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ForumSEPTEMBER 2020 - ISSUE 173

Harpenden Town Council’s Quarterly Newsletter

HARPENDEN CARES

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6TOWN MAYOR’S CHARITIES

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3WILDLIFE WATCH

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8-9

IN THIS ISSUE

2 H A R P E N D E N T O W N C O U N C I L , T O W N H A L L , L E Y T O N R O A D , H A R P E N D E N , H E R T S . A L 5 2 L X

ForumSEPTEMBER 2020 - ISSUE 173

Harpenden Town Council’s Quarterly Newsletter

HARPENDEN CARES

page

6TOWN MAYOR’S CHARITIES

page

3WILDLIFE WATCH

pages

8-9

IN THIS ISSUE

ARE YOU ABLE TO PAUSE AND DRAW BREATH YET?A resident wrote to me this week about a local idea that they wanted to get my views on. They started their email with the title ‘Are you able to pause and draw breath yet?’ a reference to the whirlwind few months that we have all seen.

Taking the time to sit and reflect is in my view vital to any individual and organisation, and writing this content for Forum always gives me a chance to do exactly that.

When I look back over the past few months, I am incredibly proud of the role that the Town Council has played in supporting our community. Faced with an unprecedented emergency it was the Town Council that developed a community response to the Coronavirus.

I am sure that you have all heard of Harpenden Cares, the initiative that we have set up to support vulnerable people, but you may not be aware that this was set up over a period of just two weeks. Pulling together different organisations for a common goal can be difficult at the best of times particularly when you consider that each body will have its own way of doing things. The fact we managed to do that is credit to the Town Councillors that were at the heart of the initiative and the attitude of our key partners: the Bethany Church, the Salvation Army, and the Harpenden Trust.

As I write this the Harpenden Cares initiative is still running but has been scaled back to reflect the changes to lockdown restrictions. However, it remains ready and able to scale back up and support vulnerable people if needed.

PRIORITISING OUR OPEN SPACESAs you would expect, some parts of the Town Councils ‘normal’ work has been thrown off track this year not least the amazing events that we had planned. We are aiming to put this right next year with an events programme that will be bigger and better than ever before.

One area that has not been impacted is our work on maintaining and enhancing our parks and open spaces. These community assets have been even more vital to local people over recent months and we have made sure that we have prioritised keeping them to our normal high standards.

We have received lots of positive comments about how we look after these spaces which has been great. I have particularly enjoyed hearing from residents who have said they do not normally have the time to enjoy our open spaces but will be making sure in the future that they continue to utilise them.

As we move into the Autumn the Town Council will be focused on delivering the themes in our business plan including significant investment in several capital projects across the Town. You can find more information on our business plan and capital projects on our website, www.harpenden.gov.uk

Carl Cheevers, Town Clerk, Harpenden Town Council Email: [email protected] Tel: 01582 768278

GB

133 Southdown Rd, AL5 1PU

Front cover image: Batford Springs Nature Reserve

3Telephone: 01582 768278 • E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.harpenden.gov.uk

TOWN MAYOR’S COMMENTS

MAYOR’S CHARITIES

It has certainly been a very different mayoral year so far since I took office in May together with Cllr Paul Cousin, who is serving as Deputy Mayor for the first time. Our Town has had to adapt to a new normal in the last few months and it has been wonderful to see how everyone in our community has pulled together to help and support each other through these challenging times.There have been many group and individual efforts where people have offered their time and energy to help neighbours and support local projects. One in particular, the Harpenden Cares scheme, has reached many vulnerable and isolated people, delivering essential supplies and medicines to those who need them most. It is a great example of what can be achieved when local people work in partnership to bring about real change and benefit for the whole community and I would like to thank my colleague, Cllr Mary Maynard, The Harpenden Trust, Bethany Community Church and the Harpenden Salvation Army for their amazing work in helping to set it up.An important part of the Mayor’s role is to raise the profile of my two nominated charities this year, The Human Milk

Foundation and The Daylight Club. Both of these charities also help and support the most vulnerable in our community and you can read more about these great local causes below. I also need to raise money for them! I have had great fun hosting a virtual edition of the Mayor’s Annual Quiz Night in July, and we have had the kind support of Elliswick Lawn Tennis Club, Harpenden Lawn Tennis Club and Harpenden Golf Club who have helped promote our ‘Play a Set or Round for the Mayor’ fundraiser during the summer and autumn too. If you are a member of any of these clubs and haven’t yet managed to make a donation, please donate online at:https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TownMayorHarpendenTownCouncilIf you have a much-loved pet and haven’t yet entered my online Pet Photo Competition, have a go. Details can be found on my fundraising page, www.harpenden.gov.uk/town-mayors-fundraising, and on Facebook.Best wishesCllr Mrs Nicola Linacre

