 14:00-15:30 

Please choose the relevant event(s) and register here to attend, or contact Isobel Hatfield, Partnerships & Development Coordinator, for further information.

Email: isobel.hatfield@communites1st.org.uk                 Tel:     01727 649942

Ukraine Peer to Peer Support Sessions

Communities 1st are hosting weekly sessions where Ukrainians can meet other Ukrainians in the UK and hosts can meet other hosts, to come together, chat and make friends. These sessions are open to all, on both the Homes for Ukraine scheme and the Friends and Family visa. 

Come along to:

Aberford Community Centre, Aberford Rd, Borehamwood WD6 1PN 

From 4.00pm - 6.00pm, every Wednesday. 

For more information email us@communities1st.org.uk

Herts with Ukraine Website 

The Herts with Ukraine website is hosted by Community Help Herts, a partnership of voluntary sector organisations delivering projects to support the communities in Hertfordshire. This website provides information and resources to help you if you are sponsoring or supporting Ukrainian guests, or are considering doing so. It also provides a wealth of information and resources to support Ukrainian guests, such as local activities and information on where to go for advice on a range of topics. 

The Herts with Ukraine website aims to be a community resource. If your organisation would like to post something on the Herts with Ukraine website, please email Gary Franklin at Communities 1st  gary.franklin@communities1st.org.uk

Please click here to visit the Herts with Ukraine website. 

Able2Enable

Communities 1st is running the Able2Enable project across St Albans, Hertsmere, Welwyn Hatfield, Broxbourne and East Herts. We are looking for organisations to become Able2Enable Allies, willing to work with us to host a supported volunteer on an ongoing basis.

Volunteering should be accessible and open to all individuals. Sometimes people need a bit of extra support to volunteer and overcome barriers such as a lack of confidence and motivation, difficulty communicating, problems completing application forms or anxiety about travelling to unfamiliar venues and meeting new people. Able2Enable works with these individuals to enable them to get into volunteering positions.

There are many benefits for organisations hosting a supported volunteer. We can offer you a committed volunteer to support your work, access to our ongoing support, training and guidance to make your workplace more accessible and inclusive to our volunteers, and support to ensure that our volunteer is able to take on the role. You will benefit by having a committed volunteer that can support your work and the satisfaction of supporting your local community. Hosting a supported volunteer can also help to diversify your organisation.

If you would like to refer a volunteer needing some extra support, if you are interested in hosting a volunteer through Able2Enable, or simply to know more about the project and its impact within the community, please contact us at able2enable@communities1st.org.uk

Holiday meal scheme for Hertsmere households 

Free hot meals for families and individuals are available from hubs across Hertsmere during the school summer holidays, thanks to a community-driven initiative. 

Anyone who wants a meal for themselves and their family over the summer, whether or not they are currently claiming benefits or free school meals, will be able to collect from hubs based in Borehamwood, Potters Bar and Bushey every week day until Friday 2 September, excluding the August bank holiday. 

The meals will be hot, vegetarian and high on nutrition and prepared by chefs working for The Akshaya Patra Foundation. The Akshaya Patra Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation headquartered in Bengaluru, India, which strives to eliminate classroom hunger.

The hubs will operate on weekdays between 12pm-1pm, for more details please click here. 

Free Carbon Reduction Talks in St Albans 

Community and environmental charity Groundwork East are offering free Carbon Reduction Talks in St Albans. 

Groundwork East is working in partnership with Sustainable St Albans to raise awareness and address the challenges of climate change to try to make St Albans District a more environmentally sustainable place to live. 

The sessions are designed for local residents and will cover:

• The science and effects of climate change.
• Why action should be taken now, and why us?
• Understanding all the key climate terms and jargon.
• Carbon footprints, emissions and how we can reduce our impact individually and collectively.
• Identifying carbon reduction actions through the Count-Us-In website.

The training is suitable for anyone, no prior knowledge is required.

Please contact sarah.white@groundwork.org.uk for more information. 

Walking with Poles (Nordic Walking)

YMCA Community Hub, Leavesden Country Park, College Rd, Abbots Langley WD5 0NX, will be running a taster session on the 8th September 2022 at 10:30am. 

