June 2021

Families First News

Local area news

Local News Bulletin

June 2021

We receive many local updates and we try to collate as many as we can into the local news page. If you would like to include your service update/news in future editions, please email familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

Broxbourne

St Albans

East Herts

Stevenage

Dacorum

Watford & Three Rivers

Hertsmere

Welwyn Hatfield

North Herts

Broxbourne

Download the Building Better Opportunities (BBO) leaflet here

CHEXS Family Support Team
Our Family Support team are #hereforyou and available for our Parent Virtual Chats (Every Tuesday at 10am), parenting support, advice, tips and SO much more.
Here's what our Family Support Team can help you with, we're just a phone call or email away and we're ready to help


East Herts

Citizens Advice East Herts - Service Update

As an advice service our focus is on making sure people are able to access the support they need in a way that works for them and we've found many people like being able to access us remotely. As lockdown restrictions lift we won't be going back to a 'drop in' service from our offices which only worked for a minority. Instead we'll operate our service across multiple channels, helping people by phone, email, webchat, video and online. We'll continue to offer home visits and in person appointments in community locations to those who need them. This short video (1.5 minutes) explains more. For more details on our services and how to access them please visit https://citizensadviceeastherts.org.uk.

CVS for Broxbourne & East Herts latest e-bulletin can be viewed here


Welwyn Hatfield

Citizens Advice Welwyn Hatfield - Service Update 

Now that lockdown is easing, we’re seeing a lot more clients at Citizens Advice Welwyn Hatfield who are running into trouble as we progress through these difficult times. We’re sure your service users are experiencing the same problems.

We are continuing to offer help via telephone, videocall, email and webchat. We also have services that specialise in helping people apply for benefits, such as Universal Credit, and foodbank vouchers as well as offering advice through British Sign Language.

We’ve developed a new website so that potential clients can access all the information about our services more easily. We’re rather proud of it and we’d be delighted, if you’d share it with your service users.

We’re particularly pleased with our videocall facility. Your service users can drop into a virtual reception from the comfort of their own home, or when they’re on the go, and be seen by an adviser. All they have to do is visit www.cawelhat.org.uk/services/v/16-virtual-drop-in/ and click on the link. If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact us.  


Welwyn & Hatfield - Healthy Hub Bulletin (June 2021)

Please click on the link below to the June’s Healthy Hub Bulletin, which includes information about Carers week and Men’s Health week.

Monthly Healthy Hub Bulletin Issue N022 June 2021 - Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council - Working better, together (welhat.gov.uk)


Watford & Three Rivers

South West Herts Partnership Newsletter (May 2021)

Please click on the following links to find copies of the newsletter and calendar of events from the South West Herts Partnership.  


Stevenage

As you may or may not know, the Stevenage and North Herts IFST team have set up a running club every Wednesday. We have decided to run the race for life in September to raise money for Cancer Research. Please take a look at our team fundraising page and donate anything you can - https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/intensive-steppers. I would also appreciate it if you could forward on to anyone you think might be interested in sponsoring us too.

‘Following a year of isolations, separations and disconnections, we as a team have found joy in running, walking and jogging together once a week, creating the Intensive Steppers Running Club. With differing aims and abilities, we have supported each other to build on both our physical and emotional wellbeing and leave every week with a sweaty group selfie and a huge smile on our faces. It has also created a new catch phrase for the team… ‘Don’t forget your kit!’.

Like everyone these days, cancer is a prominent and ongoing feature in many of our lives and has touched us all, both personally and with the families we support through our work. We have decided to complete this race for life to raise money to support the vital research and support for cancer sufferers and their families.

It has been a challenging year for everyone, but within our team it has shown our strength and compassion for one another. We remain, as we have always described ourselves, a family. As a family we plan to take on this challenge, smiling throughout.’


Dacorum

View the Services for Young People Summer Holiday Activity Programme for Dacorum

  • Splash park reopening Gadebridge - Splash Park will be re-opening on Monday 14 June. Sessions must now be booked in advance for a maximum of 4 people per booking: https://www.dacorum.gov.uk/home/leisure-culture/parks-play-and-open-spaces/gadebridge-park-hemel-hempstead/gadebridge-park-attractions
  • Virtual Wellness Festival – a variety of videos with advice, information and activities on different health and wellbeing topics by local organisations and providers. Videos will remain on our Active Dacorum YouTube Channel and further information can be found on our festival webpage: www.dacorum.gov.uk/wellnessfestival
  • Wake Up and Dance! – 10 mins of good tunes and dancing on Zoom for all ages each weekday morning to get people active and connected, run in partnership with BEEE Creative and Dacorum Community Dance. For more info and to register visit:  http://beee-creative.co.uk/wp/2021/02/25/wake-up-and-dance/
  • Armed Forces Day – for children/families/schools: Michael Morpurgo online event.  He will be talking about War Horse and his new book Farm Boy on-line with schools 11am on Tuesday 22nd June 2021, this will be suitable for years 4-9.  There is a ticket cost for individuals booking but schools can join the event for free. To book visit www.tringbookfestival.co.uk.  Other Armed Forces Day activities are listed here: https://www.dacorum.gov.uk/home/community-living/armed-forces-covenant/armed-forces-day-2021
  • Fun Palace – a day of free community activities taking place on weekend of 2nd & 3rd October. This will comprise of a mix of online and in-person smaller activities taking place around the borough (COVID permitting!). If any organisations/practitioners have an activity or workshop session they would like to run, please get in touch. There is small budget to help towards the cost of running an activity. Email active@dacorum.gov.uk for details or visit https://funpalaces.co.uk/fun-palace/dacorum-fun-palace/#fp-description
  • Workshops for young people this autumn – last year we planned to run a Beatboxing Project for young people that had to be cancelled due to COVID. We are now looking at running a few workshops with the same artists this autumn, who run a very successful Beatboxing Academy in South London. The workshops may not be Beatboxing (the nature of this is not particularly COVID-safe due to the spitting involved!), however possibly rapping or music/performance related.  If you have a group of young people who may benefit from these workshops and working with these brilliant South London artists, please get in touch. We are also looking to deliver these as pilot workshops for a possible larger project at a later date, in consultation with the young people taking part: Email annie.smith@dacorum.gov.uk
  • COVID recovery fund - This is a one off fund for Community and Voluntary organisations which have been directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will cover issues that have previously been excluded from funding, such as core costs. Groups can apply for up to £5000.  For more information and to apply, visit: http://www.dacorum.gov.uk/home/community-living/voluntary-organisations-social-enterprises/grants

Community Action Dacorum have another couple of courses that may be of interest to some of your families. One of the courses is an employability course, the other a healthy eating one.  They are both online, and currently free to anyone living in Hertfordshire. See attached flyers for more details.

Cook Well Eat Well: Enrol here: https://forms.gle/Hqf4WqNw6Y5Ukxzt6

Pathways to Employment: Enrol here: https://forms.gle/3Q2KTzZnwdCG3Gd28


St Albans

View the Services for Young People Summer Holiday Activity Programme for St Albans

Comments

No comments have been left for this article

Have your say...

Your name will be published alongside your comment but we will not publish your email address.

All comments will be reviewed by a moderator before being published.

Please ensure you complete all fields marked as mandatory.