THE HUMAN MILK FOUNDATION charity is based atRothamsted Institute, Harpenden. They provide donor human milk to sick premature babies in our local hospital neonatal intensive care

units including Luton & Dunstable, Watford General and The Lister, and to mums at home with cancer through The Hearts Milk Bank. Much like donated blood, donor human milk can be lifesaving for tiny babies. Premature babies are at risk of serious conditions such as necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) - this condition kills more babies each year than childhood leukaemia. Human milk protects babies from developing NEC, so when mum is unable to produce her own milk, donor milk acts like a medicine to protect the baby. Alongside donor milk, HMF provide specialist feeding support from a lactation consultant (IBCLC) to help parents feed their babies wherever possible. Milk donors are screened in the same way as those who give blood. Donor milk is pasteurised and checked by microbiology to ensure it is safe, then stored in specialised freezers at The Hearts Milk Bank. The milk is then collected by volunteers and delivered to hospitals and families at home. During COVID-19 the team have seen a 100% increase in the need for donor milk and have had to scale up all operations at the milk bank, onboarding 10 new milk donors a week and pasteurising over 300 litres of donor milk to help scores of babies. It costs £100 to onboard each milk donor so they need to raise funds to be able to keep up with the increased need and to help all the babies who need donor milk. To find out more about how to support the charity through fundraising please visit their website here: https://humanmilkfoundation.org or to enquire about becoming a milk donor please contact the Hearts Milk Bank - [email protected]. Look out for the HMF ‘Milk Mobile’ out and about in Harpenden and across Herts and give them a wave!

THE DAYLIGHT CLUB was formed in 1996. It is a social club for adults of working age with physical

and other disabilities, manned by volunteers. Members meet Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year. The Club provides activities to suit all interests, including creative and recreational, interactive workshops, days out and listening to guest speakers. The Club has its own minibus for outings and door-to-door transport to meetings and events. The aim is to avoid social isolation for people who are not always welcome in other social settings. Members really enjoy chatting and meeting their friends regularly; for some this is their only social activity away from home or residential care. No funding is received, the Club relies solely on donations. Given how few resources there are for adults with disabilities The Daylight Club has become a vital resource which it knows makes a huge difference to the lives of its members.


News in brief...Computer Friendly St Albans Honoured with Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Computer Friendly St Albans has been honoured with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS), the MBE for Volunteer Groups.

Since 2002, Computer Friendly, a local charity, has been operating in the St Albans and Harpenden areas delivering free or low-cost digital advice and training in the community, helping adults to feel less isolated by being more connected. Chair of the Trustees, Tony Bourke said, “We are delighted and immensely proud to receive the award, it is a tribute to all the volunteers, both past and present, who have dedicated their time and effort in helping adults in the St Albans and District area. We owe a great deal of thanks to Good Things Foundation, St Albans District Council and Herts County Council who have given us tremendous support over the years. We have also been supported by some great local establishments.”

Computer Friendly underwent a rigorous process of assessment over several months last year, carried out by the Deputy Lieutenants of Hertfordshire followed by a national assessment along with other voluntary groups from across the UK.

To learn more about Computer Friendly, visit their website: http://www.computerfriendlystalbans.org.uk/

Update from the Friends of Alzey During lockdown, Zoom became a close ally for lots of people. The Friends of Alzey also used it as their medium of choice to stay in touch with each other and with their German friends in Alzey. Social get-togethers, German conversation evenings, a quiz night and a joint celebratory call on 5th July, also attended by the mayors of Harpenden and Alzey, are just some examples.

The town twinning between Harpenden and Alzey dates back to 1963. In order to establish stronger personal bonds between both communities, the Friends of Alzey and their German equivalent, the “Freunde von Harpenden,” were founded in 1979. A recurrent highlight is the annual get-together, 4 days spent alternately in Harpenden and Alzey. Alzey is situated in Rheinhessen in Germany and is a typical winegrowing town. Each September, the “winzerfest” takes place, where the local vintners present their best wines, and for many years joining in was a fixed part of the programme organised for the Harpenden group. This tradition lapsed for a while, but as last year was a very special year for the Friends of Alzey – the 40th anniversary of the group – they finally attended the winzerfest again. It was a fantastic experience. The Friends of Alzey are confident though that they will be able to attend many more winzerfests in future years and hope to be able to welcome the Freunde von Harpenden to our town in 2021.Would you like to learn more about the Friends of Alzey? Visit their website at www.friendsofalzey.comHARPENDEN SKY

The Future Impact Of Luton

Airtraffic On HarpendenThere are two significant projects underway that will potentially

increase the impact of Luton airtraffic upon residents unless

there is strong and focused opposition. HarpendenSky.com is

the local campaign focused upon reducing the environmental

emissions and noise impact of air traffic on residents. To register

for local updates, go to www.HarpendenSky.com

01582 764305 www.nannies4grannies.co.uk

Providing home care, support and

companionshipCall Kay to discuss the range of

specifically tailored services we can provide for you or an elderly loved one.

Nannies4Grannies

Lower Harpenden Roadwww.riverbanksclinic.co.uk

World class medicalaestheticsE X P E RT D O C TO R S • E S T. 2 0 0 7

HARPENDEN AND DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Although Harpenden Local History Society meetings and exhibitions are currently on hold, news of the society’s activities continues to be posted on the society’s website: www.harpenden-history.org.uk.


