Category Archives: Charity

Summer Event at St James’ Church

Celebrate the summer at St James’ Church!

WHEN: Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June, , 2–5pm
WHERE: St James’ Church, Roydon Road, Stanstead Abbotts

Cream Teas and Churchyard Tours
On Saturday and Sunday, come and enjoy a delicious cream tea in the beautiful setting of this ancient church. Free churchyard tours offer a fascinating exploration into the rich history of the church and those who are laid to rest there. Please do bring along cash as the card machine may be temperamental!

‘Songs for a Summer Afternoon’ Concert
At 4pm on Saturday 14th, join us for a special concert by the Priory Choir. It will be a wonderful festival of delightful summer songs! The performance will take place in the church. Tickets for the performance will cost £10 per person with all profits going towards the upkeep of St James’. To book your tickets for ‘Songs for a Summer Afternoon’, please got to EventBrite. Although there are some tickets available on the door, we would recommend you book in advance!

About St James’ Church
St James’ is a redundant church in the care of the Churches Convervation Trust. The Friends of St James’ Church, a group of dedicated local volunteers, organises a wide range of events during the year, as well as helping to keep the church open to visitors during the summer months. You can learn more about us on our website.

The Big Step Out 2025 at Hatfield House

Hertfordshire Health Walks with be joining charity Stepping Out with Carers on Wednesday 11th June at Hatfield House for The Big Step Out 2025. This event is dedicated to the nation’s 10 million unpaid carers and the people they care for. Several scenic, sociable and fabulous walks will be on offer, as well as music, lunch, stalls and more! 

To book your place, complete a contact form HERE or send an email to hallosteppingout@gmail.com and you will be connected with someone who can help.

Stepping Out with Carers offer walks throughout Hertfordshire including lunch at many of the county’s most beautiful venues. Designed as a boost to physical and mental wellbeing as well as a great way to meet new friends, these walks are free of charge. Their walks at every venue are graded to cater equally for those who use a wheelchair or have other mobility issues. Their offer includes transport for those who would not otherwise be able to attend. Carers may come on their own or bring the person they care for.

To find out more about Stepping Out with Carers, visit their website: carerssteppingout.co.uk.

Hertfordshire Health Walks

Explore Local Volunteering Opportunities at GoVolHerts Community Event in Hitchin

Our community would not be what it is without the amazing volunteers who give their time freely to help others – and in the process often have a great time themselves! People don’t always realise the huge difference that volunteering makes in our community or that volunteering takes so many shapes and sizes, with hundreds of different organisations and roles that volunteers can be involved in. Our Volunteer Fair will celebrate volunteers in all their glory and, with more than 20 local organisations taking part it will be a wonderful opportunity to learn about the many different types of volunteering and how you could get involved too.   

Emily Butterworth, Volunteering Development Lead at GoVolHerts, shared:  ‘We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone to this event in the heart of Hitchin. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet the incredible people behind our local charities and learn about the vital role volunteers play in their work. We’re delighted to have a wide range of amazing organisations taking part, all eager to share how the public can get involved and the fantastic impact that they can achieve through volunteering. We’re honoured to be joined also by local dignitaries and representatives from Hertfordshire County Council. Whether you’re looking to try something new, build confidence, or find a meaningful way to give back, this event is the perfect place to start. Huge thanks to Visit Hitchin for helping us bring it all together.’ 

Visitors will have the chance to connect with the following local charities: Music 24,  MCR PathwaysAge UK HertfordshireWillow FoundationHealth & Independent, Living SupportGarden House Hospice CareNYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service), BrainkindMind in Mid-HertsTilehouse Counselling, Schoolreaders, North Herts Marie CurieCarers in Hertfordshire, Citizens Advice North HertfordshireHerts Mind NetworkBuzzworks Association HitchinFirst Garden Cities HomesStand-by-Me Children’s Bereavement Services, Crossroads Caring for LifeHertfordshire Fire & Rescue ServiceHome-Start HertfordshireGRIT. 

The Volunteer Fair in Hitchin is part of Hertfordshire’s celebration of Volunteers Week, a national event to celebrate and showcase the contribution of volunteers in our community. To find out more, visit www.govolherts.org.uk or contact the team at info@govolherts.org.uk. The fair will take place on the High Street in Hitchin. There is no need for the public to register – just come along at any time from 10am to 3pm. We look forward to seeing you there!  