Please join in the boost your well-being. If you've ever heard about Nordic walking and wondered what it's like, now is your chance to join the taster session. 

Click here for more. 

Free Holiday fun keeps kids in Hertfordshire HAPpy this summer 

Hertfordshire County Council are running free summer holiday camps known as HAPpy Camps. There are over 180 camps funded by Hertfordshire County Council across the county, coordinated by Herts Sports Partnerships and Hertfordshire Community Foundation. HAPpy Camps are delivering healthy food and fun activities during the school holidays for children who are eligible for benefits related school meals. 

Click here to find out more.

Summer Special Fares for Hertfordshire's on demand bus service

HertsLynx, the on-demand bus service, is offering some fantastic fare offers for residents in east and north Hertfordshire to take advantage of during the summer school holidays. To help all residents and especially families to get out and about at this time, children aged 10 years and under will be able to travel for free, while all other fares will have 30% off. The current maximum fare anyone would pay is £5, but during the summer this will come down to just £3.50. The summer special fares will be available from Monday 18 July until Wednesday 31 August.

Click here to find out more.                                              

Hertfordshire Libraries are exploring opportunities to create 'Flexible Spaces' in some of our library buildings

Hertfordshire Libraries are seeking views on their proposal to create 'Flexible Spaces'.

'Flexible spaces' can be configured rapidly so that they can suit different kinds of events through the use of moveable equipment, sound proofing and innovative technology e.g. shifting between a space for a class on well-being to a theatre production to a round table meeting. The area also includes a 'creator space' where possible. 

What is a Creator space?

Please click here to complete the survey on 'Flexible Spaces' in libraries. 

Hertfordshire Trading Standards

Trading Standards continue to raise awareness of emerging issues to help protect consumers in the midst of the cost of living crisis. Hertfordshire Trading Standards are providing some tips to helps you stay safe when shopping online: 

Be wary of companies you haven’t heard of before. Make sure you’re absolutely certain who you’re buying from.

It’s so easy to buy goods from overseas, using the internet, but if there’s a problem you may find it’s impossible to hold the seller responsible and UK laws may not apply.

Check that the business has provided a physical address that they can be contacted at. But be careful, fraudsters may provide false details. With this in mind Hertfordshire Trading Standards are providing some tips to help you stay safe when shopping online:

• Is it clear who the business is?
• Are they a limited company? If they are you can check their details on the Companies House website. If they’re not a limited company, is it clear who they are and who you are buying from?
• How long has the business been operating?
• Are they well established with a great reputation or have they only started trading recently?

Remember - large online market places such as eBay and Amazon may be able to assist you with any complaint you have against a seller using their platform. 

If you need further advice please contact the consumer helpline - Citizen's Advice.

New Training Offer for Communities 1st Members

We are offering Communities 1st members access to an extensive programme of e-training. Training will be delivered 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 of up 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 discuss accessing courses for a smaller number of people, please contact Juli Riley, see contact details below. 

If you would like to take up this excellent offer but are not currently a member of Communities 1st, please contact christine.halpin@communties1st.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 for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups and organisations supporting their communities needs through the delivery of social prescribing activities.

Click here to register

Mind in Mid Herts Training 

M-ask wellbeing drama programme                          This  fun and free programme using theatre techniques is for those suffering from stress, anxiety, depression and other conditions affecting mental wellbeing. You don’t need any experience to take part, everyone is welcome from absolute beginners to the more experienced.

8 week Programme runs:

Date: Sept 29th, October 6th, October 13th, October 20th, (No Session 27th Oct), November 3rd, November 10th, November 17th and November 24th.

Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm.

Location: St Albans Mind 11 Hatfield Rd, St Albans AL1 3RR.

For more information, please call 03303 208100 or email admin@mindinmidherts.org.uk

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Programme

The online programme is an eight-week evidence-based program; which offers mindfulness training to assist people with stress, anxiety and depression. This will be run by our qualified mindfulness practitioner. 

It is a practical approach that trains attention, allowing people to cultivate awareness and therefore enabling them to have more choice and take wise action in their lives. You’ll also receive a workbook to utilise alongside the course and practice skills yourself.

