Local News Bulletin
June 2021
We are collating the updates we receive for local services into a local news bulletin. If you would like to include your service update/news, please email familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
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
Herts Mind Network
The Community Support Service (CSS) is a mental health outreach service run by Herts Mind Network and in partnership with local councils. CSS currently operates in Watford, Three Rivers, Hertsmere and Broxbourne.
The service is for adults age 18 plus and delivers one to one holistic , practical and emotional support with a range of issues. These include coping strategies and developing emotional resilience. Support with housing, benefits and debt. Support around drug and alcohol abuse and supporting parents who may be on a child protection, child in need plan or family support plan. Mental health should be the primary need.
For any referral enquiries please contact css@hertsmindnetwork.org
Frontline
Is a user-friendly web-based referral system for local community health and wellbeing services. Organisations can refer/signpost to other providers via the up-to-date library of local services. All referrals are encrypted, consent driven and referrers can 'track' any referral they make. Currently, Frontline covers both East Herts and Broxbourne.
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
View the East Herts Frontline - library of services
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 Borough Council
Please note the Community Annual Grants will soon be closing. For more information and application, please visit: Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council - Annual Community Grants (welhat.gov.uk)
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)
North Herts
Please download the BeeZee Bodies leaflet on the North Herts free programme running this summer for families with children under 12 years old.
Herts Mind Network
You can view the current Services Timetable information relating to our free one to one Peer Support Service which is being offered by face to face, telephone or by an online provision.
They are also in the process of starting to run face to face groups in North Hertfordshire.
Referrals for service users can be made either online via the website, by calling 0203 727 3600. We will then liaise with the service user direct to book a telephone triage call to access their current situation and needs .
North Herts Council receives £100,000 to help community organisations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Find out more here: Health Protection Board Covid Fund | North Hertfordshire District Council (north-herts.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.
Services for Young People
Services for Young People (SfYP) are delivering a number of FREE Summer holiday programmes to support young people aged 13-16 who are currently in receipt of free school meals (FSM). For delivery information in other districts please click here.
Herts Mind Network
The Community Support Service (CSS) is a mental health outreach service run by Herts Mind Network and in partnership with local councils. CSS currently operates in Watford, Three Rivers, Hertsmere and Broxbourne.
The service is for adults age 18 plus and delivers one to one holistic , practical and emotional support with a range of issues. These include coping strategies and developing emotional resilience. Support with housing, benefits and debt. Support around drug and alcohol abuse and supporting parents who may be on a child protection, child in need plan or family support plan. Mental health should be the primary need.
For any referral enquiries please contact css@hertsmindnetwork.org
Youth Link
Youth Link aims to work with various sectors in our local community to create connections to relevant and safe provisions for Children and Young People.
Find out more in these downloadable leaflets:-
Youth Link Information Sheet - CYP
Youth Link Information Sheet - Partners
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
- 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
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Nature Connection is a free 6 week course for adults in Dacorum (aged 18+) living with low-level mental health conditions such as stress and anxiety, or as a result of social isolation. Application is via referral from a health professional, qualified Counsellor, link worker or support worker/agency. Please visit www.dacorum.gov.uk/natureconnection for more information.
The 6 week course starts on 9th September 2021 and will take place each Thursday outside in Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead.
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