GoVolHerts is a free volunteer-matching platform that makes it easy to discover the right opportunity. With hundreds of live roles from almost 500 non-profit organisations, the site connects people with causes that matter to them. GoVolHerts is delivered by North Herts and Stevenage CVS and proudly funded by Hertfordshire County Council.  

The next Equine Table Top Sale and Dog Show

The next Equine Table Top Sale and Dog Show on Sunday 11th May will be held on Widford Playing Fields (SG12 8SL), 11am to 1pm.

Pitches £10
Horse boxes/trailer £15
PITCHES ON THE DAY £15
(bring your own table/blanket)

Entry for buyers only £1!
Dog Show Entry £2 per show per dog per class
CASH ONLY

Dog Show Sponsored by Tyrrell Plastering Ltd.
Jimmy Riddles Toilet Hire is kindly supplying us with a portaloo for the weekend.

All money we raise goes to Friends of the Wild Rescue and Rehab, a volunteer run and self-funded wildlife rescue based in Bishops Stortford, covering the Bishops Stortford area plus surrounding villages. They help all small wildlife, ranging from orphan birds and mammals through to animals with injuries such as broken legs/wings and cat attack injuries. Find out more about this amazing charity on their website: https://friendsofthewild.co.uk/.

Message on 07747300095 to book your pitches!

Update at Rye Meads: Pylons and Parking

National Grid are undertaking works on the pylon in the car park at Rye Meads. This work includes replacing the conductors (lines themselves) as well as the insulators, and maintenance on the pylon structure itself: so major works. You can find out more about the North London Reinforcement (NLR) project  HERE. The same works are also being undertaken on pylons either side of our car park including on the HMWT meadow.

The main effect to the site will be parking at the visitor centre with a large area of the car park closed off as it falls in the work area leaving us approx. 6 parking spaces and no access to the Lapwing Hide. As such, the car park will be closed on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but the Visitor Centre and trails will be open as usual.  On other days there will be a system in place to stack staff and volunteer parking in the coach bays, leaving the 6 spaces free on a first-come, first-served basis.

There will be no coach parking or designated disabled parking available during this time, but there will be a drop off point close to the visitor centre.

Works on the pylon in the meadow have a slightly different timeline and requires a track to be laid across the meadow for access. The track will start being laid on 7 April, so there is likely to be minor disruption to access the reserve during this phase. The aim is for work to begin on the meadow pylon on 18 April and completed with track removed by 24 May, so again expect minor disruption for track removal.

The first stage of 2025 work is the delivery of scaffolding on 7 and 8 April followed by construction of scaffolding gantry over the road on 14–16 April.

Allowing for preparation of works, the maximum timeframe is 28 April–13 June 2025.

This means there will be very limited parking at Rye Meads 28 April–13 June 2025.

Be sure to check the Rye Meads Blog for regular updates: https://community.rspb.org.uk/placestovisit/ryemeads/b/ryemeads-blog

Jim’s Big Walk for Coffee and Coping

Have you heard about CEO of Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire’s Big Walk on 20th April? Jim is walking the 20 miles from Bath to Wells to raise money for this important charity. Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire’s mission is to combat loneliness, and all that goes with it, through community. They have a number of groups that meet around Hertfordshire and they have achieved an incredible amount in a short space of time, but fundraising is vital to help them continue in their work.

Jim’s story
Why walk from Bath to Wells? Well, I’ll tell you! These two places played a major part in my childhood, but also are places where community values were instilled in me! My charity is trying to reconnect community values back into everyday life.

Growing up in Somerset I lived a life filled with people I knew, trusted and relied upon! We were in and out of each other’s houses without knocking. We were able to trust the people who lived in the houses around us and we never got lost because someone around us knew where we should be going.

In this life now all that is lost! I’m not saying to blindly trust everyone or listen to the words of strangers without forethought. I am saying, however, it costs us nothing to listen, talk and support our neighbours!

Help me get where I’m going both mentally physically and emotionally!

If you can support Jim in his incredible fundraising effort, all donations are gratefully received. You can find his Just Giving page HERE.

GROUPS

Coffee and Coping Stanstead Abbotts Drop-in: Midday to 1:30pm, Wednesdays and Fridays at The Ashlea Room, Parish Hall, Stanstead Abbotts, Herts SG12 8EZ. A chance to get together, meet new people and build community. Everyone is welcome!

