Activities
Current Activities
Activities currently available are:
Carpentry
Using simple tools Participants make products which are then sold within the Emmaus shop to support small grants to meet essential needs that help people get back on their feet.
Boxing
Working closely with Mamba Gym our Participants learn the discipline and art of boxing which helps their mental and physical wellbeing and encourages them to look after their bodies rather than abuse them with substances.
Fishing
The benefits of fishing for well-being are well documented, so much so it is now being prescribed by Doctors to aid mental health. Funded by the Angling Trust, weekly sessions are run over a period of eight weeks each with up to seven participants per group. Participants are supplied with the relevant tackle, coaching and the project is based throughout Hertfordshire. This has been supported by a Participant who is a lifelong fishing enthusiast and has now graduated to become a registered HACRO volunteer to help run the weekly activity.
Tennis
Funded by the LTA, tennis runs for two hours per week – with each session facilitated by a coach and a member of HACRO. Participants interested in pursuing a coaching qualification will be mentored by coaches and move on to run peer-led sessions. This activity was initially piloted by working with a Participant who rediscovered his love of tennis and who was a qualified Tennis Coach. This has provided a blueprint for a wider rollout which is being developed in conjunction with officers from the LTA Central and East Regional team and Herts Tennis Association. HACRO won the 2023 Regional LTA Award for Connecting Communities.
Music
The Sanctuary Studio in Watford provides us with all aspects of a studio, instruments, sound engineering and chance to record tracks. They also promote new musicians by giving free studio time.
Community Support Projects
We carry out many activities for Charites and Social enterprises such as decorating, gardening and general refurbishment which provides Participants with new skills and a sense of community contribution.
Art
We are very excited to be involved in another exhibition at St. Albans Museum. Our Partcipants have showed some incredible skills by creating artwork, mosaics and a life-sized cell as part of the ‘Catching the Chain’ exhibition which runs until 25th April 2025.
Previously, St. Albans Museum hosted an art therapy project for our Participants. The output from the art course, featuring Curious Crimes, is currently on display in the old Victorian cells under the museum. Participants researched some of the crimes for which people had been convicted in the Victorian courthouse and drew their inspiration from these. Since it went on display over 12,000 people have visited the exhibition – please go and visit both!