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Welcome to our Summer 2022 eBulletin
If you have trouble viewing the whole eBulletin Click Here to view
on our CDA Herts website where you can also find previous issues. 
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Any problems with this please contact tim.hayward-smith@cdaherts.org.uk

Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership

Kate Belinis (who is also Chair of New River CRP) was Guest Speaker at the AGM joining Abbey Line Chair Cllr Sandy Walkington, Deputy Mayor Cllr Syed Abidi and Abbey Line Partnership Officer Edna Woname.

The Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership was established in June 2005 and brings together a number of partner organisations with the purpose of increasing usage of the line which runs from Watford Junction to St Albans Abbey.

The work of the CRP also aims to enhance station environments to make them a more pleasant place and to give the local community the opportunity to become more involved in their local railway line.

Click to read more about Abbey Line CRP
Click to read about The New River Line CRP

Introduction to Jobs Pathway Enterprise.

JPE is a new initiative from CDA Herts

▪ JPE is a ‘one-stop’ community service, to enable people who are marginalised and excluded, to transition successfully into self-employment.
▪ JPE links with Jobs Pathway, which supports marginalised people find meaningful work.
▪ The two projects ‘work together’, to provide flexible options and person-centred pathways.

Click Here to read more about CDA Herts JPE

Herts' Hall raises concerns about ever increasing energy costs
 

National rural Charity ACRE is conducting a Survey to better understand the needs of England’s 10,000+ rural community buildings as energy prices continue to soar

The National charity together with Utility Aid Energy Brokers are calling on volunteer management committees to share their experiences, concerns and views on what can be done to make sure village halls do not run into financial difficulties.

John Felstead, a Trustee of Hunsdon Village Hall in East Herts explained:
“Like everyone, we have seen our energy bills rise exponentially over the last few years. However, as a charity we do not qualify as a domestic user and are therefore put on a business tariff. This means there is no energy cap. Here in Hunsdon we have a Grade II listed building which was built in 15th century and leaks heat. We would dearly love to improve the insulation, but the Listed Building status make that very expensive. And as a ’not for profit’ organisation, funds are scarce, and we rely on income from hiring out our hall or organising fundraising events to make improvements or repairs.”

Click to Access the Survey which closes on 19 August 
See more about Utility Aid below

Utility Aid Energy Brokers are supporting Herts Village Halls to reduce Energy Costs

CDA works in partnership with Utility Aid to help Village Halls and Community Buildings to reduce their Energy costs.  Many Halls are benefitting from UA getting them refunds for being on the wrong Tariffs or wrongly paying a higher rate of VAT. They are signing Halls up to cheaper energy contracts locking in inflation proof prices.

Click to visit CDA Herts Utility Aid page to find out more and how to apply for a Free Energy Audit
 
Dacorum has partnered with Age UK to bring a free family dinosaur trail to Berkhamsted.  The interactive trail, which can be found on the LoyalFree app, launches on Monday 1 August and will run over the summer until Wednesday 31 August.     
Find the 12 dinosaur posters at 12 around Berkhamsted High Street 
Click to read more
 
Summer Fun with the Garden Gang on Thursday 22 August 10 to 12 at the Within The Walls Project in St Paul's Walden.  Join for a morning in our Beautiful Victorian Walled garden.  Make your own self watering seed bottle, and a garden decoration.  Explore the garden with our I spy chart, dig in our mud kitchen and look for nature.  Finish off with a marshmallow cooked on our fire.  A fun filled morning suitable for children 2yrs-11yr. Click to Book a Ticket
For September we’re excited to announce our new Forest School “Babies Down the Woods”  Join us in the Forest for sessions of outdoor play. Every Friday starting from the 2nd September 9.30-11am.  Suitable for babies and toddlers up to 3 years old in our wood near Watford WD4 8RS
Click to find out more

Five Green Flag Awards for North Herts!

Five of our green spaces were among the record-breaking 2,208 sites that have been awarded a Green Flag Award!   
The Green Flag scheme, managed by Keep Britain Tidy, is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces to encourage communities to enjoy and look after local green spaces for people and wildlife. Click the bold links to read about the award winning sites:
Oughtonhead Common, Hitchin, for the 7th year running
Ivel Springs, Baldock, for the 8th year running
Howard Park and Gardens, Letchworth, for the 9th year running
Norton Common, Letchworth, for the 13th year running
Priory Memorial Gardens, Royston, also for the 13th year running
Hertsmere Launches a new vehicle for Potters Bar Foodbank services

A new delivery service for families in Potters Bar who are in food poverty has been launched thanks in part to council funding.  Potters Bar Foodbank is now providing a delivery service, courtesy of a new foodbank van, for those families and individuals referred to them who are unable to collect from their centre, or to collect bulk donations from supermarkets. We contributed £15,000 towards the new service and a further donation was provided by a local company in Potters Bar.

