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Good Morning {{first_name | Reader}},
What a fantastic World Cup this is turning out to be, with several major surprises already reshaping the tournament and setting up a fascinating next round tie tomorrow. Looking ahead, the upcoming match against DR Congo promises to be a real test and one to watch closely.
Closer to home, it was a busy and well-attended weekend across the Borough, with events at Cedars Park in partnership with the James Foundation and the Midsummer Festival in Hoddesdon bringing communities together in full summer spirit.
As temperatures are expected to remain high into next week, we are also reminding everyone to take extra care. There have been reports of smoke in parts of the Borough, including Bury Green. Please use extreme caution with BBQs, avoid lighting fires in public spaces, and ensure any smoking materials are fully extinguished.
I’ve pulled together all the key stories making news in the Borough so you don’t need to go searching. If it’s not included here, it’s likely not significant. That said, if you think something important has been missed, email me directly, I read every message. As June closes, the big question hanging over the county is Local Government Reorganisation. Two unitary authorities? Three? Four? The announcement is coming. We'll have it covered.
If you value this kind of local reporting and want to help keep it going, you can support the newsletter by buying me a coffee using the link below. This token support helps pay for the tools I work with. Thanks in advance 😊
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🏛️ HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
Nature recovery grant has its best year yet, with £40,000 going to local projects
Hertfordshire County Council's Environmental Improvement Grant has had its most successful year so far, handing out over £40,000 to projects worth £125,000 in total once match funding is counted. The money has gone towards planting 17,000 trees, restoring ponds, sowing wildflower meadows and repairing grassland habitats, all feeding into the county's new Local Nature Recovery Strategy. If you've got a local nature project in mind, funding and advice may be available.
Keep your children away from open water this week, Chief Fire Officer warns
Hertfordshire's Chief Fire Officer Alex Woodman has issued an urgent public safety warning after at least 18 water-related deaths across the UK this year, many of them children and young people. Even in extreme heat, rivers, lakes, reservoirs and canals stay dangerously cold, and jumping in to cool off can trigger cold water shock and cause drowning within seconds. If someone gets into trouble in the water, call 999 and ask for the fire service, tell them to float on their back, throw something that floats, and never go in yourself to attempt a rescue.
The best HR advice comes from people who’ve been in the trenches.
That’s what this newsletter delivers.
I Hate it Here is your insider’s guide to surviving and thriving in HR, from someone who’s been there. It’s not about theory or buzzwords — it’s about practical, real-world advice for navigating everything from tricky managers to messy policies.
Every newsletter is written by Hebba Youssef — a Chief People Officer who’s seen it all and is here to share what actually works (and what doesn’t). We’re talking real talk, real strategies, and real support — all with a side of humor to keep you sane.
Because HR shouldn’t feel like a thankless job. And you shouldn’t feel alone in it.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
You'll soon pay more to build on small plots in Broxbourne
Small developers building between 1 and 9 homes could face a new £100-per-square-metre charge under plans being consulted on now. The proposed Community Infrastructure Levy targets smaller schemes that currently dodge contributions to local infrastructure and affordable housing, while larger developments keep paying through Section 106 as usual; householder extensions and similar small works are exempt. Have your say before 5pm on Monday 20 July 2026, after which the charging schedule heads to public examination.
Your kids' summer just got a lot less expensive
Broxbourne Council has published its 2026 Summer Fun Brochure, packing free and low-cost activities for children and families into every day from 1 July to mid-September. Expect Saturday town centre events in Waltham Cross, car shows in Hoddesdon, Model Railway Day at Lowewood Museum, Open Air Cinema at Grundy Park, and the B3Living Community Day at Wormley Community Centre, alongside weekly skateboarding, rugby taster sessions and the Summer Reading Challenge at your local library. Pick up a printed copy from council events, libraries or Lowewood Museum from the week of 6 July, or browse it online now.
A different park, a different free activity, every weekday this summer
Lark in the Park returns from Monday 27 July to Friday 21 August, running free sports and games from 2-4pm at a rotating venue each day: multi-sports at Grundy Park (Mon), Barclay Park (Tue) and Cedars Park (Thu), youth basketball at Cheshunt Park (Wed, ages 11-16), and youth multi-sports at Goffs Oak Playing Fields (Fri, ages 11-16). No booking needed, just turn up and sign in; under-11s need an adult with them. It's one of three free summer programmes on offer alongside Rugby Taster Sessions and Youth Skateboarding Sessions.
🏛️ YOUR MP
Lewis Cocking on the doctors' surgery promise, school visits and a weekend in Cedars Park
Hoddesdon and Broxbourne MP Lewis Cocking has been out meeting constituents this month, from his regular drop-in surgery at Hoddesdon Methodist Church to a tour of the new High Leigh Primary School building, where he spoke with staff and pupils. Responding online to a resident asking about the long-promised local doctors' surgery, Cocking said he is pushing for new health facilities to be built alongside new housing, though it's NHS officials, not MPs, who decide where surgeries actually open, and he's raised his frustration with that process in Parliament. He also dropped by The James Foundation's Family Fun Day at Cedars Park over the weekend, calling it a great turnout for a good cause.
If you've got something you want raised in Westminster, or just want to share your view, his contact page is open.