Not just fun and adventure – It’s ScoutingBeavers, Cubs and Scouts in their hundreds have enjoyed Scouting at the 4th Harpenden Scout Group and they are as strong today as they have ever been. The group has a fine HQ and a team of experienced leaders so it is no surprise that the 4th is amongst the strongest Scout Groups in the District!

• Beavers are the youngest section age 6 – 8 years

• Cubs are our middle section age 8 - 10½ years

• Scouts are our group’s oldest section age 10½ to 14 years.

Young people may be building rafts, making shelters or having fun round a campfire.

4TH HARPENDEN SCOUT GROUP NEEDS YOU!SCOUTING NEEDS ADULTS TO MAKE IT WORKIf you would like to help the Beavers, Cubs or Scouts gain experiences that encourage endeavour, fair play, initiative, generosity and self-reliance there is a place waiting for you.Adults can participate in Scouting with little previous Scouting experience and easily fit into the activity and badge schemes. Beavers, Cubs and Scouts are always enthusiastic, and many say thank you.

MAKE CONTACTIf you are ready for the challenge, the structure is in place to support you. Your reward, as with all Scout Leaders and helpers everywhere in Scouting, is the simple privilege of working with young people and the satisfaction that you give their growing a helping hand. The 4th has a particularly sociable group with many adults sharing interests and enjoying time together. The friendships and respect that occur are often unimagined. Give it a go. You are needed.Contact Elaine Brind, Group Scout Leader [email protected]

Marquetry is the art and craft of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns, designs or pictures. The technique may be applied to case furniture, to decorative small objects or to freestanding pictorial panels appreciated in their own right.

Southdown Marquetry Group is a small group that meets each week in the Southdown Methodist Hall, Southdown on a Wednesday morning at 10.00am for 2 hours.

The group would welcome any new members to try their hand at this very rewarding form of artistic creation. No experience is required and friendly advice on methodology is always available. In addition, there is a good selection of necessary veneers available to members free of charge. The cost is only £3 per session. If you are interested just come along or contact John Myres on 07981 142099.

CREATE A MASTERPIECE IN MARQUETRY WITH SOUTHDOWN MARQUETRY GROUP

Sympathetic & professional treatment for all podiatry/chiropody problems

Clinic appointments & home visits

Tel: 01582 467667

www.headandshort.co.uk/podiatry Clinic at 64b High Street, Harpenden, AL5 2SP

Ken Hodson Local Computer Har dwar e and Softwar e Repairs,

U pgrades and Advice for Home and B usiness Te l. 07974 156743 / 01582 794723

Email [email protected] www . kenhodsoncomputerservices.co.uk

• N o fix, no fee for all r epairs – you have nothing to l ose. • Low hourly rate. • M ost re p airs carried o ut in your home, if not the computer w ill be p icked up fr om and deliver ed back to you. • P r oblems w ith W indows / A pplications / Games / Inter net / networks fixed . • Friendly training and i nstruction available in plain English. • U pgrades of har dwar e and softwar e carried out . • P r event childr en viewing i nappr opriate inter net sites.


Thank You, HARPENDEN CARES VOLUNTEERS! At the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown, several local groups, organisations, and Town Councilors came together to form Harpenden Cares with the goal of assisting the community in these unprecedented times.

In its first four months, Harpenden Cares answered over 1800 Contact Centre calls & emails, delivered over 1100 food bank parcels, completed 500 assisted shopping runs, and made 178 medication deliveries.

We’d like to give a big thank you to all of the volunteers who have given their time over the past few months to answer Harpenden Cares calls & emails, offer befriending support, act as street coordinators, and deliver essential supplies & medications to local residents. The Harpenden Trust, The Salvation Army and Bethany Community Church have also been

instrumental in the success of Harpenden Cares, with the Harpenden Trust running the Contact Centre, and The Salvation Army & Bethany Community Church organising the food bank.

If you require support from Harpenden Cares, please visit www.harpendencares.org or call the Contact Centre on 01582 460457.

Harpenden CaresA COMMUNITY RESPONSE

TO THE CORONAVIRUS

Supported by

“Harpenden Cares continues to be a great support and a crucial aid in this most uncertain period of crisis. My gratitude to the team of selfless staff and volunteers, is imperishable.”

“I can’t thank you enough for the speedy and efficient shopping service delivered by your smiling volunteer.”

“The Food Bank has been a godsend. Without it there would have been many times we’d have gone hungry. Delivered to my home without fail by truly good caring people. I have nothing but thanks and praise to all of those who selflessly contribute. This is a practical and very necessary help when times are hard.”

“We have really enjoyed the food donations that have been delivered by the friendly team of volunteers, who always arrive with smiles and have a quick chat. Thank you all for your hard work and donations. It means so much and can make such a difference. As they say every little helps and a smile goes a long way. Thank you.”


