Local News
Updates from the local districts
Please use this page to promote any local events or webinars. Please send an email with the subject: FF News - Local News page with a link to your event and short description to familiesfirst.support@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Broxbourne & East Herts
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CHEXS receives support for Youth Confidence and Computer Science Projects
CHEXS is delighted to announce new support from Google across two major initiatives that will directly benefit young people
within our borough.
As part of Google’s community funding programme, CHEXS has received funding to launch its Confidence & Connection Project, an initiative focused on strengthening confidence, emotional well-being, and personal development for local young people. The project includes the launch of the My Life Boys Programme, enhanced transition support for Year 6 pupils, and the continuation of CHEXS’ successful Intergenerational Project, which brings young people and older residents together to share skills, stories, and community pride. Google’s support will also enable CHEXS to upgrade essential digital infrastructure, ensuring staff can continue delivering high-quality, inclusive support.
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Slow Cooking on a Budget - Commencing January 2026 in Waltham Cross
Families can kick start next year's healthy eating journey and learn to make delicious, budget-friendly slow cooking meals in this hands-on four-week course at the Community Hub in Waltham Cross.
What’s Included:
- A free slow cooker to take home
- All ingredients provided
- Practical tips for cooking healthy meals affordably
- Advice on saving energy and reducing food waste
To book your place on the FREE course, please email Sarah Forbes at Community Alliance or call 07487 245 992. Please inform us of your dietary requirements.
Every Wednesday for four weeks starting from 14th January 2026
10am to 12.30pm
Community Hub, 59 Pavilions Shopping Centre, High Street, Waltham Cross, EN8 7BW
- Sporting Aid are currently delivering a programme in Waltham Cross, we offers open-access basketball sessions and 1-1 boxing at the local gym. Both sessions are supported by our local mentors, providing additional guidance and structured support for young people.
If you are working with any targeted young people who would be great fit for something like this we would really welcome referrals onto the programme. If you’re not currently working with any but know partners who are, please feel free to pass the document on.
Find out more here and contact Lewis.Hunt@SportingAid.org for more info.
- Broxbourne Council has produced a simple Cost of Living guide for residents - Download the latest Cost of Living Directory
- Services for Young People (SfYP) youth work projects enable young people to develop their personal and social skills and increase their confidence, self-esteem and resilience. Get details of SfYP projects and information, advice and support services in your area here:
SfYP East Herts Team projects
SfYP Broxbourne Team projects
- The ParkPlay in Cedars Park, Cheshunt on Saturday morning offers a fantastic opportunity for families to engage in two hours of free community play, while remaining active and spending quality time with their loved ones. Additionally, it provides an excellent opportunity to connect with the local community.
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Sleigh and reindeer to use for fundraising! As the Christmas season approaches, this offer may be of interest to organisations and charities supporting children and families in East Herts. Amwell Rotary Club has a sleigh and reindeer set up (see picture) that they will deliver to a location for local charities and community groups to assist with fundraising. All that the organisations need to do is find a Santa and volunteers for collecting.
The contact at Amwell Rotary is Paul Manning - paul.manning3@ntlworld.com
St Albans & Dacorum
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E-Safety Workshop for parents
The St Albans & Dacorum Intensive Family Support Team are Hosting face-to-face E-safety session for parents which will cover:-
- the basics of the internet;
- digital communication
- social media safety,
In collaboration with Herts Police.
Date: December 10, 2025, 6pm - 7pm | Venue: Greenhills Day Service, Tenzing Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 4HS.
To register or have any questions, email: kingsley.davis@hertfordshire.gov.uk
- Services for Young People (SfYP) youth work projects enable young people to develop their personal and social skills and increase their confidence, self-esteem and resilience. Get details of SfYP projects and information, advice and support services in your area here:
SfYP St Albans Team projects
SfYP Dacorum Team projects
North Herts & Stevenage
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Our Intensive Family Support Team for Stevenage and North Herts, along with DSPL2 have organised some SEND coffee mornings which are a great family networking opportunity. The dates and venues are as follows:-
Please share with your SEND families and more information can be found on the attached leaflet. Contact dspl2@peartreesspring.herts.sch.uk should you require any further information.
- The ParkPlay in Jackmans Park, Letchworth on Saturday morning offers a fantastic opportunity for families to engage in two hours of free community play, while remaining active and spending quality time with their loved ones. Additionally, it provides an excellent opportunity to connect with the local community
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No More Service is a youth service in Stevenage and North Herts, which offers support to young people aged 11-21 across Hertfordshire to address the impact alcohol, substance misuse and/or offending have on all areas of a client’s life and help them develop practical solutions to address these. Clients have to fulfil at least three of the relevant criteria to be accepted onto the Service, find out more here and download the referral form here.
- Services for Young People (SfYP) youth work projects enable young people to develop their personal and social skills and increase their confidence, self-esteem and resilience. Get details of SfYP projects and information, advice and support services in your area here:
Welwyn Hatfield
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Bags of Taste would like to connect with you to help refer service users in Welwyn & Hatfield who may benefit from their free, mentored home cooking programme. This initiative is designed to support individuals in improving their long-term health and food budgeting.
About Bags of Taste
Bags of Taste is a non-profit organisation committed to helping people gain control over their food choices, health, and budgets. We run courses across England—from Newcastle to Hastings and multiple London boroughs—targeting individuals who are struggling with their health or food bills. These may include:
- Young people
- Families and single parents
- Pensioners and socially isolated individuals
- People over-reliant on ready meals or fast food
- Those managing medical conditions or mental health challenges
You can find details of our courses here.
How the Programme Works
We provide: ✅ A free delivery of ingredients—enough for three tasty, low-cost meals (about 7 servings). ✅ Remote mentoring via WhatsApp or phone over two weeks, so participants can cook at their own pace. ✅ Ongoing support—after completing the dishes, participants receive more recipes, a small gift, and an invitation to join our graduates’ Facebook or WhatsApp group for continued guidance.
Referring Participants
If you know anyone in Welwyn & Hatfield who could benefit, we’d love to support them. With their permission, you can share their contact details, and we’ll reach out to onboard them.
We have courses running year-round, and we’d love to collaborate with you to reach those in need. I have attached our flyer also.
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Services for Young People (SfYP) youth work projects enable young people to develop their personal and social skills and increase their confidence, self-esteem and resilience. Get details of SfYP projects and information, advice and support services in your area here:
- Caudwell Youth Referrals : Caudwell Youth mentors at-risk young people aged 11-24 years into new futures. They have openings for referrals in Welwyn/Hatfield areas. Parents and young people, as well as professionals can refer/self-refer if required.
Caudwell Youth - Please complete the online form. Application Form - Caudwell Youth
- Please remember to create a unique username for each young person you refer
- Add the young person's details not your own (it will feel like it’s asking for yours)
- Add as much risk information as possible
- Please complete all relevant questions
Each new referral will be triaged and placed on a short waiting list, before being assigned to a member of the team, if we require more information, the Area manager will contact you before we accept the referral.
If you have any questions, please get in touch.
Watford, Three Rivers Hertsmere
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Services for Young People (SfYP) youth work projects enable young people to develop their personal and social skills and increase their confidence, self-esteem and resilience. Get details of SfYP projects and information, advice and support services in your area here:
- The ParkPlay in Aycliffe Park, Borehamwood on Saturday morning offers a fantastic opportunity for families to engage in two hours of free community play, while remaining active and spending quality time with their loved ones. Additionally, it provides an excellent opportunity to connect with the local community