It has been an eventful year for the Welwyn Hatfield Community and Voluntary Services and the Christmas Holiday Season is one of the busiest times of the year. Charities, community organisations, church congregations and local businesses club together to support those in need in the borough, as best as they can.
Christmas can be lonely and isolating for some and with the added pressure of the rising cost of living, there are even more people in need of assistance this year.
Here are some of the ways these valued groups have been helping to relieve some of the burdens.
Waitrose & Partners Welwyn Garden City
This year, Waitrose & Partners in Welwyn Garden City has supplied selection boxes and sweet treats to our vulnerable clients, Ukrainian visitors and their children.
For the past 3 years, they have contributed to our Christmas Giving Appeal and supported the charity and volunteers looking after members in the community.
Staff will be delivering these just before Christmas with a traditional doorstep carol.
Kingdom of Light Church in Hatfield
The Kingdom of Light Church in Hatfield once again supplied Christmas Meal Hampers to those experiencing hardship in Welwyn Hatfield. This year the event was partly sponsored by Arise of Hatfield. We supported them with volunteers who happily helped with the packing and distribution.
Our staff also volunteer their time to lend an extra pair of hands on delivery day.
Let’s Chat Befriending Project
Our volunteers from the Let’s Chat Befriending Project, staff and clients visited the Dutch Nursery in Brookmans Park for Christmas shopping and a spot of lunch.
For some, this was the first time they had been out in 3 years due to isolation; they had a good time socialising and receiving support while venturing out.
Brookman’s Park United Reform Church
The congregation at Brookman’s Park United Reform Church have an annual tradition of buying presents for children who unfortunately may not receive a present on Christmas Day.
“We came to Brookmans Park 43 years ago and the Gift Service was a regular event at the church during Advent. Members of the congregation buy gifts and wrap them up at home. It’s always been a tradition to give gifts to others at Christmas and we are sure they will make someone very happy.”
Rita Robertson
The Welwyn Hatfield Community and Voluntary Services happily distribute these presents to the local community agencies to disseminate.
ARISE Hatfield and Welwyn Hatfield Community and Voluntary Services
We were delighted to partner with Arise Hatfield in our effort to help residents in need in Hatfield with a Christmas Meal Shop.
Residents have expressed how grateful they are for the kindness they’ve been shown.
Volunteer Centre Welwyn Hatfield
At the Volunteer Centre Welwyn Hatfield, we like nothing more than a little nibble and a cuppa with our volunteers; it’s a great opportunity for us to hear about all the wonderful things they are doing in the community.
With the Christmas period being a busy time for us and them, we still make time for a little gathering before we get right back to helping the community.
This year, our Mince Pies and Coffee morning was bigger than anticipated which is a good thing. We laid on a spread, staff had their antlers on and it was all bells ringing.
Volunteers laughed and enjoyed mingling with each other so much that they would like a meet-up every quarter.
Small Acts of Kindness
Our volunteer drivers from the Welwyn Hatfield CVS Community Car Scheme will be out delivering winter care bags to our clients in Welwyn Hatfield. The care bags have been supplied by Small Acts of Kindness as part of their winter appeal in Hertfordshire,
As well as containing useful information, these bags also have winter essentials which will help to make a difference to those who struggle to keep warm in the winter.
Home-Start Herts – Toys For Christmas Donation
Families in Hertfordshire have been busy donating toys and books for children in need this Christmas to Home-Start Herts. We’ve collected a selection for Welwyn Hatfield residents and the office is sprinkling a little Christmas magic over them before we deliver them to clients.
Staying Connected
Staying in contact and talking to loved ones over Christmas period can be difficult for people who don’t have the equipment to do so and they may feel excluded from society as a result.
Our project Digital Inclusion, part of the Hertfordshire countywide Staying Connect initiative has been out giving technology and showing people how to use it so that they don’t feel digitally isolated.
Holy Family Church in Welwyn Garden City
Holy Family Church in Welwyn Garden City, Has kindly gifted £550 worth of gift cards to help residents feeling the pinch and the pressure to buy that little bit extra for Christmas.
“As a church community we feel very strongly about supporting others at Christmas. It’s great that the CVS help to distribute the generous donations the congregation provide.”
Suzanne Meenan
Pets In Need Herts
Earlier this year we recognised Pets in Need Herts could do with a little help with publicising their efforts in helping our furry pals in the borough and wider in Hertfordshire. Working with various members of our organisation, we have been giving them a boost where we can to help increase their donations. It doesn’t stop here; they’ll need your help in the New Year too so they can reach even more pets in need.
“We wanted to say thank you so much for your help and support this year. We really appreciate all you have done for us and families and their fur babies. We couldn’t have done it without your help and kindness and belief in us. Merry Xmas & Happy New Year”
Pets In Need Hertfordshire