Harpenden Trust Befriending Service SoarsLife post COVID-19 looks very different, but over the past few months, the Harpenden Trust has been at the heart of supporting the rapidly evolving needs of the community. Over that time, one of the key aspects of the Trust, while managing the Harpenden Cares Contact Centre, has been their befriending service. Since lockdown, it has seen a three-fold increase in people seeking befriending support, showcasing the key role the Trust plays in supporting the community. Initially started in 2016 as a support for isolated people, the befriending service has steadily grown – but post-lockdown demand has grown exponentially. At the start of lockdown, the Trust team quickly set up a 17 strong socially distanced call centre and calls poured in. As well as advertising it through leaflets and GPs, the Trust also assisted in the setting up of a system of 220 street coordinators, who would check and liaise with their local area and

connect those who needed it with help. Through the call centre, the team logged over 60 calls for befriending or social contact, which befrienders managed via telephone through lockdown. The demographic of requests has also changed, with the number of men requesting the service jumping from 1% to 30%. Sally Arbuthnott, Team Leader, Befriending, explains: “We don’t see befriending as a temporary solution, we are connecting people for lasting friendships. It’s not only those befriended who benefit, but it also offers the opportunity to meet people with years of experience, with different ideas and views on life. We work not only to support people, but match befrienders and befriendees through hobbies or mutual interests.”

While life has undoubtedly been challenging since lockdown, a positive to emerge is that is has enabled many

more of the community to be connected to support. As well as befriending, the call centre received requests covering shopping, prescriptions, financial support and many ad hoc issues besides, which the team worked closely with The Salvation Army and Bethany Church to address. The experience also meant call handlers themselves formed strong bonds – 4 of the 17 call centre handlers have now gone on to become befrienders for those they talked regularly to through the call centre.

With demand for befriending never being higher and several volunteers now supporting more than one befriendee, the Harpenden Trust is now urging the community to get in touch if they feel they could support a more vulnerable neighbour with regular contact. To connect with The Harpenden Trust about being a befriender, please contact [email protected]

Wildlife WATCH HARPENDEN’S YOUNG PEOPLE ARE HELPING TO IMPROVE

THE COMMON FOR WILDLIFE

Harpenden Town Council has a long history

of providing volunteering opportunities for

adults to get involved in practical conservation.

Now, a new partnership initiated by Herts and

Middlesex Wildlife Trust is giving local teenagers

the chance to get involved too. In this edition

of Forum we will tell you what 19 young people

from St George’s School in Harpenden have

been getting up to on Harpenden Common and

the impact that their work has had on them and

on our local wildlife.

A recent study led by the University of Derby,

in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts and

other environmental charities found that

young people’s connection to nature drops

sharply from the age of 11 and doesn’t recover

until they are 30. This has been shown to

significantly impact on their pro-environmental

behaviours like recycling, buying wildlife-friendly

products or doing wildlife-friendly gardening.

The protection of nature and biodiversity is

a critical weapon in our battle against the

climate crisis. Time is of the essence to develop

initiatives that get young people involved by

learning about wildlife and wanting to take

action for themselves. We want young people

to stand up for wildlife and protect the special

wild places they call home but also to make

pro-nature decisions as they go through their

lives. So by tapping into the Duke of Edinburgh’s

Award Scheme (DofE), an exclusive practical

conservation programme that gets young people

involved has been developed and piloted on our

very own common.

DofE is a voluntary programme for young people aged between 14 and 24. Each person has to complete at least six months of volunteering or spend six months developing a new skill, amongst a number of other things. This year alone, 275,000 people in the UK are working towards an Award, which presents a fantastic opportunity to get some of them involved in wildlife conservation.During last autumn and winter, 19 student volunteers came out once a month and carried out work that contributed towards their DofE Award but that also added to the conservation efforts already being undertaken by the Town Council in its implementation of the management plan for the common. Some of their tasks included creating new habitat in the Brickle Dells by preparing ground and sowing chalk and limestone grassland seed, clearing scrub on the hayfield to protect the acidic grassland from scrub encroachment, and clearing some of the shrub layer in St John’s Wood to encourage more growth and habitat diversity within the woodland. All of their hard work has helped to maintain and enhance the biodiversity of the common, for which the Town Council and Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are truly grateful. Collectively they racked up nearly 500 hours of volunteering – fantastic! In carrying out this work, students learnt how to safely use a range of hand tools and how to select the right tools and personal protective equipment for the job. They also learnt why habitats need to be actively managed, some of the features that are most valuable for wildlife and how habitats can be changed for the benefit of wildlife. All of their learning was recognised through the AQA Unit Award Scheme – a unique way of formally recording achievement and awarding each learner with a certificate.


HARPENDEN’S YOUNG PEOPLE ARE HELPING TO IMPROVE

THE COMMON FOR WILDLIFE

But what did the young people feel were the

biggest impacts of volunteering on them?

We asked them a series of questions to try and

evaluate this. Nearly all reported an increased

confidence in their own abilities, ability to

work as part of a team, willingness to try new

things and to listen to others – all of which are

fantastic transferable skills that will undoubtedly

help with future employment endeavours.

When asked about the social and cultural

impacts, over 80% felt a greater sense of being

part of the local community, had a greater

understanding of the natural world and that

‘helping wildlife’ was one of the best aspects of

volunteering for them. But critically, nearly 70%

said that they wanted to do more for nature

conservation as a result of volunteering. By

encouraging these attitudes and behaviours we

are taking greater steps towards a sustainable

future for all of us.

