Local News and Events

We are a homelessness charity that provides formerly homeless people (companions) with a safe home environment, and a range of training and progression opportunities. 

We have 4 Hertfordshire-based shops that sell quality upcycled and second-hand furniture, and a house clearance service.  Our St. Albans site can accommodate up to 36 people.

During their stay with us, companions can:

● Take as long as they need to get their lives back on track

● Build confidence and improve self-esteem

● Learn valuable work skills (such as retail sales, furniture restoration)

● Learn to support and mentor other companions

In return for volunteering for up to 40 hours a week, companions:

● Are allocated their own fully furnished room

● Receive food (3 meals per day)

● Receive a weekly volunteering allowance

● Are entitled to holiday leave (for which we pay a holiday allowance)

● Build up a leaving fund for when they are ready to move on from Emmaus

● Can access support about progression into employment

● Can access support regarding moving into alternative accommodation

● Are helped to access physical and mental wellbeing services

Referrals:

Referrals are assessed on a suitability basis. It is important that companions understand and respect Emmaus’s ethos, guidelines and expectations, as well as the role they play in its success.

It is not necessary to have a local connection.  We can accommodate people 18+ years of age who are homeless or who face imminent eviction, and who are NOT in employment.   

Our aim is to provide a safe environment for everyone, regardless of their culture, ethnicity, religion, race, gender or sexual orientation.      

There is no time limit as to how long a person can stay with us, subject to adherence to the rules and regulations of the community.

Please find attached a Referral Acceptability Checklist, to ascertain the suitability of potential companions.

Referrals can be made via our website:

www.emmaus.org.uk/st_albans

Should you require further information, please contact us on: 01727 817 294 (option 1 for support).

Or alternatively, we would love to welcome you for a visit!

Please see below this week’s shared information briefing. Each organisation’s social media channels are linked below. Please follow these as trusted sources of information. 

Hertfordshire Constabulary

Over the past week we have continued to see a reduction in the number of calls made to our control room linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

No hate crime offences have been recorded in the past seven days and two non-crime anti-Semitic hate incidents have been reported. This is almost in line with the levels seen pre-October 7, 2023. There have been no reports relating to Islamophobia.

However, our proactive patrols and community engagement continues, and we remain on hand to respond to any issues or concerns as needed. If you are worried about anything, become a victim of hate crime or witness any activity which you believe to be suspicious, please get in touch. We have specialist officers on hand who can provide advice and support.

X/Twitter: @HertsPolice Facebook @Herts Police

Community Security Trust

For the period 7 October to 14 November 2023, there have been 1,283 antisemitic incidents in the UK. Out of this, 41 have been in Hertfordshire.

This is still making the community feel vulnerable. We are grateful for the partnership we have with the police and I know the community appreciate their hard work.

CST_UK | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree

Hertsmere Borough Council

Local Strategic Partnership
Hertsmere Together, our Local Strategic Partnership, met earlier this week. The partnership received an update on the ongoing community response to the current events in Israel and Gaza. It was agreed that all members of the partnership should also receive these updates. As such, the distribution list has now been widened to include partners from across our public, private, community and voluntary sectors.

Hertsmere Forum of Faiths
The Hertsmere Forum of Faiths also met this week. The meeting gave those in attendance an opportunity to come together to focus on their role as community and faith leaders. Councillors and officers were also in attendance and provided updates on the work on the ongoing community response to events in the Middle East.

Mental Health Services
The following services are available to residents of Hertsmere to support their mental health.    

