North Herts Council has awarded a £1,393 grant to Carers in Hertfordshire and £902 to Therfield Parish Council, supporting two projects that bring people together and improve wellbeing.

The £1,393 grant, awarded by the council's Letchworth Community Forum, will help fund the monthly Carer Support Hub at Garden House Hospice in Letchworth for the next 12 months. Run by Carers in Hertfordshire, the hub offers unpaid carers a safe and welcoming space to connect, share experiences, and access wellbeing activities. Over the past year, 67 carers have attended the hub, with 167 attendances in total. The sessions are shaped by attendees, with support from local businesses and Carer Support Advisors.

Hazel Howell, Fundraising Manager at Carers in Hertfordshire said: "We are grateful to North Herts Council for their generous grant towards our Letchworth Carer Support Hub. The funding ensures local carers can continue accessing this free group with activities designed by them, for them. Thank you on behalf of all at Carers in Hertfordshire."

Meanwhile, the Royston and Villages Community Forum awarded £902 to Therfield Parish Council to help fund a storage shed for a community lunch club held six times a year at the village chapel. The club offers a social lifeline for older residents, with volunteers providing lunch and a warm welcome. Currently, equipment is stored in various homes around the village. The new shed will centralise storage on the chapel grounds. 

Cllr Jim Jeffries at Therfield Parish Council, said: "The grant towards the storage shed for our community lunch material is so welcome and will make the organisation of our lunches much easier. We have some fantastic volunteers who organise and run the events for our village residents to meet up but storage of all the materials from tablecloths to glasses was becoming an increasing burden and taking up space in people's homes. To have everything on site makes life so much more straightforward."

Cllr Val Bryant, Executive Member for Community / Partnership at North Herts Council, said: "These organisations are providing important services to our communities, benefitting a wide range of people, which we are proud to help fund."