Here is a lovely quote from one of the

volunteers summing up her experience. She said:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed myself and

have gained a new found respect for

woodland areas and also the outdoors!

Being out in the cold was something I

have always tried to get out of. I can’t

believe that I have done that and I have

not minded the fact that each week

I got so muddy. I am actually proud

of myself. This whole volunteering

experience has been invaluable.”

This pilot programme has bought wide-

ranging benefits to individuals, the community

and to local wildlife. But critically, it has

engaged a notoriously ‘harder-to-reach’ group,

teenagers, with the natural world and wildlife

conservation and has hopefully inspired some

future ambassadors for Harpenden’s and

Hertfordshire’s wildlife and natural spaces.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR THIS ACADEMIC YEAR! The Town Council and Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust are excited to build on this pilot programme and offer more voluntary placements this academic year (subject to current Coronavirus restrictions). Spaces are very limited and therefore if you wish to register on behalf of your child please contact the People and Wildlife Officer by Monday 21st September – [email protected] Sessions will run on one Saturday a month from October 2020 to March 2021.

According to Carers UK, 40% of carers have missed out on financial support as a result of not getting the right information and advice. It can be difficult for carers to know where to start to find the information they need. To help, a new leaflet has been produced especially for carers to ensure they can find the support they need on financial matters. The leaflet is called Finances for Carers. Carers are family, friends and neighbours giving unpaid help to someone who would not manage otherwise. The leaflet gives a brief outline of benefits for carers and other financial issues. It also points the way to good sources of information, support and advice. Leaflets can be picked up from Hertfordshire Libraries and are also available to print from www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/factsheets or call HertsHelp 0300 123 4044 to be sent a leaflet and for extra information. There are also new financial information leaflets for people with a disability and about planning ahead for care costs. These are part of a project by Hertfordshire County Council to boost the financial information and advice available for the people of Hertfordshire.

Mounting personal debt is an increasing problem as many people struggle to pay bills because of the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic on our finances. There are high levels of debt on credit cards, and personal loans and not everyone can manage the repayments at the moment.Help is at hand from Harpenden Money Advice Centre which is a charity providing confidential, non-judgemental and impartial debt and budgeting advice. This free local service from trained advisers, all volunteers, will look at how best to tackle your debts. Manager of the charity Richard Payne said, “Our team are here to help people look at their money problems and work with them to come up with an affordable plan, prioritising the most urgent payments and looking at what they can afford to repay. Anyone can get into debt, and often it’s no fault of their own doing. It could be a job loss, relationship breakdown, bereavement or other change in circumstances and it can be very hard to admit there is a problem. But that is the first step to sorting it out. We are still open during these strange times and can give help via Zoom or on the phone. Do get in contact. We are very friendly and just want to help.”To find out more contact Richard Payne on www.hmac.uk or call 07954 276281 email [email protected] Money Advice Centre is a local charity supported by churches across Harpenden. All advisers are volunteers who freely give their time and are trained to the CMA Level 3 Award in Generalist Debt Advice, which has been “Money Advice Service” accredited at Advice Level.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR CARERS

LOCAL HELP TO TACKLE MONEY WORRIES

The Harpenden Money Advice Centre Team



Melinda’s Strudel offers a great selection of lovingly hand-crafted strudels, pastries and cakes. Inspired by her mother’s recipes and traditional Hungarian recipes, she proudly presents her own hand made produce. Freshly baked every morning to enjoy at its best, hot or ambient, with ice cream or custard.

Melinda attends the monthly Harpenden Farmers’ Market. You can also see what else Melinda is up to by following her on Instagram @MelindaStrudel or visiting her website, www.artisanstrudel.co.uk. Come along and try something new!

HARPENDEN FARMERS’ MARKET FOCUS ON A STALL HOLDERMELINDA’S STRUDEL

CHRISTMAS IN HARPENDEN

Although Harpenden’s Christmas

celebrations will be different

than usual this year with the

cancellation of the Christmas

Carnival and the Southdown &

Batford light switch on events,

Harpenden will still be getting in

the Christmas spirit! The beautiful

Christmas lights displays

throughout the Town Centre,

Batford and Southdown will still

be on show as planned and will

be switched on starting in late

November. The Town Council

events team is also working hard to

plan smaller Christmas events that

can be run safely and in accordance

with government guidance.

Local retailers are also, as in

previous years, being encouraged

to show off their creativity and

make the town come alive with Christmas cheer by taking

part in the Mayor’s Christmas Window Competition.

The competition is a favourite with residents and the

displays throughout the high street and local shopping

areas aren’t to be missed! Keep an eye on Harpenden Town

Council’s social media and website for the latest Christmas

events & activities updates!

FARMERS’ MARKET DATESSunday 27th September

Sunday 25th October

Sunday 22nd November

Sunday 20th December

PARK HALL, LEYTON ROAD AVAILABLE FOR HIREIDEAL VENUE FOR CHILDREN’S PARTIES/DISCOS, MEETINGS, CHRISTENINGS, DINNER/DANCES, WEDDING RECEPTIONS, QUIZ NIGHTS, SALES, TRADE FAIRS AND ALL OTHER EVENTSThe hall includes a fully equipped kitchen, disabled toilet with baby changing facilities, portable stage and private car park to rear. Fully accessible to disabled users.

