Voluntary Sector Briefing

We are delighted that registration for our Annual Conference for the Voluntary Sector is now open. Taking place on 20 July, it promises to be an inspiring event, with seminars, 1:1 advice surgeries and a keynote from Pro Bono Economics.  Some sessions are available to limited numbers, so don’t delay, read on for details and register today! 

There are a number of other dates for your diary in the coming weeks, including the latest in our programme of Meet the Funder events on 20 June with Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation- don’t be deceived by their name, this fund is open to organisations in St Albans and District!  And if you work with volunteers you won’t want to miss Community Help Hertfordshire’s (CHH) ‘Learn, Share and Network’ Event on 22 June. 

Finally, we have all noticed that the weather has suddenly improved and summer has arrived! It’s important to remember that some people struggle in the heat. Older people, babies and young children are most at risk as their bodies are less able to regulate their temperatures.  Take a moment to read this information and enjoy the weather!

Stephen Craker

Chief Executive

Communities 1st Annual Conference for the Voluntary Sector is now open for registration!

Our conference this year is on the theme of ‘Wellbeing, Resilience and Equality’. Join us in-person in St Albans on Thursday 20 July from 9am to 2pm for an inspiring day, filled with thought provoking workshops, expert 1:1 advice sessions and opportunities to network with other participants, followed by lunch.

Click here to register and don’t delay; some sessions will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Small Charities Week

Small Charity Week, a yearly campaign which was set up to celebrate and spread the word about small charities across the UK, is coming up later this month. 

From the 19th to the 23rd of June, the Small Charity campaign will be setting up an exciting schedule of activities and initiatives to raise awareness and celebrate the fantastic work of small charities. To view the schedule and book on to events, click here. 

In addition to the varied schedule above, Communities 1st are delighted to offer a range of free sessions throughout the week, to support your organisation. You can book these events below: 

• 19th June, 10:30am to 11am - Get the best from your membership

• 20th June, 2pm to 2:30pm - Top tips for funding applications

• 21st June, 11am to 12pm - Let’s Give: identify the right volunteer for you

• 22nd June, 3pm to 3:45pm - Intro to social media

Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference

This year’s Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference takes place at Sheffield Hallam University from 12-13 September, with an additional pre-conference event for new researchers on 11 September. 

This year’s theme is ‘Action, Difference, and Change in Local Civil Society’. You can view a draft version of the conference programme here.

Booking for the conference is now open via the Sheffield Hallam University Store.

Early Bird rates for the conference are in place until 21 July. 

There are different price rates for Members (of VSSN, NCVO, or VAS), non-Members, Concessions, and one-day or two-day attendance. If you are booking at the member rate, please ensure you are a member of VSSN, VAS, or NCVO. 

If you have any questions at this stage, please do not hesitate to contact the organiser on vsvrconference@gmail.com.

Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care

Rennie Grove and Peace Hospice Care have merged to create Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care. The charity supports people of all ages who are affected by a progressive life-limiting illness, and those who care for them, to live as well as possible by providing choice and ease of access to a wide range of palliative care and bereavement services.

Care is provided via five core services

• Community Hospice at Home
• Children’s Hospice at Home
• Inpatient Services
• Outpatients, Rehabilitation & Supportive Care
• Compassionate Communities

Compassionate Communities services are vital in ensuring early engagement by offering community-based support from the point of diagnosis, with a focus on tackling  loneliness and isolation.

Support is provided through the following:

Compassionate Neighbours - Peace Hospice Care - trained volunteers provide social and emotional support to people towards the end of life due to age, or illness and people who have affected by bereavement.

Compassionate Cafes - Peace Hospice Care - drop-in sessions for people who have been affected by any type of loss and would like to come along for a friendly chat and a chance to meet others over a cup of tea.

Compassionate Support Hubs - Peace Hospice Care - drop-in sessions for people affected by the diagnosis of a progressive life-limiting illness to meet others for a drink and a friendly chat. At these sessions there are trained volunteers or staff members, who can offer information, guidance and signposting to available services.

For more information on all services visit: Our Services - Peace Hospice Care.

Community Project Fund Application Support

Are you interested in applying to the St Albans and District Council Community Project Fund? If so, you are strongly encouraged to attend one of the Communities 1st Funding Advice Surgeries, which offer targeted advice on submitting the best possible application.  In previous years, applications from organisations who attended the surgeries had a much greater success rate.

Sessions will take place via Zoom on;

• Thursday 15th June between 2 – 3pm
• Wednesday 21st June 3-4pm
• Tuesday 27th June 11am-12pm

Register your interest to attend the Funding Advice Surgeries by emailing StAlbansGrants@communities1st.org.uk or by visiting Communities 1st What's On calendar.

Meet the Funder

Communities 1st are hosting our next 'Meet the Funder' event 20th June 11am-12pm.

Francesca Johnstone from Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation will give a presentation about:

• Near Neighbours Fund up to £5,000
• Trust Fund up to £10,000.

These funds are open to not-for-profit groups in St Albans and Districts. Groups from these locations may apply under 4 key areas:

• Safer and Stronger Communities
• Environment & Economic Development of Green Spaces
• Health & Wellbeing
• Children & Young People

Francesca will be happy to answer questions about applications, eligibility and deadlines.

Please note this workshop is on Zoom and you will be sent the log-in details upon registration.

Please follow this link to Communities 1st What’s On page, scroll down to 20th June and chose the relevant event. You will be sent an email by return with the Zoom link. If you do not receive it, please check your junk folder.

Communities 1st Membership Renewal

Communities 1st membership year runs from 1st of June to 31st May each year.

You will soon receive an email inviting you to renew your membership of Communities 1st. Please check your emails and renew at your earliest convenience.

If you would like to know more about membership benefits, please do book onto our Small Charity Week session ‘Get the best from your membership’ on 19th June (see above). We are looking forward to working with you again this year!

An extension on the £2 bus fare cap scheme

From 1 January to 31 October 2023, a single bus journey will cost no more than £2 on most routes across England. The £2 bus fare cap will apply to single journeys regardless of the length. The scheme has been designed to provide affordable travel to support families and individuals with the pressures from the cost of living.

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 Engagement and Skills, Communities 1st for further information Juli.Riley@communities1st.org.uk. 

Multiply is a new government-funded programme to help adults improve their numeracy skills. If you’re aged 19 and over and don’t have maths GCSE at grade C (or equivalent), you can access free numeracy courses.

If would like to find out about free distance learning for your staff team please contact training@communities1st.org.uk courses include excel, managing personal finance and time management and presenting data and are happy to discuss different options with you.

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.

Making Every Contact Count (MECC) Training

Hertfordshire Health Improvement Service is introducing new training packages for MECC to facilitate conversations about healthy lifestyle and behavioural changes.

The MECC training packages available provide three options that help support professionals in their roles within the community.

MECC Lite and MECC support initial conversations from as little as 30 seconds to 10 minutes with residents who can benefit from information, encouragement and signposting. MECC Plus is an accredited training session that allows professionals to develop their healthy conversation skills for discussions over ten minutes, encouraging residents to create a behavioural change plan and empowering them to support change.

The MECC Avatar is also available to support the MECC training delivered for testing your own skills and knowledge in a virtual scenario.

Follow this link to register for the training.

For further information please contact Hertfordshire Health Improvement Service call 01442 453 071 or email: HealthImprovementService@hertfordshire.gov.uk

New Leaf College

New Leaf College offers hope for the future despite life's challenges, offering opportunities, 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.

Cleaner/Caretaker

Hours: 7.5 hours

Salary: £10.80 / 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.

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