Hertsmere residents can get financial support here

Hertfordshire County Council's Tips for your Little Trips this Summer
This summer, beyond your front door, but not that far from your doorstep, there’s lots for everyone to do all over Hertfordshire. We’ve put together a big list of ‘no cost’ or ‘low cost’ activities in our county, as voted for by Hertfordshire residents, providing a whole world of wonder for children and their parents. Check out our Healthy Little Trips webpage to find your next family day out – how many of our Fifty Thrifty Adventures will you tick off the list? 
Click on the Graphic below to download all Fifty Little Trips

Click the Pic below to Find out More

Yoga for Cancer

Tuesdays 1:30pm-2:30pm
6 September - 11 October


Whether you are a long time cancer survivor or currently in treatment, this yoga class in the centre of Hertford focuses on making you feel more grounded and comfortable in your changing or changed body, through the use of postures that safely stretch, strengthen, and relax the body.   The course runs from 6 September to 11 October and is funded by Hertfordshire Community Foundation, meaning only a nominal charge of £5 per session. 

Click for further information

We're pleased to share the Summer 2022 edition of our newsletter, energise
 
This issue opens with Ian Preston, our Director of Household Energy Services, expressing his frustration at the government’s failure to understand what's causing the bottleneck in the UK’s retrofit supply chain.  We also look at why it's lower-income households who pay the price for failure in the energy market. And we share our research report that underpins new guidance for the onshore wind sector in England. The guidance, led by CSE, addresses good practice in community engagement and the process for agreeing a suitable community benefits package.

Click to read the Summer Energise Newsletter

M-ask | Wellbeing Drama Programme
Looking for a new creative experience?
Aged 18+?
This FUN and FREE programme using theatre techniques is for those suffering from stress, anxiety, depression and other conditions affecting mental wellbeing. You don’t need any experience to take part, everyone is welcome from absolute beginners to the more experienced.
8 week Programme runs:
• Sept 29th, October 6th, October 13th, October 20th, (No Session 27th Oct), November 3rd, November 10th, November 17th and November 24th
• Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
• Location: St Albans Mind 11 Hatfield Rd, St Albans AL1 3RR 

For more information

Telephone: 03303 208100 
Email: admin@mindinmidherts.org.uk
Justice Bus coming to Borehamwood!

A Hertfordshire Law Clinic has been set up by the University of Hertfordshire and is organising satellite clinics to improve access to justice for communities across Hertfordshire.  The Law Clinic will offer FREE advice to members of the public on a range of legal issues including family, employment, housing and consumer. All advice is provided by solicitors, or trained law students working under the supervision of qualified lawyers.  Law Students will endeavour to offer signposting to other organisations if for any reason the clinic cannot assist. The Justice Bus will be at Borehamwood Foodbank on Thursday 21 July 10am – 12.30pm.  

If you would like to book an appointment to guarantee you are seen at their satellite clinic please contact the Law Clinic on 01707 284115
or by email to probono@herts.ac.uk
 
Latest Census results show a 7.4% Hertfordshire population increase

Results from the 2021 Census were released on Tuesday, June 28, by the Office for National Statistics and the data shows Hertfordshire has seen a considerable increase in population growth. Insights like these are essential for Hertfordshire County Council to utilise the data to help shape public services, support sustainable growth, responsible growth and make sure we continue to be a county of opportunity for everyone.

Click to read more
Click on the Pic to read more about the work of RABI
Age UK Hertfordshire is launching a new Handyperson and Gardening Service in Hertfordshire!

Due to the many enquiries received by people over the years, we have finally made the decision to start up our own services to support people who need our help. Please note that we work in partnership with our partner, Age UK Dacorum, with these services to cover the county depending on the location of the person needing support. We have attached the flyer and the referral form for your reference and include some more information on these services via the link below. Please share among your networks as widely as possible - Thank you! 
Click for Gardening Service  
Click for Handyperson Service
Or call 07951 105 370

RSN is excited to announce that bookings for the National Rural Conference 2022 are now open!

The National Rural Conference 2022 is a week long conference with events running online via Zoom from Monday, 19th to Friday, 23rd of September. This year the conference will focus on the theme of “Reducing Rural Inequalities and Improving Opportunities” and we will be running sessions on rural transport, rural cost of living crisis, rural regeneration, rural housing and much more. If your organisation is a member of the RSN (SPARSE & Assembly), RSP or RHCA, you are welcome to book onto any of the sessions free of charge!

Click to Book your Free place

Single-use plastic carrier bags use down 20% since 10p charge

The price was increased from the 5p charge introduced in 2015.  The average person now buys around three single-use carrier bags a year, down from 140 in 2014, government figures say.  But environmentalists claim say this is the tip of the iceberg in the plastic problem.  Plastic pollution is a huge global challenge with particles found everywhere from human blood to the Arctic.  Charges for single-use plastic bags were introduced to discourage unnecessary use. Since 2015, usage has decreased by 97% in England, according to figures from Defra, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Read more here on BBC News

The Healthy Hub is here to help!

The Healthy Hub has loads of awesome sessions running this summer. We have also launched our new online booking system.  Check out our website for news of Community events, Eating Well, Staying in Shape, Coping with Mental Health, Staying Active and making finances go further..

Click for the Healthy Hub

September sees the Great Big Green Week

The UK's biggest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature is back! If you wanted to get involved there are lots of ideas and resources available.