For further details please contact Harpenden Town Council on Tel: 01582 463664 Email: [email protected] or web: www.harpenden.gov.ukwww. .co.uk

From logos to shop signage, Splatt has proudly designed for Harpenden companies for over 14 yearsFor a no-obligation chat about your own design requirements, please call 07968 213281


The coronavirus pandemic has brought numerous challenges for every organisation. For the James Marshall Foundation CIO, the immediate impact was a surge in the number of applications for laptops, so that pupils could access their schoolwork online.

Since 1 April 2020, James Marshall Foundation (JMF) have been able to provide over 50 new or reconditioned laptops to eligible applicants from Year 3 upwards. JMF are grateful to schools and family support workers for referring concerned parents to the Foundation. Paul Ramsay at Harpenden Computer Services enabled JMF to swiftly supply fully set up laptops to pupils, minimising the disruption to their education from the lack of access to technology.

Requests were made to the local community for any spare laptops that might be suitable for reconditioning and JMF appreciate all those in the community who were able to assist in supporting young people in need.

James Marshall Foundation will continue to support those young people under 25 years in financial difficulty in Harpenden and Wheathampstead for educational and career-related items and activities, as it has done for the last 298 years.

Are you struggling to meet educational or career-related costs?There are likely to be long-term effects on family finances arising from the crisis and thus if you are concerned, please do get in touch with the Foundation to see if they are able to help. Their mission is to award grants to support young people aged under 25 years living in Harpenden and Wheathampstead, who need financial help for educational and career development purposes. Assistance is provided at the Trustee’s discretion and priority is given to young people aged 16 years and over.

For further details, please contact:

Phone: 01582 760735

Email: [email protected]

[email protected]

Website: www.jamesmarshallfoundation.co.uk

JAMES MARSHALL FOUNDATION PROVIDES 50 LAPTOPS TO LOCAL PUPILS

Every September for the past 19 years, Rotary in Harpenden has contacted local primary schools – state and private – and Brownies, Guides and Scout groups to enlist their involvement with the nationwide Rotary Shoebox Scheme.With encouragement from teachers and group leaders, and with help from their parents, children are asked to fill shoeboxes with items such as toys, games, writing materials and toiletries. Some parents and other grown-ups who support the scheme like to fill the boxes with household goods and clothing. The shoeboxes are destined to bring a little happiness at Christmas to disadvantaged youngsters and elderly people in central and eastern European countries.Last year, 1151 Rotary shoebox were filled, bringing the total of boxes despatched by Rotary in Harpenden since 2001 to more than 17,000. As the scheme operates throughout Britain and Ireland the filled boxes are sent to a collection point in Preston, Lancashire. From there they are taken by lorry to Rotary Clubs and other trusted organisations in Romania, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and Albania for distribution to needy people, young and old.A Rotarian with links to a child care organisation in Romania drew his club’s attention to the extremes of poverty that still existed in the country despite its revolution in 1989. The response was the shoebox scheme. Since 1997 it has been a Rotary in Great Britain & Ireland supported project, delivering some 50,000 Rotary shoeboxes into the hands of disadvantaged youngsters and elderly people each year. Distribution is spread across the year but Rotary in Harpenden has always arranged for its shoeboxes to be delivered at Christmas.To join the Shoebox Scheme email [email protected]. The nationwide scheme’s website is www.rotaryshoebox.org

ROTARY IN HARPENDEN: A SHOEBOX WITH A DIFFERENCE


SUPPORTING INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES

Graffiti is an independent family run restaurant that has been established in Harpenden for over 25 years and is the product of husband and wife team Neil & Charlotte.

Neil, the chef and owner, grew up in the restaurant environment as his parents owned the very popular and well-known restaurant ‘Claudius’ in London Road St. Albans for many years. Neil kept the family tradition going in Harpenden today when he took over Graffiti from his uncle in 1991.

Graffiti is a unique and modern restaurant where you can relax in contemporary surroundings and our service is friendly and informal yet attentive. You can even doodle on the tablecloths and explore your artistic talent and there is a gallery wall which shows off some of the recent artwork.

Our menu is traditional Italian with recipes that have been passed down through generations using only the finest of ingredients to bring you a truly authentic experience. Many of our desserts are homemade by Charlotte including the classic tiramisu and our famous honeycomb cheesecake. The menu also has allergen symbols next to each item to help you when ordering and Neil being a type 1 diabetic himself takes allergies very seriously so you can be rest assured whatever dietary requirements you may have you will be in safe hands and from this we have always been very proud to achieve a 5 star Food Hygiene Rating.

We understand that some of you may wish to dine at home so we are offering our takeaway service as usual which is now completely contactless.

Whilst we are getting used to the new normal there are some helpful reminders on our website to ensure your dining experience is as safe as possible. We’re so excited to be back and we can’t wait to see you all!

Graffiti can be contacted by calling 01582 460300 emailing [email protected], or visiting their website at http://graffitirestaurant.co.uk.

