Mix 92.6 Podcasts

The pandemic and subsequent lock-down brought additional financial difficulties to even more local individuals and families.  But St Albans Foodbank - assisted by other local charities, volunteers and generous donors - continues to provide critical support, as Emma Dalton explains in this telephone interview...

There is nationwide concern that rough sleepers - taken safely off the streets at the start of the lockdown in March - are once again at risk as winter approaches and the pandemic is still all around.  Most local authorities had no option but to place them in hotel accommodation which they then had to vacate.  But in St Albans a joint project between local charities and the District Council made sure all local rough sleepers were offered secure homes where they can remain into the future.  Two of those involved in the project (Lucy Gaygasuz from Open Door and Cllr Jacqui Taylor from SADC) explain to Rob Pearman (Local Life) how the project has succeeded and what happens next as we move into the winter.  It's a great story - and a rare 'positive' to come out of Covid!

 

 

To celebrate the 175th anniversary of St Albans & Hertfordshire Architectural & Archaeological Society (also known as SAHAAS or Arc & Arc), here again is an interview with the Society's President, Sandy Walkington, first broadcast on Local Life a couple of years ago.  As well as plenty about the Society, this conversation with Rob Pearman also includes a lot about our City's history.

June Chapman, CEO of Citizens Advice St Albans, offers some timely guidance on ways to keep energy costs as low as possible.

Don't leave those old laptops (or tablets, smartphones etc) just gathering dust.  They can be put to great use by Computer Friendly, a local charity now refurbishing unwanted devices and getting them into the hands of local kids who don't have their own means of connecting with their online home schooling.  Guaranteed protection for your old data by cleaning or destroying the discs.  The kids need your help now!

Helen Gray, CEO of Hertfordshire Communities Foundation, reports on the huge pressure on local charities/voluntary groups and the people they serve.  Thanks to the Foundation's long history of fund raising, it has been able to assist many that were struggling to cope - and in some cases survive - during the pandemic.

Well actually, it isn't.  And if you 'click on one' as invited, you could soon be handing over access to all your banking details.  Darren Ward of HCC Trading Standards explains how the scammers use a simple text about an undelivered package (supposedly from Royal Mail or Amazon or DPD or.....) to get into your bank account and take whatever they like.  Find out how to avoid a disaster.  Scams awareness fortnight runs from 14 to 27 June 2021.

Anyone who owns a phone, a computer, a letter box or even a front doorbell is a target for the scammers (which means all of us).  On Local Life, HCC Trading Standards Officer Darren Wood explains the tricks the scammers use – focusing this time on the ‘Nottingham Knockers’ and the rogue fish sellers, who turn out not to be all they pretend.  Scams Awareness Fortnight runs from 14 to 27 June 2021.

Lucy Gaygusuz, Trustee at Open Door, tells Rob Pearman about the plans to help and then keep local rough sleepers off the streets for the second Covid winter.  This year - as last year - the project involves Open Door, Centre 33, Hightown Housing, Emmaus and the District Council and this year with the additional support of Morgan Sindall.  This year, the project needs more volunteers to help manage and support the special cabins located at Emmaus St Albans where those without a warm place for the night will be protected from the cold and rain and Covid.  Can you volunteer?

Chris Tillin chats with Youth Talk CEO David Barker and fundraiser Phill Coates about the fantastic work the charity are doing as we approach Christmas