Remember to add your events to the Sustainable Hertfordshire map for local interaction and publicity. We'll be sharing more details of what we're involved in soon. 

 Click for full details

Find local sustainable events this summer

Visit the Sustainable Hertfordshire Map to find sustainable events, initiatives, shops or projects across the county.

If you know of a group or organisation who is running a sustainable event this summer, please share this link so they can add details for all to see. It's easy to submit an event via the form on the Sustainable Map web page.

Read Click to see the Sustainable Hertfordshire Map

Love Parks Week

It's Love Parks Week! If you're enjoying Hertfordshire's award-winning green spaces with a picnic, dog walk or perhaps a morning jog, please remember to always take your litter home with you. Here's some ideas for a plastic-free picnic.

If a bin is full, do not leave your rubbish beside it as this is fly tipping. If a flytip is spoiling your enjoyment of a park, report it so it can be cleared as quickly as possible.

Click to read more


Herts Waste Aware - Remember Your Reusables and Reduce Waste

We're on a mission to encourage Hertfordshire to ‘Remember Your Reusables’!

It is more important than ever to ditch single-use plastic and switch to reusable alternatives.

We want you to make a habit of grabbing reusable items like water bottles, coffee cups and bags when you leave the house, not just your keys, wallet and phone!

Click to read more 

Countryside crime rise linked to cost-of-living crisis
Farm thefts last year were valued at £40.5m

Theft of farmers' livestock, vehicles and fuel is on the rise due to the UK's cost-of-living crisis, according to a new countryside crime report.

Rural crime claims payouts between January and March were over 40% higher than in 2021, insurer NFU Mutual says.

It warned rising food prices could see livestock thefts increase further and contaminated meat enter the food chain.

The NFU wants the government to launch a national taskforce to deal with rural crime.

Click to read more on BBC News

CDA Herts Likes Herts Refill Shops & Stores - 
The Green Stores Croxley Green

The Green Stores is a Zero Waste Store based in Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, easily accessible from Rickmansworth, Watford and Northwood. Our aim is to enable you to live a more sustainable life with our full range of package-free products including Pasta, Rice, Cereals, Herbs, Spices, Pulses, Nuts, Baking, Snacks, Laundry & Household Items.

Click Here to visit The Green Stores

Click Here for a list of Herts' ReFill Stores

Water Vole (c) Terry Whittaker

Water voles have been reintroduced to the River Beane after an absence of over 20 years.

On Friday 22nd July, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, in collaboration with the Woodhall Estate with support from the River Beane Restoration Association reintroduced water voles to a stretch of the River Beane near Watton-at-Stone. This project is funded by the Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund. The fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies and is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.

Water voles used to be commonly found on rivers throughout Hertfordshire and the rest of the country, but over the last 50 years they have become the UK’s fastest-declining mammal and now face extinction. This has been due to two main factors - loss of quality wetland habitats and predation by American mink, an invasive, non-native species. Both have contributed to a 90% decrease in water vole populations.
Click Here to read more at the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust


Harry Bott's August Farming, Wildlife and Garden Reports

Harry is pleased that Spindle trees are recovering  and Partridge Chicks have been spotted and he reflects on Combine Harvesters in years past. Harry is also very happy with the Kitchen Garden.

Read the full July and August reports from Harry by clicking below.

Click Here to download and read Harry Bott's Countryside Notes
 

RSN's RURAL FUNDING DIGEST 

A monthly bulletin facilitated by the Rural Services Network highlighting a selection of current funding opportunities not just for rural projects. 

Click Here for the latest Rural Funding Digest


Thanks to our eBulletin Sponsors
 
Click on the poster for the VillageGuard website
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Help CDA Herts Mobile Hub Get On The Road
 
We need your support to raise enough funds to get our Mobile Hub on the road

enabling us & other partners to bring information and support to rural areas on

numerous helpful services. 

 
Click Here to Support our Mobile Hub Project by buying

East Herts Lottery Tickets.
Join us on Facebook & Twitter and we can share your information, stories and events. We are also on Instagram so share your pictures with us too.

Click on the icon to follow us on Facebook where we share information from our partners, other organisations and charities all over Hertfordshire.

Click the icon to follow our Twitter feed. There is also a live feed on our website Homepage Click Here
 
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CDA Herts Services available to communities in Hertfordshire

Community Garden St Albans - Plots available
Village Halls Advisory Service - part of the ACRE network
Rural Support Networks
Rural Issues Network
Rural Loneliness Forum
Digital Inclusion Project
Farmers' Cafes
Rural Affordable Housing Needs Assessments and Surveys
Village Connectors Project
HMP The Mount Play Area
Jobs Pathway
Covid Recovery Ethnic Diverse Project (CRED)
Health Equalities Partnership Programme (HEPP)
Reconnecting Hertford 
Community Energy Network
Management Health Checks
Health & Safety Training, Audit and Risk Assessment
Health & Wellbeing advocacy
Send us your news, bulletin or newsletter and we will feature you.

 email tim.hayward-smith@cdaherts.org.uk


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CDA Herts does not endorse nor recommend any services or products featured in the eBulletin and accepts no liability for any unforeseen circumstances arising.

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