GRAFFITI RESTAURANT

Lister Interiors is an independent Harpenden business, established in 1988 by David Lister. David’s son Nick, who has 25 years’ experience with Lister Interiors, has run the business with a small, dedicated team for the past 10 years. The busy shop is located opposite Waitrose and serves valued customers from Harpenden and the surrounding villages.

Lister Interiors provide a bespoke interiors service. No two projects are ever the same. Helping customers to update their homes and create comfortable, incredibly welcoming spaces that people want to live in. Small subtle interior changes, such as use of paint colours, wallcoverings, lighting, and textures can transform a room without breaking the budget. Project sizes vary from a single blind, to an entire house scheme. Nick is happy to offer home visits to discuss any requirements and measure up for any curtains, blinds, carpets, and décor. This is a free service and includes a full estimate.

Re-upholstery is a major part of the business, giving sofas and chairs a lovely new look and feel, with a choice of thousands of fabrics. The curtain and upholstery fabrics are available to view in the shop and brands include Jane Churchill, Colefax & Fowler, Romo, Linwood, Designers Guild, Casamance, Camengo, Casadeco, Osborne & Little, Nina Campbell, Zoffany, Harlequin and many more.

The team have seen a huge demand for vibrant outdoor fabrics over the past few months. They can supply outdoor cushions, make bespoke bench seat covers and pergola shades. These practical fabrics are fade, water, and stain resistant, making them the perfect outdoor choice.

Lister Interiors can help you with fabrics by the metre, wallcoverings, curtains, blinds, curtain poles and tracks, re-upholstery, carpets, soft furnishings, mirrors, rugs, new furniture, lighting, and paint.

Home visit appointments can be booked by calling 01582 764270 or popping into the shop at 6 Leyton Road. Lister Interiors looks forward to welcoming all new and existing customers. www.listerinteriorsltd.co.uk

LISTER INTERIORS


Hello, I’m Gwen, and I’m the therapist behind Resilience Wellbeing.

After getting stuck with a persistent shoulder issue, I eventually discovered a treatment method that helped me out of pain and back to enjoying my life. Fascinated by the treatment I’d received, I later had the chance to join a training programme to learn those same skills and I’ve been enjoying helping people regain movement, to improve their sleep and feel better ever since. Finding the right treatment space happened by chance one lunchtime as I was passing the clinic. The treatment room is spacious and I love the big windows that let in the light and fresh air. I soon found my studies complete and swapped the office environment for the treatment couch.It’s my mission to help you get the most out of life, especially following those really difficult times when it’s all you can do to get through the day.There are times when things go horribly wrong for no reason and you’re totally floored. Grief, cancer or stroke derail your plans, hopes and dreams, and can leave you feeling lost, alone and very vulnerable.After the initial shock waves have passed and the practical steps are in place, you’re moving forward into new territory and this can be unsettling. Top Tip: It can help to reach out for support, reassurance or practical assistance. From NHS websites and national charities to offers from well-wishers, adding potential resources, information and support to a list stuck to your fridge can remind you that help is always available. Plus, you’ll know exactly where to find it when you’re ready.The result of navigating this unfamiliar landscape, while living with more stress and less ‘normal’ can be exhausting. Both physically and mentally. When you’re tired it’s harder for you to make decisions. Sleeping in an armchair or curled up at one end of the sofa can contribute to physical strains on your muscles and lead to headaches, neck or back pain. Top Tip: Try to vary your resting position to alternate which way you lean or watch TV from.My work in the clinic involves hands on work to release tension within the body, to calm and soothe and help you access the dedicated time and space you need to rest and heal. Part massage therapist, part guide and part cheerleader, I’m here to help you release tension, to facilitate moments of stillness and clarity, to provide continuity in support during your recovery and to remind you how far you’ve come.Sometimes I feel I’m here to escort you during a short detour and sometimes there’s a whole new destination involved. Remember, there is always something you can do. If in doubt, breathe out, breathe in and repeat.For more information about treatment or to discuss individual requirements please contact me via my website https://resiliencewellbeing.co.uk/

RESILIENCE WELLBEING

6 Piggottshill Lane, Harpenden AL5 1LHTel: 01582 766614

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Protecting and improving our environment is close to my heart. Not just because I know the health and aesthetic benefits to all of us by doing this at a local level, but also because I recognise my responsibility as a member of parliament to tackle this at a global level. I am Chair of the All Party parliamentary group for renewable and sustainable energy (PRASEG), the oldest and best supported All Party parliamentary grouping. We have been asked by Alok Sharma, Business Secretary and Chair of the upcoming COP 26 Climate Conference, to be the key liaison between the Government and parliament in the run up to COP 26, and I have had several discussions with him on how I, leading and working with other MPs from all parties, can help advance an ambitious agenda for the world to agree upon at COP 26.

Personally, I believe that the economic recovery from Covid 19 can be a green recovery. A green recovery that creates jobs and economic opportunities for all of us, particularly young people - who have been so affected by this crisis. What does such a green recovery actually look like? As the Prime Minister develops his

THOUGHTS FROM BIM AFOLAMI MPplans for major infrastructure across the country, let us make insulation of homes for energy efficiency a key part of that plan. We also need to increase investment in cycling routes, particularly in and around villages like Wheathampstead – where I have been working with a local group who have started developing detailed plans to do just that. As a former corporate lawyer and banker at HSBC, I know the importance of the City of London to the prosperity of this constituency and the whole country – let us use the City’s unrivalled strengths to create better financial instruments for companies to invest in environmental measures.