Hope in Action: 5 to 6.30pm, every Wednesday at St Mary’s Church, 33a Hoddesdon Road, St Margarets, Herts SG12 8EG. An addicts, heavy substance and alcohol users’ safe space to talk, get help and break their cycles of addiction.

Coffee and Coping Hertford Heath Drop-in: 2 to 3pm, every Tuesday at The Silver Fox pub, 16-18 London Road, Hertford Heath, Herts SG14 7RH. This group is for anyone who wants to connect with people, talk about life, as well as get real help for any problems that may arise.

 Men’s Communication Collective: 6.30 to 8pm, 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at the Pioneer Club, Heathlands Drive, St Albans, Herts. AL3 5AY. The chance for all adult men to find a safe space to talk about their issues and also look at the way they communicate with their families, friends and colleagues.

These groups are free to attend. No need to book, just go along!

Free Slow Cooking Course in Hertford

Join the popular Slow Cooking on a Budget Course!

This engaging four-week programme will be held at Community Alliance Skills and Learning Centre, 67 Fore Street, Hertford, SG14 1AL.

Dates: 19th February, 26th February, 5th March and 12th March.
Sessions: Morning (09:30am – 12:30pm) or Afternoon (1:00pm – 4:00pm)

What to Expect
Throughout the course, you will receive a slow cooker and all the food needed to create delicious, healthy meals without breaking the bank!

Slow cooking is not only an energy-efficient way to prepare food, but it also enhances flavours while promoting healthier eating. This course will teach you how to minimise food waste and make the most of your ingredients.

How to Book
To book email sarah@communityalliancebeh.org.uk.

In your email, please include:

  • Your dietary requirements
  • Preferred session (Morning or Afternoon)

You can view the poster below…

Community Alliance Broxbourne & East Herts

Coffee and Coping: Basic Car Maintenance Course

Malmech & Mannion and Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire have a fantastic event running on Sunday 16th March from 10am till 1pm at Malmech & Mannion in Welwyn Garden City.

Learn basic car maintenance AND support a local charity!

For a donation to the charity you will be taught how to check your tyre pressure, sort out your fluid levels and all the basic things you need to maintain your car.

You will be given a certificate and a checklist, as well as a useful car maintenance goody bag.

Email garage@coffeeandcoping.org to book your space NOW.

Sponsored by Bennetts Car Parts: https://www.bennetts.com/.

3-4 Southfield, Burrowfield Industrial Estate, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 4ST

Coffee and Coping’s new group

Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire have a brand new group concentrating on addiction in all forms, for concerned family members as well as addicts. This community pastoral care is done in conjunction with the The 3 Churches Benefice.

Addiction is a real and present in our community, and those facing this need help and support. Coffee and Coping strongly believe that creating a strong sense of community, providing a safe space to talk with empathetic listeners, as well as offering practical support, is the way to help.

If you are interested in knowing more, or would like to come along to this new group, please drop in. You don’t need to book – just turn up.

HOPE IN ACTION
Addition, heavy use and concern group

When: Every Wednesday, 17:00–18:30
Where: St Mary’s Church, St Margarets on Hoddesdon Road

STARTS 29th JANUARY

Please help Coffee and Coping raise money to support their outreach work if you can – anything helps so much. You can donate via the Just Giving page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/hopeinaction#sharePage.

First Equine Table Top Sale and Dog Show of 2025!

The first Equine Table Top Sale and Dog Show of 2025 will be held on 19th January!

WHERE: Albury Village Hall, The Bourne, Albury
WHAT TIME: 11am to 1.30pm

EQUINE TABLE TOP SALE
Entry £1 (cash only)
Lots of different stalls offering some lovely items for sale, including some non-horsey things too.
Refreshments including homemade sausage rolls and cakes on sale too!

Book your tables in advance at £10 – numbers are limited. To book a table get in touch with Gail on 07747300095.

DOG SHOW
Entry £2 per show per dog (cash only)
Ribbons awards up to 5th place for all classes.

All money raised will go to Therapeutic Hooves, a Hertfordshire based therapeutic pony centre that offers individually tailored sessions for a wide range of physical and mental health additional needs. Find out more about this amazing charity here: https://www.therapeutichooves.com/

Check out their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/TherapeuticHooves

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