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Experience of June Street working with the community

Mrs June Street OBE recalls some memories of the work of voluntary sector and Dacorum Council of Voluntary Service ( Now Community Action Dacorum) in particular in bringing people together…. Initially the Salvation Army made a wonderful contribution through their resources and contacts to ensure homes were furnished, and friendship formed. New Commers Club, churches together, and Lions Club, worked with and Dept of Social Security in all areas of settling the council families and ensured they had the necessary money to survive. HELP a charity collecting and donating second-hand furniture was instrumental in helping many families. The CVS being the coordinating body for voluntary organisations and with the knowledge and ability to bring together members of the sector and council, and Health and Social Services, made all these contacts available and supported what was to be a wonderful partnership between all agencies and voluntary groups, which has indeed lasted to this day years on. It was the CVS who were later to be approached by several local people in proving social facilities for ladies who were isolated in their own homes. The CVS through the efforts of people such as Jamila Powell, Peggy Boateng, Margaret Turk and Sudha Brahmbhatt were approached to help with classes such as sewing classes where the elder people could come together. Other request was made for social interaction and facilities were soon spring up where families could be welcome and integrate with local people. Dancing classes, English as second language and events to which all would be made welcome. ‘Families around the World’ a Conference organised by CVS held at the Teachers Centre, courtesy of Linda Hayes, Head of Youth and Community Services, which was well attended by 100 people and where representative from all religions and culture were present. They brought range of food, demonstrated their arts and crafts, and talked about their religious practices and faiths. Another such events was held at the Friends Meeting House, hosted by Mayor of Dacorum, Cllr Haze Bassadon. Six schools came together, and each shared their ideas, and music and dancing with multicultural themes.

Dacorum Multicultural Association

Thus encouraged, many more Social multicultural evenings were held, with Mayor in attendance. These events demonstrated much interest and resulted in a large meeting held at the Civic Centre, where volunteers from CVS Members organisations and representatives from the various faiths and countries came together with the council and other statuary bodies to discuss and eventually vote for the formation of Dacorum Multicultural Association. Their aim was to maintain and expand a membership of all different cultures in DACORUM. Here was a need to help to raise some administrative costs, and to coordinate all the vital services available for, particular, those who wished to contribute and share the good life we all enjoyed being a resident of Dacorum. Money came from the Youth and Community Department to assist the association, the secretarial was provided by the CVS, who also raised funds from the council Government Opportunities for Volunteering funds. Eventually the DMA received a grant from the Herts Council.

June Street was the Executive Manager from 1979 - 1999. To acknowledge her valuable input to the voluntary sector of Dacorum, Community Action Dacorum annually present the "June Street" award to a volunteer who has continuously worked within the voluntary sector for a number of years, serving the community that assists disadvantaged, disabled people or individuals who are in need.