Calling all Volunteers
Can you help us over the next few weeks???

We are approaching our busiest time of year and have loads to do and need lots of help. We know that you all have many talents - so read below how you can help us to raise funds and help vulnerable people in Dacorum:

• Have you got a couple of hours spare to help collect money in a tin outside Tescos on a Saturday?
• Can you help to run a bar at our Ceilidh?
• Would you like to hand out our Harvest List to shoppers and ask them to buy something and donate to DENS via a shopping trolley?
• Could you help us promote DENS during Homelessness Fortnight in the town centre at the band stand and deliver leaflets during October in your locality?
• How would you like to be a Marshall on our Sponsored Walk?
• Have you got some time and transport to collect harvest donations from schools this autumn?
• Could you and a group of others sort harvest donations on a Saturday morning or one evening?
• Can you sell DENS Christmas cards and Christmas Draw tickets?
• Would you be able to help run a stall/tombola at one of the Light Festivals in November and December?

"I just walk up the canal till lunchtime and then I turn round and walk back."
(DENS Homeless Service User)

Walking along the canal all day long, every day, may be the only option for some homeless people with nowhere else to go.

Walking along the canal doesn't have to be a pointless exercise and you can use it to make a difference if you join in the "Homelessness Sponsored Walk" on Saturday 16th October. The start of the walk will take in the towpath on the Grand Union Canal so you can imagine what it would be like if you were homeless.

Join us for a day in the countryside this autumn and keep your fingers crossed for good weather!

If you want to have an even deeper understanding of what it feels like to sleep rough on the streets, then you can join the Sponsored Sleepout in the grounds of St Albans Abbey overnight on Friday 3rd December. Keep watching our website for more information, or email office@dens.org.uk and ask us to send you further details nearer the time.

If you can't wait till October to join in and do something to support DENS then why not come to our Ceilidh at Adeyfield School on Friday 24th September. The dancing, suitable for all ages and levels of experience, will be to the music of the Hayloft Band. During the evening we will be serving a fish and chip supper, with a vegetarian option. More details are attached, come and join in the fun!

Put these dates in your diary; help us to raise funds to support the homeless; and have fun with your friends and family, or even on your own!

Want to help raise funds for DENS?

Click here for some ideas of how you can get involved!

We have an exciting calendar of events this year!

Make sure you put the following dates in your diary and we will keep you posted with further details as we get them...

24th Sept 2010 Ceilidh at Adeyfield School
9th-22nd Oct 2010 Homeless Fortnight
16th Oct 2010 DENS Sponsored Walk

News from our recent events...

DRIVING DACORUM'S BUSINESS FUTURE. This was the theme of the Mayor of Dacorum Cllr. Stephen Holmes Business Lunch, held last Tuesday 15th September at Breakspear Park and attended by 130 businesses and 25 exhibitors. Businesses were challenged to plan for regeneration in the three key areas of Preparation, Partnership and People.

Andy Cook, Chairman of The Maylands Partnership and CEO of FFEi said that too often businesses have planned only for the immediate, ignoring the future. "If you plan for nothing," he said, "you will get nothing. Businesses must have a plan for recovery".

Working with DENS

We do not currently have any job vacancies, however if you would like us to consider you for any future opportunities, please forward your CV to us at office@dens.org.uk

Donate your spare storage space to DENS

Dry, secure storage space is essential for DENS. Without it, we could not accept the many generous food and clothing donations made to us by our supporters.

We currently have three storage places – one for food donations, one for clothing and one for small household items. However, our clothing store is being reclaimed and we need to urgently find alternative suitable storage for all the clothes, bed linen and towels that are donated to us. A warehouse or an empty building on an otherwise occupied site would be ideal.

DENS storage which has been given free of charge to us has enabled us to:

• store and distribute hundreds of tins of food, given to us by individuals, schools, churches, businesses etc.
• store small household objects and items of furniture until our homeless clients are moving into their own homes and need them;
• provide 200 cans of soup to the St Albans Sleepout in December 2006 which was given out to ‘sleepers’ raising funds for homeless charities including DENS.
• Distribute over 100 hampers of food and toiletries to disadvantaged and vulnerable men, women and families over Christmas 2005 and 2006 helping them to cope better over the festive period.

If you think you can help please phone DENS on 01442 262274.