If you have any queries then please get in contact with the training team: admin@mindinmidherts.org.uk

Mental Health Peer Support Training

Do you want to support others with their mental health? Become a Mental Health Peer Supporter! Mind in Mid Herts will be offering training to give you the skills to support others with their mental health and wellbeing.

The current online course dates for this training are below:

• Wednesday 17th August, Thursday 18th August (2x full days 9.30am to 4.30pm)
• Thursday 15th September, Friday 16th September (2x full days 9.30am to 4.30pm)
• Thursday 29th September, Friday 30th September (2x full days 9.30am to 4.30pm)

Please click here to book your free course. 

Free Cooking Sessions to Sopwell residents 

Sopwell eco-stars is a sub-group of Sopwell Residents Association. They aim to support local people to manage the uncertainties of global warming, ecological breakdown, and related disruptions around food, energy, and the cost of living.

Sopwell eco-stars are offering free cooking sessions to local Sopwell residents and beginners living in the area.

The next date is Saturday 1st October 2-4pm at the Cottonmill Community & Cycling Centre, Old Oak, off Cottonmill Lane. AL1 2EF.

Please contact Kate and Gail with any questions email info@sopwell.org.uk 

New Leaf College

New Leaf College offers hope for the future despite life's challenges, opportunity, learning from other student's experiences and equipping students with skills to make changes to support their wellbeing. 

For the Autumn term the college will return to the classroom, offering 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.

Safe Webinar (Security Advice For Everyone)

SAFE shares CST's security knowledge with groups outside of the Jewish community that are vulnerable to violence, extremism or hate crime. 

Please see the full schedule below with links to the Zoom pre-registration page. 

7th September at 2pm, Basic security (An introduction to security for places of worship and faith communities):

Register here. 

14th September at 2pm, Conflict Management (Effective communication in high stress situations):

Registration here. 

21st September at 7pm, Organising security (Security and risk management, and how to develop a security plan):

Register here.

29th September at 7pm, Hate crime and your community (How to deal with racial and religious hatred – especially in the digital age):

Registration here.

20th October at 2pm, Online security (How to protect yourself and your community from online threats):

Registration here.

26th October at 2pm, Women’s safety (Simple tips to keep you safe during your busy daily life):

Registration here. 

If you need any help please contact enquires@safe.cst.org.uk

Communities 1st Job Vacancies

Communities 1st currently have some exciting vacancies.  You can find these along with further information here. Please contact us by email at us@communities1st.org.uk or call us on 01727 649900.  

Sessional Cookery Programme Leader

Salary:

Up to £30 per hour

How To Apply:

You can view the full details of the role here. 

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Helen at Communities 1st on 020 3940 4869 or Helen.Ives-Rose@communities1st.org.uk.

About The Role:

Communities 1st are seeking an enthusiastic nutritionist, chef or food technology teacher to deliver a sessional cookery programme, which aims to teach families how to cook healthily on a budget. The ideal candidate will have appropriate qualifications and experience of teaching cookery skills to small groups. 

Operations and Participation Assistant

Herts Inclusive Theatre are looking for an Operations and Participation Assistant to join their small Hertfordshire-based theatre organisation.

Hours: 24 hours per week 

Salary: £20,800

About this role: The position is to support the organisation with the operational running of the office and participation department, providing administration and operational support ensuring the company runs as efficiently and smoothly as possible.

Click here to apply. 

Activities Coordinator 

Trinity Community Project provide services five days a week for adults living with a learning difficulty and/or experiencing mental health concerns. A range of activities are provided within the centre and in the local community to encourage people to develop independent living skills and promote a sense of wellbeing and social inclusion.

Hours: 30 hours per week

Salary: £16,458 

Location: St Albans, Hertfordshire

Trinity Community Project are looking for an enthusiastic, reliable and motivated Activities Coordinator, to work alongside their Service Manager in planning and organising a range of activities that promote people’s wellbeing and independence, such as dancing, arts and crafts or day trips. 

This is a permanent post based in their centre in St Albans, Hertfordshire. Start date - September 2022.

Click here to apply