Voluntary Sector Briefing

It is a relief to finally see the evenings getting brighter and the crocuses are beginning to bloom, so spring is definitely on the way!

However, we are still experiencing very cold temperatures so it is worth remembering that all across Hertfordshire we can all access Warm Spaces, drop in to get warm, stay warm and some even offer activities too.  See the directory of Warm Spaces here.  As well as feeling the cold, most of us continue to be impacted by the huge increase in the cost of living.  Communities 1st have collated a list of support resources here, these are relevant for both individuals and organisations, so do take a look.  In addition, all members of Communities 1st  can request a ‘Read and Review’ of funding applications you have written, our evidence shows that this service increases your chances of success so do contact Isobel Hatfield at memberservices@communities1st.org.uk to find out more.

We have just completed the May round of Stronger Together Networks (STNs) and it was fantastic to launch two new networks, one for organisations interested in equality, diversity and inclusion issues and the other for organisations working with refugees and asylum seekers.  To hear more about the full range of STNs and how they can support and complement the work you do, please click here.

Finally, I am delighted to announce that the Communities 1st Annual Conference for the Voluntary Sector will be taking place this year on Thursday 20 July. Please do save the date for what will be an exciting and informative event!

Stephen Craker

Chief Executive

Warm Welcome Hubs (also known as Warm Spaces or Warm Places)

Warm Welcome Hubs are community spaces which are open throughout the winter months, providing people who are struggling to heat their homes with somewhere to get warm, stay warm and enjoy a little company. Some Warm Welcome hubs offer additional activities, a hot meal and information and signposting.

To provide a coordinated approach to supporting our local communities, we would like to encourage all partners providing Warm Welcome Hubs and activities this winter to register here. Please note, any existing regular provision which is open to the public free of charge (including coffee mornings, lunch clubs, community centres etc) can register as a Warm Welcome Hub. In addition, some centres may decide to extend their opening hours and/ or services as a Warm Welcome Hub. This information will appear on Communities 1st website and will be available to the general public.

To view the register of Warm Welcome Hubs, please click here.

Information about where to find these spaces will help local communities access warm and safe venues. It will also help other emerging hubs to make an informed decision on what activities are needed in the area.

If you are interested in offering your space as a Warm Welcome Hub, but would like more information, 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, 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. If you would like to access any of the support above, but cannot attend the weekly session, please email memberservices@communities1st.org.uk to request an alternative time. 

To register please click here.

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:

Phillimore Community Centre

 Come and join us at:

• Phillimore Place, Radlett, WD7 8NN  
• Every Tuesday, 12pm - 2.00pm
  
  Please note, these sessions formerly took place in Aberford Hall but have recently moved.

St Albans Library

• Level 2 The Maltings, St Albans, AL1 3JQ
• Every Friday, 10.30am - 12.30pm

There is no need to book theses sessions, just turn up.

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

Cost of Living Support Information

The rising cost of living is affecting everyone. To date, a staggering 9 in 10 adults have reported an increase in their cost of living, with nearly a quarter finding it difficult to pay their usual household bills.

Voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations are also experiencing difficulties because of the rising prices, as well as concerns about the welfare of staff and volunteers and increased demand for their services. 

Please take time to explore the support resources on our website which provide details of organisations offering support, as well as grants to support individuals.

Cost of Living Survey

In partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, Healthwatch Hertfordshire has been asked to carry out some essential research on the Cost of Living crisis.



Cost of Living is an increasing concern for the whole population, and it is important to understand the financial, practical and health-related impact this is having on people in Hertfordshire to help them cope through the winter and beyond.

The results of the survey will be used to help Hertfordshire County Council, District and Borough Councils, the Voluntary Community Faith and Social Enterprise sector and other local services decide how, and where, their support and services are most needed. The results will also help to identify how the crisis is affecting people’s physical and mental wellbeing, so we can work to help mitigate some of these effects.

Please share the survey with any Hertfordshire residents, as well as through your contacts, networks and other communication channels.

Free Suicide Prevention Training

Multi-Agency Suicide Prevention Simulation training is a unique simulation training package for all staff involved in mental health crisis care. By increasing collaboration and knowledge, it equips staff to respond quickly and appropriately to improve patient experience.

By bringing together the relevant agencies with a shared commitment to improve the system, our aim is that people in mental health crisis get the support they need.

Using an immersive simulation technique, simulation training offers a supportive learning environment to explore problem solving and decision-making skills, where mistakes can be made with no long-term consequences.

Multi-Agency participants are presented with a series of real-life situations facilitated by a panel of mental health professionals.

To Book Virtual Training (two places per organisation on each course) email: hpft.simulation@nhs.net.

Limited classroom spaces available upon request.

Men's Mental Health Awareness Survey

This survey forms part of the `Hertfordshire and West Essex Men’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Project. It aims to help identify men’s awareness of their mental health difficulties, where they can seek help and support and what would help or prevent them from doing that.



It is important that the experiences of men from all backgrounds is taken account of in development of future services. This survey gives you the chance to give voice to your experience. If you would like to contribute further and tell us more of your experiences or suggestions not covered by this survey, please email: Adam.Solomon@hertfordshire.gov.uk.



The information you provide will be treated in strictest confidence and none of your personal information will be shared with any other organisations or used to identify you personally based on the views you have shared.



The closing date for responding to this survey is 3rd March 2023.

Body Positivity Posters

As part of Hertfordshire’s programme of support for young people’s emotional wellbeing, the County Council’s public health team have co-produced with young people a positive body image campaign. One of the things they were really keen to make happen, was to get posters containing inspiring and positive affirmations put into changing rooms and toilets across the county, as they reflected that it may distract people from any negative thoughts they are having about the way they look, and help people to feel more positively about themselves. 

