Category Archives: Health and wellbeing

Advertiser of the Month: Audidiology

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Hearing care is about much more than simply being able to hear the television or follow a conversation. For Audidiology, it is about helping people reconnect with the sounds, conversations and everyday moments that matter to them.

Founded by audiologist Didi Lampert, Audidiology provides independent, personalised hearing care across Hertfordshire and London, including from its clinic at Dolphin Medical Centre in Ware. Didi’s approach combines clinical expertise with ongoing support, with patients seeing the same audiologist throughout their care.

Audidiology offers a range of services, including comprehensive hearing consultations, hearing aid fitting and rehabilitation, ear wax removal, tinnitus management and custom hearing protection. The Complete Hearing Clarity Consultation goes beyond a standard hearing test, looking at hearing health as well as how hearing difficulties are affecting everyday life. Patients receive a personalised Clarity Report, with the results explained in straightforward terms.

The practice also offers a mobile concierge service, bringing hearing care into people’s homes across Hertfordshire and London. This includes hearing consultations, hearing aid care and ear wax removal, with the same clinical standards as its clinic-based appointments.

Didi has particular expertise in hearing and balance disorders and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and a full member of the British Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists. He has also carried out thousands of microsuction ear wax removal procedures and has experience working with both adults and children.

For local residents who are finding conversations harder to follow, wondering if their hearing has changed, or simply looking for professional advice, Audidiology offers a chance to talk things through without feeling rushed.

The Ware clinic is at 6–7 East Street, Ware, SG12 9HJ and appointments are also available at home. Same-day, evening and weekend appointments are offered, subject to availability.

To find out more or arrange an appointment, visit http://www.audidiology.com, email hello@audidiology.com or call 07342 976541.

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The Great Big Walk for Herts

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Local charities Future Living Hertford and CHIPS are inviting local people to put on their walking shoes and take part in the Great Big Walk for Herts on Saturday 26 September at Hartham Common, Hertford.

There is a route for everyone, with a half-marathon and 10km guided walk beginning at 10am, followed by a family-friendly 5km walk at 2pm. Tickets cost £15 for the half-marathon, £10 for the 10km walk or £10 per family for the 5km route.

The event forms part of the Helping Herts campaign and will raise vital funds for two local charities. Future Living Hertford supports adults and children affected by domestic abuse, helping them recover, rebuild their lives and move forward with confidence. CHIPS provides specialist powered wheelchairs for children and young people.

Emma Fleming, CEO of Future Living Hertford, said: “The Great Big Walk is a lovely opportunity to get outdoors, spend time with friends or family and support two local charities. Whether you choose the half-marathon, 10km or family walk, every step will help us continue supporting people in our community. We would love to see individuals, families, walking groups and workplace teams joining us on the day.”

Participants can also choose to fundraise, and donations made through the Helping Herts campaign will be match funded – doubling their impact for the charities.

For more information, tickets or interview requests, please contact:
info@futurelivinghertford.co.uk
01992 537344

Emma Fleming
Chief Executive Officer

FREE Digital Skills Group in Stanstead Abbotts

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Want to master your computer, tablet or phone?

Community Alliance Broxbourne and East Herts hold monthly Digital Skills group sessions which are free, friendly and volunteer-led by Digital Champions. They can teach you to do simple things like navigate your devices with ease, online shop, access virtual appointments and stay connected with family and friends.

Upcoming sessions take place on 23rd September and 21st October from 2.30pm to 4pm at Nigel Copping Community Building, Stanstead Abbotts, SG12 8GA. See the poster below for further dates…

Call 0300 123 1034 to book a space.

Vanessa Lynch
Digital Skills Co-ordinator

Community Hub Drop-in: a Warm Welcome Every Wednesday

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Sometimes all we need is a friendly face, a cup of tea and someone to listen.

The Community Hub Drop-in offers exactly that – a welcoming space where anyone is invited to pop in for a chat, enjoy a free cuppa and find a little support if they need it.

Held every Wednesday from 10.30am to 11.30am at St Mary the Virgin Church, St Margarets, the drop-in is free to attend and open to everyone. If you’re feeling isolated, worried about your finances, finding life a little overwhelming or simply fancy some company, you’ll be greeted with a warm welcome.

