Community engagement

We fund an additional noise service carried out between WelHat Borough Council and Herts Constabulary at key points in the academic year. This has helped to reduce anti-social behaviour within our local community.

We visit student properties regularly throughout the year alongside Herts Constabulary and WelHat Borough Council. We provide information regarding student support services, waste management, and noise consideration. We will also visit a student property to investigate a welfare concern or complaint.

As the evenings grow darker, we carry out home safety visits within Hatfield, alongside Herts Constabulary and Student Volunteers. We visit both student and non-student properties to ensure our local community are safe and secure in their homes. This has helped to dramatically reduce crime figures.

We are keen supporters of the annual Clean Up Hatfield campaign, and are also involved with our UH Staff and Student Volunteer Litter Picks throughout the year.

The aim of a Community Fridge is to prevent unnecessary food waste from the bin, and to promote community sharing.  In January 2018, with the support of environmental charity Hubbub, we were one of the first Universities to launch the Community Fridge project, based on College Lane Campus. In January 2019, we introduced a second fridge, which is based on de Havilland Campus. Students and Staff are welcome to volunteer to support this project, whilst also donating unwanted items (still within ‘Use By’ date), and to also take items.

To promote overall wellbeing, we have worked with Groundwork Hertfordshire to deliver student workshops at our College Lane Allotment plots. Through rain and shine, students have learnt to plant, grow and harvest crops. This area can be used by staff and students at their leisure.