Would you be able to help with this at all?  The posters can be found here: Real Bodies Affirmation poster (justtalkherts.org).

Hard copy versions of the posters can be provided – please contact Jen Beer on jen.beer@hertfordshire.gov.uk or 01438 843309

Here to Help Campaign

The Charity Commission is launching the next stage of its campaign to raise awareness of core trustee duties and guidance available as the sector faces challenges ahead.

The Commission has developed a collection of short and engaging guidance on issues ranging from safeguarding people to managing conflicts of interest. Dubbed the ‘5-Minute Guides’, the collection serves as a basic toolkit for trustees who are managing the many demands of running a charity.

Please visit the website for further reading.

Free Community Learning Courses Available

Communities 1st is offering free, informal training for your members and volunteers to help boost confidence with numeracy.

We are able to offer the sessions at your base/ centre. We have three different courses available:

• Shopping on a budget
• Make Do and Mend
• Make Do and Cook

Please contact training@communities1st.org.uk or call 01727 649950, or see our training page. 

Digital Training Offer for Communities 1st Members

We are offering Communities 1st members access to an extensive programme of e-training. Training is available 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 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 take up this excellent offer but are not currently a member of Communities 1st, please contact memberservices@communities1st.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 and support for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups and organisations who are providing for communities needs by delivering socially prescribed activities.

Click here to register.

Better Boards In-house Training

Fully funded spaces available for 10 hours of bespoke consultancy and training for your trustee board. Whatever the challenges your board is facing, one of the Better Boards trainers will support and guide you through.

The topics will be explored in an interactive format with practical exercises to ensure they are made relevant and that what is learned can be applied to improve the effectiveness of your organisations. For more information please email hcftraining@hertscf.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. 

The college offers 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.

The Foundation is a suicide prevention charity on an important mission. Founded in 2016 by three Hertfordshire parents who had each tragically lost a son to suicide. They met in bereavement support and committed to doing everything they could to prevent other families from experiencing the same devastating loss they were living through.

OLLIE stands for One Life Lost Is Enough.

Today, OLLIE serves communities across the UK through a variety of initiatives including wellbeing events, prevention and intervention training, talks, and panel discussions for professionals, parents, and students. Our goal is to reduce suicide rates, particularly among young people. Our training programmes are delivered in a wide range of settings including schools, universities, healthcare facilities, and corporate organisations.

At OLLIE we believe finance should never be a barrier to learning how to stay safe from suicide, and therefore our training and workshops are almost always fully funded for those who wish to attend. As a result, we rely on the generous support of the public and donations from incredible individuals and groups who raise funds for us through activities ranging from bake sales to skydiving.

How to book onto our courses:

Our website calendar provides an overview of all training and events we have coming up and can be accessed here.    

All tickets can be booked via our Eventbrite page. 

Service Development Coordinator

Hours: 30-37 hours. 

Salary: £26,357 p.a. pro-rata

Full Details: You can view the full details of this role here .

How to Apply: 

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

About The Role: 

The Service Development Co-ordinator will have a leading role in the planning and coordination of Communities 1st’s volunteering services, including developing and shaping volunteering opportunities, recruiting and deploying volunteers. A key part of the role will be helping manage a programme of change and assisting in the co-ordination of services across Hertfordshire and wider afield.

The appointed individual will need excellent people skills, empathy, compassion and awareness of safeguarding.

Assistant Manager Communications and Marketing

Hours: 37 hours. 

Salary: £28,595 p.a. pro-rata

Full Details: You can view the full details of this role here .

How to Apply: 

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

About The Role: 

We are looking for an outstanding communications and marketing professional to promote our charity, drive public engagement with our services and bring our mission and vision to life for external audiences. The position will be responsible for driving and delivering our communications strategy including managing our website, marketing materials, publications and digital media, providing editorial, strategic and creative support across the Communities 1st team. They will identify and optimise public relations opportunities and facilitate positive media engagement across our multiple media platforms.

Making a Difference Project Delivery Assistant Manager

Hours: 30-37 hours. 

Salary: £28,371 p.a. pro-rata

Full Details: You can view the full details of this role here .

How to Apply: 

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

About The Role: 

The purpose of the job is to be responsible for and lead operational management, performance and controls, and to develop and deliver a number of Communities 1st services. The post holder will also support the marketing and growth ambitions of the organisation. They will be a key member of a small but growing team and will need excellent people skills to develop, train and support a team of staff and volunteers delivering a range of services to both organisations and individuals. They will need to be a highly organised individual, with the flexibility to undertake a wide variety of tasks, and have a keen sense of humour.

Cleaner/Caretaker

Hours: 7.5 hours

Salary: £10.53 / hour 

Full Details: You can view the full details of this role here. 

How to Apply: 

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

About The Role: 

The Cleaner / Caretaker role is to provide a comprehensive cleaning service at the Phillimore Community Centre managed by Communities 1st and to provide 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.

Sessional Cookery Programme Leader

Salary: up to £30 per hour

How To Apply:

For an informative chat about the role, please contact us at Communities 1st on 01727 649900 or us@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. 

Cleaner / Home Helper

Hours: Flexible part-time hours. Work is available Monday to Friday between 9am and 4.30pm.

Location: Work locally across Hertfordshire.

Salary: £11.10 per hour PLUS paid holiday pay.

How to Apply: To apply please send an email to recruitsouth@ageukherts.org.uk or call 01923 627 055

About the role:

The work involves cleaning, shopping and other domestic duties such as changing bedlinen and helping with the laundry. You always see the same regular clients, allowing you to become that vital contact that keeps them independent and living in their own home.

For full details of the role please go to Age UK Hertfordshire | Become a Home Helper. No application deadline