The team is also able to help people access additional support where needed. A private telephone is available for contacting organisations such as Citizens Advice, Mind, Age UK, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline and Alcoholics Anonymous. There is also a Chromebook available, providing a quiet, private space for visitors to search online for information and support services.

No appointment is needed, and there’s no pressure or expectation – just a chance to sit down, have a chat and explore any support that may be helpful.

If you think a friendly conversation over a cup of tea could brighten your week, why not drop in?

Community Hub Drop-in
📍 St Mary the Virgin Church, St Margarets
📅 Every Wednesday
🕥 10.30am – 11.30am

FREE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE!

From London to Hertford: Supporting Coffee and Coping’s 32-Mile Fundraising Walk

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Three local fundraisers are preparing to take on an impressive challenge in support of Coffee and Coping Hertfordshire.

Following their successful 26-mile charity walk last year, Jim, Lee and Paul are going even further in 2026 by walking 32 miles from Tower Bridge in London to Hertford. Their challenge, From Our Capital to Our Community, aims to raise funds for Coffee and Coping, a local charity that provides support for people affected by addiction, their families, and those experiencing loneliness, while also helping to build a sense of community through regular drop-ins and events.

The charity offers a welcoming, non-judgemental space where people can find friendship, encouragement and support. Through its community sessions, Coffee and Coping helps people facing addiction, isolation and other life challenges to connect with others and know they are not alone.

Every donation, whatever the amount, will help Coffee and Coping continue providing opportunities for people to connect and receive support when they need it most.

If you would like to support Jim, Lee and Paul in their fundraising challenge, donations can be made via their JustGiving page HERE.

We wish Jim, Lee and Paul every success with their 32-mile walk and thank everyone who is able to support this worthwhile local cause.

The 3 Churches Benefice: fun for kids this summer!

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The 3 Churches Benefice has a few different sessions running especially for children and their adults over the summer!

Make Lunch

Make Lunch is back this summer and we’d love to welcome you!

Join us on Mondays throughout the school holidays – 28th July, 4th August, 11th August, 18th August and 25th August – from 12pm to 2pm at The Wilshere Hall on Cappell Lane.

Alongside a free lunch, there will be games, crafts and activities for children, and a relaxed space for families to spend time together during the summer holidays.

Run in partnership with Transforming Lives for Good (TLG), Make Lunch is open to families with school-aged children who receive free school meals, or for anyone finding things a bit stretched financially at the moment. Younger siblings are very welcome too.

If you would like to join us, please email makelunch@3churches.net to book your space.

PLUS…

Make Church

Over the summer, we also have two Make Church sessions on 21 June and 19 July, and we’d love to see as many of you there as possible!

Make Church is a relaxed, joy-filled space where children and their adults can explore faith together through movement, music, creativity and sensory play. There’s no expectation to sit still or be quiet – just come as you are and join in as much or as little as you like.

📍 St Andrew’s Church, Stanstead Abbots
🗓 Every 3rd Sunday of the month at 4pm
💡 Designed for children of all ages and abilities
🎶 Expect songs, movement, hands-on activities, and a warm welcome for parents and carers too

We’d really love your help in growing this special community. If you know a family – friends, neighbours, or school contacts – who might enjoy something like this, please do pass this information on to them. 

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch!

Sign up for Your Tree, Our Future 2026 NOW!

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Your Tree Our Future is a collaborative project delivered by the County Council, Hertfordshire’s district and borough councils, and voluntary sector partners. It is designed to enable Hertfordshire’s residents, businesses and community groups to help plant more trees across the county.

They set out with a goal to help residents plant 100,000 trees over four years. During its first three years, thousands of residents have taken part and helped plant more than 190,000 trees. In 2025 this number was increased to 250,000 trees. In 2026, there are 60,000 trees up for grabs!

Photo by Arnaud Mesureur on Unsplash

You can choose from eight different species while stocks last. A limited number of hedgerow packs are also available, which include 36 trees – enough to plant approximately 6 metres of hedgerow.

All of these trees are:

  • Great Britain natives and suitable for Hertfordshire’s soil and environmental conditions (this gives them the best chance to grow to maturity)
  • two years old and approximately 60-80cm tall (except for hawthorn, which is one year old and a little smaller, as they grow very quickly)
  • grown at a UK tree nursery from seed collected in the UK
  • beneficial to local wildlife.

