The Care Fund offers support for individuals and families and young people in need within Harpenden. It largely relies on funds raised by the Harpenden Trust’s Christmas Appeal. Much of its work is anonymous and unsung.
A Home Visitor will call and make an assessment and can then arrange for confidential help:
We are currently offering our full range of help and assistance to Ukrainian families living in Harpenden.
Wellbeing
In response to the expansion of Befriending and the introduction of Wellbeing Friends, we have restructured these services under the single heading of Wellbeing.
Befriending: this service, bringing people on their own into contact with a regular visitor, has expanded to approximately 80 befriendees each receiving weekly calls or visits from a Trust volunteer.
Wellbeing Friends: these have been newly introduced by the Trust and are allocated to clients needing special assistance. Clients for this service are referred to the Trust by NHS Social Prescribers.
Memory Lane Café: relaunched in February 2022 for people and families living with dementia and run in conjunction with Harpenden Town Council and the Salvation Army. Mondays 2.00 pm at the Salvation Army Headquarters on Leyton Green.
Frazzled Café (Home - Frazzled Cafe): a local Frazzled Cafe funded by the Trust and launched in March 2022 with 2 trained facilitators offering peer-to-peer support on a Monday night in the foyer café at the Eric Morecambe Centre. Reservations are needed in advance and can be made via https://bookwhen.com/harpendentrustxfrazzledcafe.
Ribbon Cancer Support Group: a support group for people who have had a cancer diagnosis. The group runs every Wednesday afternoon at the Trust Halls, 130 Southdown Road, 1.30pm to 3.00pm. The group provides a safe space where people can meet and connect with other people who share similar experiences. Whether you want to come and tell your story, have a friendly chat or just listen, we are here to help support you. Contact RCSG on 01582 363 143 (answerphone - we will get back to you) or email [email protected]. Our Facebook link.
Families can be provided with confidential help to meet the cost of school uniforms or essential school trips. This can be via a Home Visitor for uniforms or, for school trips, directly with the school. In addition we offer outings for our Home Visits client families with children, which have had recent assistance, to local attractions.
The Well Bean Café is based at the Harpenden Trust Halls, immediately above the Co-op in Southdown Road. Staffed by Trust volunteers, it offers a warm welcome to all on weekdays - Mondays, Tuesday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (not Bank Holidays and other announced dates when the Trust is closed) - between 10.30 and 12.30. Tea, coffee and refreshments (including homemade cakes) are available. We simply ask visitors to donate what they can afford towards the cost of their snack.
Ring us on 01582 460457 at any time. If the office is unmanned, you can leave a message and telephone number and we will call you back.
Call in and see us at the Trust’s Centre between 10.00 and 12.00 noon, Monday to Friday (except public holidays).
The Care Fund is always looking for volunteers to support its activities. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please see ‘Volunteering’ and call or email us at [email protected]
Coffee Mornings:
Befriending/Home Visiting:
Youth & Schools:
Bills/Home Visiting: