Other Opportunities to Take Part in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire’s Citizens Panel
Would you like to get involved and influence decisions in your local area?
Opinion Research Services is an independent social research company recruiting and managing Hertfordshire's Citizens' Panel on behalf of the council. We hope you will join the Citizens' Panel because it is a valuable opportunity to give your views on a wide range of important issues, including council services and priorities, policing and health services. If you join, you will be invited to complete periodic short questionnaires (10 minutes, three or four a year) and have a chance to take part in occasional discussion groups.
Anybody aged 16 or over can be a panel member.
To sign up please visits
www.ors.org.uk/HCC/GetInvolved
You will be asked a range of questions that ensure that the Panel is representative of the Hertfordshire population and so you can be consulted on issues of particular relevance.
Kaleidoscope Culture Club.......
....is a new, exciting, stimulating initiative inspired by MENTER, WHEMG (Welwyn Hatfield Ethnic Minority Group), Hertfordshire County Council (Adult Care Service Day Centre), “Magazyn Lokalny” (Polish Magazine from Luton), and Mummy Rose – local business and local councillor. The project aims to address local needs of BME communities, and also local residents. It is about real empowerment and real engagement.
In October 2010 almost 80 people from all parts of the county (Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Stevenage, St. Albans, Hoddesdon, Waltham Cross, Hemel Hempstead and even Cambridge) had a chance to visit the Houses of Parliament. The whole project was supported by the Welwyn Hatfield MP, Grant Shapps who is also a Housing Minister in the current coalition government.
The trip was a real success and it was attended by members of the Polish, African, African Carribean, Japanese, Romanian, and Muslim community; and also local residents and students from two local schools (2 of theses students are studying A – level in politics). To see such a mix of people from so many backgrounds was overwhelming! The Housing Minister spent with us an invaluable 2 hours. We all had a chance to see The House of Commons, ask many questions and find out so much about the history of the building. We also found answers to questions like what does it mean to be a MP, how does the parliament operate and how to get involved in local political processes. The trip was organized to highlight importance if civic participation and help people to understand British Democracy and was partially funded by HCC Locality Budget Scheme. Money collected for the trip will go towards supporting Pakistani flood victims.
Click here for photos of the day.
For more information contact: Michal Siewniak, MENTER michal@menter.org.uk, or Moreen Pascal (WHEMG) whemgroup@btconnect.com
Adult Learning Awards
The Adult Learners' Week Awards celebrate all kinds of learning - informal learning, learning which leads to a qualification or learning simply for fun. They recognise and celebrate the achievements of extraordinary adults who have transformed their lives for the better, and who can inspire others to give learning a go.
There are two main award categories:
- Individuals whose remarkable learning achievements have made a difference to their lives and have inspired others; and
- Inspiring Learning Projects which recognises creativity and innovation of projects and organisations in providing learning opportunities for adults.
Become a school governor
Being a school governor can be a rewarding and worthwhile experience. To find out how to become involved click here.
