Masks Still Required in Healthcare Settings

Patients in Hertfordshire and West Essex will still be required to wear face coverings in GP practices and other healthcare settings as COVID-19 restrictions ease.

The guidance from the NHS for healthcare settings has not changed, and patients who are not exempt from wearing a face covering should continue to wear one, follow social distancing and hand hygiene guidance. If patients are exempt from wearing a mask, a face shield may be offered as an alternative.

COVID-19 infection rates are rising in all areas of the country which means its vitally important we continue to do all we can against the virus. Wearing a face covering is an effective way of reducing transmission.

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Self-isolation payments available for eligible residents

If you're struggling financially because you cannot work after being told to self-isolate, you can apply for a Test and Trace support payment which are for people on low incomes who are self-isolating, unable to work from home, on a related benefit, and will have a reduction in their income and are struggling financially as a result. This does not apply if you are furloughed. To be eligible, you must be:

• employed or self-employed
• unable to work from home and will lose income as a result
• currently receiving Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, income-based Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit and/or Pension Credit.

Click Here to read more 

Government has launched the first round of bids for its £150m Community Ownership Fund.

Open to community organisations across the whole of the UK, the scheme provides up to 50 per cent match-funded capital grants to help take ownership of 'at risk' assets. The focus is on physical assets that are up for sale, planned for sale or listed for disposal. Bidding in round one runs from 15 July until 13 August 2021.

Click below for some information and guidance on the scope of the Community Ownership Fund, including eligibility criteria, timescales and where to find additional support.

Hertfordshire joins the Queen’s Green Canopy

On behalf of Hertfordshire’s Lord-Lieutenant, the county council will help lead the county’s tree planting efforts for the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, which encourages people to “Plant a Tree for the Jubilee.”

Residents, community groups, farmers, schools, district councils and local businesses will be encouraged to plant trees and hedges, in a county-wide effort, from October 2021, when the tree planting season begins, through to the end of the Jubilee year in 2022.

Click Here to read more

Help in the Heath continues in these difficult times.  You might need someone to do your shopping, walk your dog, cut your grass or just a friendly chat and some company.

This is a community service for all people who may be self-isolating, elderly, vulnerable to illness, in financial difficulties or just feeling scared and lonely and can contact any of the Co-ordinators: 
There’s lots of information about Covid-19 on the Internet and Social Media but it may not always be correct.   We have collated some useful links for you to check during these difficult times.  These range from official NHS and government websites to the online presence of charities that are on hand to help you wherever possible.

Sign Up for an Alzheimer's Society Memory Walk

A Memory Walk is a family-friendly sponsored walk and a fantastic way to make a real difference to people affected by dementia. It’s free to sign up and accessible to all. Sign up to one of 20 walks taking place up and down the country this September or take on your own Memory Walk  and walk for a world without dementia.
Click Here for more details

There are Healthy Hubs right across Hertfordshire, with at least one hub in each district. And don’t worry if you can’t get to us in person – we can talk to you over the phone, via email or even over Zoom if you prefer.

The Healthy Hubs are run by the district and borough councils. 

This Summer Recycle your Punctured and Unwanted Inflatables

Wyatt & Jack are a UK based sustainable brand, creating bags and accessories from salvaged bouncy castles, deckchair canvas and inflatables, since 2010.  So far as a company, they have swerved tonnes and tonnes of  plastic and mixed fibre fabrics from landfill and also employ an ‘End of Life’ and ‘Repairs’ policy, to ensure they remain responsible for the products they create, even after they have reached the customer.  

In 2018 they launched their Inflatable Amnesty, which allows the public to send their broken inflatables, to avoid sending them to landfill, with the option of  also having a bag made for themselves. This has built a community which also involves members of the public becoming collection points, so Wyatt & Jack can then arrange collection of fabrics in larger numbers. It has also enabled people to feel like they can positively contribute to a solution to the single use plastic problem. We regularly hold bag auctions and give monies to charity, including through the sale of our collaborative collections, which are continual

Click Here to find out more

Herts Volunteering CIC - RECRUITING, RETAINING & MANAGING VOLUNTEERS

Venue: A Virtual Training Session on Zoom

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­This interactive and engaging one-day course will explore the challenges of recruiting, retaining and managing volunteers. It is ideal for staff who have this responsibility as their role.
 
We have split the course into two halves to give participants more choice

We are excited to announce that ‘Wild World Heroes’ Summer Reading Challenge 2021 is launching in Hertfordshire Libraries on Saturday 10 July. 

Our doors are wide open, and we are welcoming back and encouraging our existing and new young readers to join and take part in this free challenge. 

Over 20,000 children enjoyed the challenge in Hertfordshire in 2019 and we hope that many more children will take part in 2021 challenge.

Click Here to find out more now

Wheathampstead Farmers' Market

10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. third Sunday of the month

East Lane Car Park, Behind the Bull

Tel: 01727 819452