Trees that could outgrow a domestic garden, like oaks, or fruit trees that need more complex care, have not been included.

The young trees may seem small at the time of collection, but they’re easier to transport and more likely to establish well in their new homes, as their roots are under less stress.

Sign up to the wait list HERE if you’re interested in taking part in the scheme in 2026. The trees do go quickly, so sign up while they are available.

News from Hertfordshire Health Walks

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Health Walks Summer Timetables (May to August) 2026 are now online alongside current timetables. Thanks to the dedication of our amazing volunteers, there are more than 100 different walking opportunities. Taster walks are starting in Welwyn Garden City (6 May), Bengeo near Hertford (7 May) and Baldock (22 May).

Walks are suitable for a range of fitness levels. Look out for our gentle walks for beginners, graded FS or G2. New walkers are always welcome and there’s no need to be super fit to join. Nervous about joining a Health Walk? Read our Advice for walkers.

Tune in to Mix 92.6FM on Tuesday 5 May between 11am and 12 noon for a live chat with Elly about Health Walks:MixFM_Your radio Your Hertfordshire

View Hertfordshire Health Walks East Herts timetable below.

east-herts-health-walks-timetable-january-to-april-2026Download

Setting up a Health Walk near you

If you are passionate about walking and want to help others who are not so confident about being outside, why not set up a group walk in your neighbourhood?

You would be joining more than 300 Hertfordshire residents who are delivering free walks in their neighbourhoods. Health Walks offers a nationally recognised walk leadership qualification, insurance and marketing to get you started. On completion of the classroom and practical training, you will receive branded Health Walks kit – including a high vis, rucksack, whistle, water bottle and polo shirt!

Spaces are available on our upcoming new volunteers’ training workshops – 21 May in Stevenage and 10 July in Hatfield. Why not come along to find out more? Contact us on 01992 555 888 or healthwalks.cms@hertfordshire.gov.uk to book your space.

MORE INFO ON SETTING UP A HEALTH WALK

Hertfordshire County Council

Air Quality Strategy: have your say!

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Hertfordshire County Council is inviting residents, community partners, businesses and stakeholders to help shape a cleaner, healthier future for the county as it launches a public consultation on its draft Air Quality Strategy.

You can view both the full draft strategy and a summary when completing the online survey before the consultation closing date on 22 March 2026.

Find out more about the consultation and have your say at: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/AirQuality26
You can view a one-page summary of the strategy below.

Hertfordshire County Council

summary-of-draft-air-quality-strategyDownload

[feature image: Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash]

Community Supermarkets: Extra Support with Food Costs

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With the cost of living continuing to put pressure on household budgets, a new initiative across Hertfordshire is helping residents stretch their weekly food shop further.

Community supermarkets offer good-quality food and everyday household essentials at very low prices – often under £1 per item. They are designed to support people who may not need a food bank but are finding it harder to manage rising costs.

Although there isn’t currently a community supermarket based in Great Amwell, St Margarets or Stanstead Abbotts, there are eight locations across Hertfordshire, with plans to open more in the future. Some residents may find it possible to travel to an existing site, and the scheme is expected to expand as demand grows.

To use a community supermarket, residents need to sign up and complete a simple eligibility assessment. Once registered, the first eight visits are free, thanks to funding from the Household Support Fund. After that, a small membership fee applies alongside the cost of the shopping.

The scheme is run by Community Help Hertfordshire, working with Hertfordshire County Council, and is now open to self-referrals, meaning you don’t need a professional referral to apply. As well as affordable shopping, visitors can also receive information about other types of support that may be available to them or their family.

Community supermarkets are currently located in:

  • Hemel Hempstead
  • Borehamwood
  • Letchworth Garden City
  • Rickmansworth
  • St Albans
  • Stevenage
  • Watford
  • Hatfield

If you think this support could help you or someone you know, you can check eligibility and apply online at: www.communityhelpherts.net/communitysupermarket

For wider advice and resources on managing the cost of living, visit: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/costofliving

You can also get in touch for more information via phone (01727 649980) or email (info@communityhelpherts.net).

Source: Hertfordshire County Council

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