Volunteer Centre Newsletter

Communities 1st is deeply concerned about the ongoing situation in Israel and Gaza, which has raised global apprehension. We recognise that these international events can deeply affect and raise concerns within our local communities.

In light of the current situation, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting peace, unity, and understanding. We stand firmly against all forms of discrimination, hatred, and violence. We believe in the power of community engagement, dialogue, and education to bridge divides and foster harmony.

We are actively working with local partners, community leaders, and relevant authorities to support initiatives that address the impact of these global events on our community. We are dedicated to providing assistance, resources, and guidance to individuals and groups affected by these challenges. Communities 1st serves as a third-party reporting site/organisation for hate crime, providing a safe and confidential platform for individuals to report such incidents.

Together, we will continue to build a resilient and inclusive community where diversity is celebrated, and everyone feels safe and valued. 

You can download the Action for Happiness Self Care Calendar from here.

With the Holidays fast approaching, we wanted to share the dates of our upcoming Christmas events for December 2023. 

Volunteers, clients and members of staff are all welcome to come and we hope to see you there to share a hot chocolate and a chat. It is a small gesture to say thank you for all your help and support this year and we hope you can make it! 

If you are interested in coming along, please feel free to put the following dates in your calendar and keep an eye out for the locations and more details in our upcoming newsletters and on our website.

Tuesday, 5th December 2023 - Hertsmere.

Wednesday, 6th December 2023 - Broxbourne. 

Thursday, 7th December 2023 - St Albans.

Communities 1st is launching Let’s Give, a new service for volunteers. You will be able to create your own space on our website, so that organisations can find out more about you and reach out regarding their volunteering roles.

You won’t need to display any personal contact information as we will do all the brokerage, so we will put you in touch with the given organisation.

It’s a great way to showcase your skills and experience to local community groups and can help match you with a role where you can make a real difference.

You can do this by logging into your dashboard and editing your Volunteer Centre profile – scroll down to the section on External Volunteer Opportunities.

New Volunteer Expenses Claim Form

We have a new volunteer expense request form. If you don't have it, please email us and we will send it to you.

For Shopping Delivery and Prescription Collection Expenses

• To claim expenses, please sign up to our dashboard and upload your expenses there. Click here to create a login using the same email address that you originally signed up with. You will then see a list of your completed and pending activities.
• Please submit expense claims the same week that you carried out your shop, and if appropriate, provide a photo of your receipt. If an expense is not claimed in a timely manner it can lead to a client going into arrears, which can cause them stress and confusion. We appreciate your help with this.
• If this is your first shop, you will first need to email us your bank details  so you can be reimbursed.

For Drivers, Litter Pickers and Other Roles' Expenses

• You will have been sent an expense claim form when you confirmed your job. To claim your expenses, please complete this and return it to the sender.