• The TogetherAll, which is an online anonymous mental health community monitored by professionals. It offers a range of support, courses and advice. Hertfordshire residents over 16 can register for free – just select ‘my area is registered’ and enter your postcode.
• NHS Every Mind Matters – Get expert advice and practical tips, try the ‘How are you? quiz or create a tailored self-care plan to support your mental health and wellbeing
• The Five Ways to Wellbeing – feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from life
• Jami – provides mental health support to the Jewish Community
• Herts Mind Network – provide services including peer support, group activities, counselling and a crisis helpline. Provided online, over the phone or from Number 10 on Leeming Road, Borehamwood.
• Hertfordshire County Council have produced a mental health resource booklet providing information about services available in the community. Should anyone wish to order physical copies of this, please contact services@hertsmere.gov.uk.
• The Church of England have pulled together a set of 13 reflections to support good mental health. www.churchofengland.org
• Young Minds have released some specific advice aimed at young people who are worried about the conflict in the Middle East: Mental Health Advice | The Conflict in the Middle East | YoungMinds

X/Twitter: HertsmereBC ; Facebook: Hertsmere ; Instagram: HertsmereBC ; LinkedIn  HertsmereBC

Please see below this week’s shared information briefing. Each organisation’s social media channels are linked below. Please follow these as trusted sources of information. 

Hertfordshire Constabulary

We continue to receive a handful of calls around incidents linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Over the past seven days in Hertsmere, five antisemitic crimes have been recorded – including one criminal damage, two public order offences, one malicious communications offence and a common assault without injury. One hate incident has also been reported.

We are investigating these offences expeditiously and support has been provided to victims.

We have received no reports around Islamophobia in the past seven days.

Our proactive patrols and community engagement continues, and we remain on hand to respond to any issues or concerns as needed. If you are worried about anything or witness activity which you believe to be suspicious, please get in touch.

X/Twitter: @HertsPolice Facebook @Herts Police

Community Security Trust

For the period 7 October to 7 November, there have been 1,124 antisemitic incidents in the UK. Out of this, 33 have been in Hertfordshire.  In the same period in 2022, there were 183 antisemitic incidents in the UK, of which 7 were in Hertfordshire. This represents an increase of 26 antisemitic incidents in Hertfordshire year on year.

This is still making the community feel vulnerable. We are grateful for the partnership we have with the Police and I know the community appreciate their hard work.

CST_UK | Instagram, Facebook, TikTok | Linktree

Hertsmere Borough Council

Interfaith Week

As part of a wider set of events for Interfaith Week, the Hertfordshire Interfaith Forum are running an online ‘Peace through Understanding’ event on 15 November between 6.30pm and 8pm. The event will provide an opportunity to hear about the work done by Inter Faith Groups in Hertfordshire and how through understanding each other, we create the conditions for peace.   This is an online event held via Teams – please use this link to join.

Older Person’s Advice, Learning and Safety Event

Hertsmere Borough Council, in partnership with Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue were pleased to host an Older People’s Advice, Learning and Safety Event on 2 November at the Synagogue. The event was aimed at those over 60, to promote safety amongst older people in Borehamwood.

Representatives from Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue, Hertfordshire Police, Trading Standards, Communities 1^st and many more joined Hertsmere Borough Council to speak at the event about the services and support available to older people. More than 45 people attended the event.

Mental Health Services

The following services are available to residents of Hertsmere to support their mental health.    

• The TogetherAll, an online anonymous mental health community monitored by professionals, offers a range of support, courses and advice. Hertfordshire residents over 16 can register for free – just select ‘my area is registered’ and enter your postcode.
• NHS Every Mind Matters – Get expert advice and practical tips, try the ‘How are you?; quiz or create a tailored self-care plan to support your mental health and wellbeing
• The Five Ways to Wellbeing – feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from life
• Jami – provides mental health support to the Jewish Community
• Herts Mind Network – provide services including peer support, group activities, counselling and a crisis helpline. Provided online, over the phone or from Number 10 on Leeming Road, Borehamwood.
• Hertfordshire County Council have produced a mental health resource booklet providing information about services available in the community. Should anyone wish to order physical copies of this, please contact services@hertsmere.gov.uk.
• The Church of England have pulled together a set of 13 reflections to support good mental health.

X/Twitter: HertsmereBC ; Facebook: Hertsmere ; Instagram: HertsmereBC ; LinkedIn  HertsmereBC

Faith and community leaders joined representatives from Hertsmere Borough Council and Hertfordshire Constabulary on Monday (16 October) to underline messages of reassurance and to foster ongoing co-operation following the appalling terror attacks by Hamas in Israel and the resulting conflict in the region. 

