Over the past few months the Care Fund of the Harpenden Trust has been busy planning for the year ahead. Coming shortly is the Seniors Fair, on Tuesday, 4 April, whilst both the Seniors and Family Outings Teams are busy organising trips for clients. Activity at the Coffee Mornings has increased significantly on both Tuesdays and Thursdays – the latter recently attended by some 40 Seniors. Wellbeing is being maintained a high level with the added benefit of moving some activities to our new halls at No. 130. Home Visits have not yet increased but several of our most recent cases have been quite challenging; with high inflation we expect an increase in requests for assistance. We recently hosted a Christmas Appeal collectors thank-you tea to acknowledge their brilliant work which is vital in supporting our activities. A huge effort is in place to upgrade our new halls at No. 130 and fill them with happy clients; many Care Fund volunteers have stepped up to help with this work. Our Ukrainian guests are settling in well into our community, with many now working and some families moving into their own rented properties. We are working on how we can help celebrate the forthcoming King’s Coronation; the Monday after the Coronation has been declared The Big Help Out day and we will be putting a programme together for the 8 May.
Seniors Fair: this is set to offer a good mix of services and activities for seniors. We have 32 confirmed exhibitors for the event.
Seniors Outings: we are in the process of client update calls to confirm interest in future trips and, importantly, if any there have been any changes we should be aware of particularly with regard to mobility issues. Trips planned for 2023 will likely include: a number of garden centre visits; two Ouse Boat Trips; and a Tea Party or two. Most significantly we have had to accommodate the increased cost of coach hire.
Hall Bookings: the local PCSO is running monthly Police Beat Surgeries at No. 90 from 9:30am to 11:30am on a Tuesday, starting on 21 March. The surgeries are a chance for people to pop in and discuss any concerns they may have about local policy and the community in general. We have received many positive comments about the Trust’s acquisition of the former Southdown Methodist Church Halls. Three of our No. 90 hirers have taken additional weekly bookings at No. 130 and we have three brand new hirers; we already have a list of hirers keen to hire the halls following their refurbishment. The good news is that everyone agrees that the new halls will be fantastic spaces to hire once the refurbishment is complete.
Home Visits: we continue to receive approximately 50 calls a month for our services - a little lower in February but with some really challenging cases to resolve, often with our partners at the Harpenden Money Advice Centre and the Citizens Advice Bureau (which is now back in Harpenden at the Salvation Army on Monday mornings). Some of our Ukrainian guests are moving into rented properties and have needed Home Visit support in some cases.
Care Fund Grants. Utilities grants: grants to help with bills were paid out in early February to some 70 clients. Youth & Schools: there has been a substantial increase in grant applications and we have enabled 43 students to take part in school trips or courses this year that they would not otherwise been able to do.
Harpenden Wellbeing. Wellbeing Friends: the team is currently dealing with some 50 referrals. Mind in Mid Herts - Harpenden Wellbeing Initiative: since October 21 new people have joined our project and are actively using the service; this brings the total of people supported in this current financial year to 86. We are finding that people being referred need one-to-one support before they feel confident to join a group. Every person who is referred is seen for a needs assessment which helps them understand who we are and what we offer. As part of this initial meeting, people may need advice or signposting to other services. Data from people who use our Harpenden services showed: - a 100% positive response for the outcome measure “service users feel they are managing their health and wellbeing better”; a 100% overall positive response for the outcome measure “service users have been supported in a way that has reduced their feelings of social isolation”; and a 100% overall positive response for the outcome measure “service users have been supported in a way that has improved their feeling of self-worth and mental wellbeing”.
Frazzled Café: numbers continue at around 6-7 people per week. The new sessions at the EMC have attracted good numbers over the first 4 sessions. Memory Lane Café: still a great success with a wide range of activities. The purchase of a Sensory projector gives us a valuable resource for the Café and to loan to the wider community for use with SEND children and those with ADHD and autism. Arts on Prescription courses at the EMC the courses are continuing to be a great success. Confidential Coaching offers free help with the ‘challenges of life’ and receives referrals direct from the social prescribers. The Youth Talk trial group counselling pilot continues and we will be evaluating feedback.
Library Support: the number of people using the Library on a Wednesday afternoons continue to be very healthy and Hertfordshire Library Service are delighted with the contribution of the Trust. Numbers have been boosted by the need for a warm space, particularly by families who spend time reading to their children.
Befriending: the last couple of months have been quite active and with a number of new referrals. As a sign of success we have had 3 relationships where the befriender and befriendee have become friends and no longer want to be under the auspices of the Trust.
Nick Luckett
Chair, Care Fund
01 April 2023