🍕 LOCAL FOOD
Hoddesdon pizza spot picks up a Gold food award
Hot Dough, the nut-free pizza business in Broxbourne, has won the Gold Herts Responsible Food Award for its work on local health and sustainability. The award recognises the business making its dough and sauces from scratch in-house, with co-owner Wes Pierce putting the recognition down to standards the team works hard to maintain every day. Find out more about the awards scheme and who else has been recognised.
🤝 COMMUNITY
What Community Alliance Broxbourne and East Herts can actually do for you
CABEH runs a broader spread of local support than most residents realise, covering community building, digital skills sessions, a crafts café, the Healthy Hub and a community car scheme for those who need help getting around. The organisation also has rooms available to hire across Broxbourne and East Herts for training, meetings, fitness classes and celebrations. Worth a look whether you're after support or a venue.
📅 UPCOMING EVENTS
CHEXS Family Fun Day
Location: Grundy Park, Hoddesdon
Date: Saturday 4 July 2026
Time: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Cost: £5 activity wristband per child (includes bouncy castle, trampolines and climbing wall)
More information: Link to be added before publishing.
Grundy Park Play Volunteer Drop-in
Location: Grundy Park, Hoddesdon
Date: Thursday 2 July 2026
Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Cost: Free, just turn up. Children are welcome.
More information: [email protected]
Workshop: Boosting Business Visibility in the AI Era
Location: Hoddesdon Enterprise Centre
Date: Tuesday 7 July 2026
Time: 11:00am to 12:30pm
Cost: Paid ticket
Book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/boosting-business-visibility-in-the-ai-era-tickets-1991901454872
Working Well: Preventing Burnout in the Workplace
Location: Details provided by Calmer
Date: Friday 10 July 2026
Time: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Cost: Free
Book: https://ow.ly/Cp0350Zi6fk
Lark in the Park
Location: Grundy Park, Barclay Park, Cheshunt Park, Cedars Park and Goffs Oak Playing Fields
Dates: Monday 27 July to Friday 21 August 2026
Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Cost: Free, no booking required
More information: https://www.broxbourne.gov.uk/events
Rugby Taster Sessions
Location: Cheshunt Rugby Club
Dates: Throughout July and August 2026
Cost: Free
More information: https://www.broxbourne.gov.uk/events
Youth Skateboarding Sessions
Location: Cheshunt Park
Dates: Throughout July and August 2026
Cost: Free
More information: https://www.broxbourne.gov.uk/events
Waltham Cross Sports Festival
Location: Waltham Cross Playing Fields
Date: Summer 2026 (date to be confirmed)
Cost: Free
More information: https://www.broxbourne.gov.uk/events
AI Coffee & Conversation
Location: Theobalds Enterprise Centre, Cheshunt
Date: Friday 17 July 2026
Time: 10:00am to 12:00pm
Cost: Free, no expertise needed. Sceptics are welcome.
Book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ai-coffee-conversation-june-tickets-1989984353771
Give your child the AI skills schools aren't teaching yet
SparkAI Academy's AI Entrepreneur Summer Bootcamp is a free workshop for young people aged 11–16, designed to equip them with the AI fluency tomorrow's workplace will demand.
📅 Monday 21 July 2026 | 5:00pm – 6:30pm
💻 Online via Zoom
🎟️ Free — only 15 spots available
📧 Sign up: [email protected]
🤖 Are you building with AI in Hertfordshire?
A new WhatsApp group just launched for Hertfordshire-based vibe coders - people using AI tools to build the next generation of SaaS products, automate workflows and drive real business revenue.
If you're experimenting with AI, shipping products, or just want to swap notes with others who are actually building, this is your group.
👉 AI Builders Hertfordshire - join the Vibe Coder WhatsApp Group
📧 Email [email protected] to get the link
Picture of The Day
HEALTH & WELLBEING TIPS
If pollen levels are high, treat the park like a trigger zone, not a harmless backdrop.
Don’t rely on “feeling fine” as a signal, hay fever builds slowly and then hits hard when you get home.
Wear sunglasses and avoid touching your face, pollen on hands and eyes is what usually escalates symptoms.
Hydrate before you go out and take breaks in shade, heat stress creeps up faster than people expect.
Change clothes and shower after outdoor play, otherwise you just carry the trigger back indoors with you.
Sponsored by Our Resident Doctor.
🎨 TUESDAY MOTIVATION
"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out."
-Robert Collier"The future depends on what you do today."
- Mahatma Gandhi
Weather ☀ Tuesday - Friday
Broxbourne
Tuesday 30 June 28°C 🌡️ 16°C | ☀️ Hot and sunny with light winds | ☀️ Sunrise 04:45 | Sunset 21:22
Wednesday 1 July 24°C 🌡️ 13°C | 🌤️ Warm with sunny spells and a fresh breeze | ☀️ Sunrise 04:45 | Sunset 21:22
Thursday 2 July 22°C 🌡️ 12°C | 🌤️ Dry with a mix of sunshine and scattered cloud | ☀️ Sunrise 04:46 | Sunset 21:21
Friday 3 July 23°C 🌡️ 11°C | 🌦️ Sunny spells with a chance of an afternoon shower | ☀️ Sunrise 04:47 | Sunset 21:21
Saturday 4 July 21°C 🌡️ 10°C | 🌤️ Mostly dry with sunny intervals and light winds | ☀️ Sunrise 04:48 | Sunset 21:20
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Wishing you a fantastic rest of your day!
Cheers,
Editor-in-chief | Emeka Ogbonnaya
P.S. Want to sponsor our newsletter? Email us at [email protected]