The fairs have been an ideal opportunity for charities, community groups and health services to showcase their work to residents, and network and build relationships with one another, in addition to adding more volunteers to their cause.
Visitors also had the chance to take part in health checks, such as having their blood pressure checked.
The first fair organised by the partnership was so successful in helping people understand the support and services available in the community, two more took place earlier this year. A fourth is planned for Volunteers Week in 2025.
The video, produced by Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, is from the most recent fair in October. It was held at the Laura Trott Leisure Centre in Cheshunt, a venue provided by the council. In the video, representatives from Broxbourne Alliance PCN, the council, Carers in Hertfordshire, Isabel Hospice and the Alzheimer’s Society outline the importance of the fairs in helping to raise awareness and take-up of health and support services.
The video is available to watch below.
Dr Alison Jackson, Clinical Director at Broxbourne Alliance Primary Care Network and a local GP, said the hope over time is to recruit volunteers to support local services and the local community in a more proactive way.
She said: “Our network of local GP practices, and in particular our social prescribing team, have helped to create this event so that lots of voluntary organisations and partners from the NHS and care sector can come together to understand what each other does and also to involve our local community.
“There’s a real feeling of collaboration at these volunteer fairs and we want to build on that so that we can deliver more integrated care for local patients and residents.”
Among the other groups attending the volunteer fair were Age Concern, Caudwell Youth, Long Live Better in Hertfordshire, Reach Out Hertfordshire and Hoddesdon Rotary Club.