Finally, on food, let’s eat locally sourced meat and vegetables. This will reduce the carbon footprint of the food we buy. I am working with local farmers and supermarkets to ensure our shops sell high quality, locally produced food – this helps our local economy as well as helping our local environment.

If you have anything that you would like to raise or discuss with me, I can be contacted by phone: 01582 761796 (10am to 2pm Monday to Friday) or email: [email protected]

Hertfordshire’s fastest-growing camera club, Harpenden Photographic Society (HPS), is proud to announce its new season of activity, which began on Tuesday 1 September 2020.

Their varied programme gives members the chance to enjoy and improve their own photography, and to mix and chat with other like-minded enthusiasts. Regular guest speakers allow members the opportunity to learn

and be inspired by the many different styles and genres. Whilst the current social distancing regulations makes face-to-face club meetings impossible, HPS has successfully risen to the challenge of continuing the club’s activities, by holding “virtual” club meetings using Zoom, which is expected to continue for the remainder of 2020.

Highlights of the September HPS Programme include: ‘Unseen London and Fine Art Photography’ by Peter Dazeley FRPS on Tuesday 15 September.

If you love your photography, then consider Harpenden Photographic Society - new members are always extremely welcome! Annual membership is £45 (individual) or £80 (joint), and you can check out the full programme and contact the Society via their website: www.harpendenphotographicsociety.co.uk

HARPENDEN PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY ANNOUNCES ITS NEW SEASON Photo by HPS member Roger Cave

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ANNUAL REPORT2019-2020 was another busy year for the Town Council and we’ve made great progress in delivering the objectives in our business plan. The full report, which covers April 2019 to March 2020, can be found on our website: www.harpenden.gov.uk

If you wish to raise any matters concerning the Harpenden area, this can be done by contacting the Town Hall at the address on the end of this page.

Interviews with the Town Clerk by appointment.

Forum Editor: Carl Cheevers, Town Clerk.

Whilst every effort was made to ensure the information in this newsletter was correct at the time of going to print, the Town Council cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors, omissions, nor can they accept responsibility for advert content, or of the standing of advertisers or by the editorial contributions.

HARPENDEN TOWN COUNCILLORS 2020/2021

Town Mayor Councillor Mrs Nicola LinacreDeputy Town Mayor Councillor Paul CousinNORTH WARDMelanie Priggent. 07747 470239 e. [email protected] Cousin t. 07825 652 780 e. [email protected] Pawle t. 01582 620617 e. [email protected] Hill t. 07763 508878 e. [email protected] EAST WARD Rosemary Farmer t. 01582 712076 e. [email protected] Liver t. c/o 01582 768278 e. [email protected] De Kort t. 01582 768 642 e. [email protected] Maynard t. 07774 783509 e. [email protected] SOUTH WARDJohn Drake t. 07787 686015 e. [email protected] Ellis t. 07763 117236 e. [email protected] Cowley t. 07970 398 225 e. [email protected] Heritage t. 01582 761014 e. [email protected] WEST WARDRoger Butterworth t. 07410 133 555 e. [email protected] Scriven t. c/o 01582 768278 e. [email protected] Linacre t. 01582 766245 e. [email protected] Turnbull t. 07901 712 332 e. [email protected]

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Got Something To Say? Then Forum may be the newsletter to promote it. The Forum Newsletter is not only for the Town Council to keep residents up to date with important current Town Council projects and initiatives, but it is also the perfect vehicle for groups, clubs and organisations to promote themselves, let the community know what they have been doing or promote an initiative they are working on.

So this is your chance to raise awareness about your club, group or organisation and tell the residents of Harpenden about your forthcoming exciting projects and events.

If you would like to seize the opportunity to do this, please contact Bailey Donoghue at the Town Council on Tel: 01582 463542 or by email on [email protected] to discuss your ideas for what you would like to have included.

LOST AND FOUND SERVICE AT TOWN HALLThe Town Council offer on behalf of the Police a lost and found property service. Therefore if you have lost an item, please report this to the Town Council who will be able to document its description as necessary and report the information back to the Police as well as possibly reunite the item with you if it is handed into the Town Hall.

In addition to this service, we are also able to receive found items which will be documented in the same way as any lost property and will be handed to the Police for safe keeping until the owner becomes known.

Direct your enquiries to the Town Council, Town Hall, Leyton Road.

Tel: 01582 768278, Email: [email protected]

“A vibrant and successful town where people want to live, to work, to invest and to visit”Harpenden Town Council’s vision for Harpenden

HARPENDEN TOWN COUNCILTown Hall, Leyton Road, Harpenden, Herts. AL5 2LXTel: 01582 768278 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.harpenden.gov.uk /HarpendenTownCouncil @HarpendenTown @harpendentowncouncilExtra free copies of Forum are available from the Library or the Town Hall.

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