The meeting was convened by the Leader of Hertsmere Borough Council and Chair of Hertsmere Together, Cllr Jeremy Newmark who was joined on a panel by Hertsmere’s Chief Inspector Mark Bilsdon representing the Constabulary and Neil Rosen from the Community Security Trust.  

A variety of faith group representatives, including the Hertsmere Forum of Faiths and community leaders from across the borough joined the delegates, along with cabinet and senior staff members from the council including the Managing Director, Sajida Bijle.   

Cllr Newmark commented: “Hertsmere is home to one of the UK’s largest Jewish communities and I know they, in particular, are feeling intense pain and vulnerability in the wake of the dreadful atrocities committed in Israel, as are other faith and non-faith groups and individuals across our borough.

“We are sensitive to these concerns and mindful of the need to cultivate and foster positive relations, bring people together and comfort those feeling fear and pain.  Through our Local Strategic Partnership, Hertsmere Together, we already have well-established networks to enable us to respond and communicate effectively, supportively and pragmatically. 

“At our meeting, as well as sharing information, listening to concerns and answering questions, we also agreed a pathway for ongoing communication and engagement amongst us.”

Chief Inspector Bilsdon updated delegates with the Constabulary’s response to the atrocities, including reassurance patrols in the wake of a threefold increase in antisemitic incidents, whilst Neil Rosen from the Community Security Trust (CST) gave an overview of the advice and practical support the CST has been offering to Jewish and multi-faith groups. 

In response to a request from those present, Hertsmere Borough Council will be working with partners to explore bolstering mental health-related provision for any members of the local community impacted by current events.

Faith and community leaders issued the following joint statement following the meeting:

“We are grateful to Hertsmere Borough Council for convening this meeting and providing an invaluable opportunity for us all to gather, listen, exchange views and build a constructive plan to engender continued dialogue and support to each other and our communities.

 “At the meeting we were united in our condemnation of the terrorist attacks launched on Israel by Hamas, a terrorist organisation, which has caused numerous casualties.   These events have, of course, created fear among Jewish communities across the world, including here in Hertsmere. 

“We thank councillors of all political groups for supporting Israel’s right to self-defence and their rejections of any suggestions of any moral equivalence. 

 “We were also united in our support for those innocent Palestinians trapped in Gaza and for the wider Muslim community, which is integral to our diverse population in Hertsmere.  

“We are united against all forms of terror and hate and uphold the human rights of all. Collectively, we will support all faiths and communities to build a safe and resilient Hertsmere.”

Hertsmere councillors are also supporting a ‘Yes to Peace and No to Terror’ solidarity event and vigil outside the Civic Offices this evening (Wednesday 18 October) where local MPs and community leaders from across Hertfordshire will make public addresses. 

Radlett and District Museum’s latest exhibition explores a grisly murder which took place in the village two hundred years ago.

The exhibition explores what took place in Gills Hill Lane on 24 October 1823, which raised issues at the time about illegal entertainment, the power of the press, the administration of justice and the law.

Councillor Parveen Rani, Portfolio Holder for Street Scene, Parks, Leisure and Culture, said: “This latest exhibition is an interesting look at an event which took place 200 years ago and captured the public’s attention at the time. There is an extensive display on all aspects of the murder with contemporary illustrations to accompany the text.

“The dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers at Radlett and District Museum are always looking for new and interesting ways to explore our village’s history. The volunteers have worked hard to put together this latest exhibition. Their work is rewarded by people coming through the doors and enjoying the town’s history – so why not visit?

“All four of our museums always need more volunteers, so if you’re interested in joining our friendly and welcoming teams, please contact the museum you’re interested in supporting.”

The museum also has artefacts, documents, photographs and pictures reflecting the rich history of Radlett and the surrounding area.

The museum is situated in the garden behind the Radlett Village Institute. It is open between 10am and midday on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Admission is free.

To find out more, go to Radlett and District Museum’s website: www.radlettmuseum.com.

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