Making A Difference Volunteer Update

SAFE Webinar Programme

• 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). Register 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). Register here.

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

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

We have lots of training opportunities available for anyone who would like to expand their skill set or try something new! 

August

Mind in Mid Herts is offering Mental Health Peer Support Training throughout August

Tuesday 9th August, Wednesday 10th August, Thursday 11th August, Friday 12th August (4x half-days 9am to 1pm)

Wednesday 17th August, Thursday 18th August (2x full days 9.30am to 4.30pm)

If you would like to book on to a free course, click here.

September & October

Anybody Can Volunteer training session

Date: Thursday 22 September

Time: 11:00-12:00

Register here.

A New You training course including sessions on Team Work, Being Assertive, Stress Awareness and Communication/Life Skills

Dates: Wednesday 28 September - Thursday 6 October

Times: 09:30-14:30
Register here.

You can see and book into all our future training sessions through our online events calendar.

Our Meet and Eat classes are back as we're all feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis. Meet and Eat classes are a chance to learn new skill; you will learn to cook a tasty, healthy meal on a budget.

We will hold an introductory class prior to a whole week of sessions in August.

You are most welcome to attend, though please do register your interest as we have just 10 spaces available at each session. To register, call 01727 649900 or email us.

If you are already an excellent cook and have skills and time to share, please get in contact also. Hopefully, this crisis won't last continue for too long, but while it's here we'd like to help anyone struggling.

We are looking for someone who can speak Urdu to act as a befriending volunteer for an individual. This would be a weekly commitment of one phone call, lasting around an hour. 

If you think you could help us with this, please contact us on 01727 649900 and speak with a member of staff who can pass you to the befriending team. 

We are looking for tech savvy volunteers who are available to help at our computers and a cuppa drop-in session for people in the community who may be struggling using their device or using online services. These drop-in sessions will take once a week in Radlett and Bushey, and twice a month in Potters Bar. If you feel this is something, you would like to help with or would like more information please email or call 01727 649900

The NHS Reservist programme is a great opportunity to start your working career if you have been volunteering, unemployed, or have busy lives that you need to juggle. If you want additional training and to broaden your skills the reservist programme is a great way to do this.

A reservist is someone who is passionate about patient care, working with diverse teams and can help the NHS during peak times. You may be a former healthcare professional, working in health care outside of the NHS or you may be considering a career change and interested in a NHS career. Becoming a reservist is a great way to experience the range of NHS career opportunities that suits your lifestyle and circumstances. As an NHS reservist, you’ll be part of a paid, flexible yet reliable workforce. You will be given thorough training and a comprehensive induction.

The roles will differ and depend on the help needed and roles available. Those currently working as an Reservist have been supporting COVID-19 vaccinations, helping to run hospital wards, providing administrative support to wards, or supporting with basic patient feeding/hydration. The NHS will provide you with relevant training modules for these roles and you will be supported by permanent clinical and non-clinical staff.

As a Reservist is that you can work flexibly, however you will be required to fulfill a specific number of days per year for training and working as a reservist.

Other benefits include paid for training undertaken and an Annual Leave entitlement.

If you are interested please get in touch with podadmin@communities1st.org.uk and we will pass your details on.

We are looking for volunteer drivers using their own car helping to transporthot meals from Watford to Bushey, Potters Bar and Borehamwood from end of July to help residents who are impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.  

We are also seeking assistance with our minibus services.  Volunteers are needed to drive our minibus for either day tips or for our shopper service.  To co-inside with this, we are also looking to recruit bus buddies to also assist on our shopper and day trips.

Anyone interested in any of the travel volunteer roles please email us or telephone on 01727 649980.

We are still looking for volunteers to help our new NHS International recruits settle into the area as a 1-2-1 buddy.  The nurses and healthcare professionals have now started arriving in Watford and we are particularly looking for volunteers who are happy to be a buddy in this area.

Contact us via email or call 01727 649900 to speak to a member of staff for further information. 

Vaccination pop-up centres are on the rise again, with children now being vaccinated and adults returning for boosters.

We would also like to make you aware that LFT test kits are no longer available to staff and volunteers at the vaccination centres and should be ordered free of charge on the government website. When ordering please state that you work at a vaccination centre, and they will be posted to your home address.

We now have opportunities at Potters Bar, Bishops Stortford, and in the St Albans area, shifts for which are available to book via your dashboard.

Shopping delivery, prescription collection, and pulse oximetry volunteers 

• To claim expenses please sign up to our dashboard and upload your expenses here, in order to speed up this process. Click here and 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 these expense claims within 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 in this matter.
• If this is your first shop you will first need to send in your bank details to accounts@communities1st.org.uk, so you can be reimbursed.

Vaccination centre volunteers

• If you haven't already uploaded your bank details, please do so through your online dashboard. 
• If you are experiencing financial hardship because of your volunteering expenses, please email podadmin@communities1st.org.uk and we will reimburse you as soon as possible.

Drivers, litter pickers and other roles

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