Derbyshire Dales CVS is holding an event on 30th January to promote Social Connectedness, and to discuss the new funding that has been made available to promote Social Connectedness in the Dales.

Derbyshire County Council has made available £53,000 in funding to be used in the Dales to support work that promotes Social Connectedness. DDCVS is administering the funding, and has formed a Local Action Group to decide how to best to use the funding. We are very interested in hearing your ideas for promoting Social Connectedness, and we would like to discuss any potential projects you have. We are aiming to make significant grants from the money: it is not a small grants scheme. If you are interested in gaining one of these grants for your organisation, it would be advantageous to come to the event.

The event will be held at the Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell and will run from 9.30 – 12.30. Booking is required. Formal invitations will be sent out shortly, but if you would like to find out more, or book a place contact Neil or Jonathan on 01629 812154 or e-mail enquiries@ddcvs.org.uk

We provide an efficient high quality photocopying service to community groups, local businesses and public sector bodies at very competitive prices.

You can email your master document to us with details of your requirements or drop off in person and collect at your convenience from our office in Bakewell.

We provide high quality black & white or colour copying (A6, A5, A4, A3) for newsletters; meeting papers; booklets; flyers; programmes; orders of service; postcards; posters. No job is too small!

We print on high quality, recycled 80gsm paper (with a range of colours available) or up to 250gsm (with advance notice). We also offer: Single or two sided; A3 banners up to 1.2 m long – ideal for posters and signage; Folded and centre-stapled booklets; A4 stapling and letter fold; Enlarge & reduce up to 400%; Sort, staple, and lamination.

In addition we offer a scanning service – so if you have any documents that need scanning and saving electronically – we have the facility to do this.

Please give Janet Smith a call to find out more and to get a quote. Tel 01629 812154 or send us an Email

Five Ways to Wellbeing

We continue to administer a small grants scheme on behalf of Derbyshire County Council, Public Health. This scheme is about increasing the understanding of the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ by people in the Derbyshire Dales who are at a higher risk of developing mental ill health.

The ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ are a recommended set of evidence-based public health messages which are aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of the population. These ‘Five Ways’ are: – Connect; Be Active; Take Notice; Keep Learning and Give.

There are guidelines to the small grants scheme which explain each of the Five Ways to Wellbeing more fully and how a project might include or address them, as well as an application form.

If you would like a copy please contact Derbyshire Dales CVS on 01629 812154 or email enquiries@ddcvs.org.uk

Or download information about the Five Ways to Wellbeing small grant scheme from our website. The next closing date for applications is Tuesday 31st March 2020.

Better Derbyshire Dales Fund

Many of our members will be familiar with the Better Derbyshire Dales Fund  – this small grant scheme is an amalgamation of the scheme we began administering for the Clinical Commissioning Group over 10 years ago which was later supplemented by Public Health.

It has since been further augmented by a fund from Derbyshire Dales District Council and so became the Better Derbyshire Dales Fund in 2015.

It has two strands – capital and revenue – and this means that applicants can apply for a grant to improve village halls; sports clubs and community centres – for example to pay for new windows and doors or new kitchens, etc. The  capital strand goes up to a maximum of £5,000.

The revenue strand incorporates all the health funds and the community element of the money from DDDC. The revenue strand can go up to £1,000 and can support all sorts of community activity such as community events, small community groups such as lunch clubs and youth clubs as well as any activities that have a health benefit to the Dales communities.

For more information please contact Jonathan or Sarah at DDCVS on 01629 812154 or click this link Better Derbyshire Dales Fund.

Derbyshire Law Centre, Deaf-initely Women and British Deaf Association are organising an event offering free legal advice for deaf and hard of hearing people in Derbyshire.

There will be private practice solicitor firms, advice agencies and the Derbyshire Law Centre with stalls, information and free legal advice covering divorce; contact with children and maintenance; making wills and inheritance and probate; debt; benefits advice; discrimination and personal injury; dismissals and redundancy; employment; housing and homelessness; conveyancing and immigration.

The event is a drop-ine and will take place at Derbyshire Law Centre, 1 Rose Hill East, Chesterfield, S41 1NU.

Rural Action Derbyshire would like to encourage more halls in Derbyshire to host an OPEN DAY on Saturday 25th January, as part of Village Halls Week’s ‘National Open Day’. This is to celebrate the invaluable role that village halls play in rural communities across the country, but to also celebrate 100 years of the first village halls advisory service.

BBC ‘Inside Out’ series for the Midlands region is planning to film village halls during Village Halls Week 2020, so there is even a chance your Open Day might be featured on the programme!

Village Halls Week is a national celebration of village halls, their volunteers and the services that they offer their communities; the week runs from Monday 20th January to Sunday 26th January 2020.

Register your interest with Rural Action Derbyshire’s Village Halls Advisor, Helena Stubbs.

Contact details: – email h.stubbs@ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk or phone 01629 592973.

A brand-new organisation has set up in Bakewell this new year. Bakewell Pottery, based at Station Yard, will offer a range of sessions for people of all ages and skills wanting to make pots.

Local resident Peter Cooper started pottery evening classes in 2014 run by Derbyshire Adult Ed. and held at Lady Manners School. Peter said  ‘I have got so much out of pottery, not just the creative process, but also the socialising, having fun and sharing the pleasure of getting the finished pot out of the kiln. I would like this to continue, not just for myself but for the local community and visitors to the Peak District’.

If you would like to find out more please follow Bakewell Pottery on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bakewellpottery ... or take a look at the new website https://www.bakewellpottery.co.uk/

Unfortunately the Pottery is on the first floor and no access for wheelchairs at the moment. It is planned to provide access for wheelchair users in the future.

The longer term aim for the organisation is to be an independent, not-for-profit body, possibly a registered charity, so if you have any interest in becoming a trustee or committee member please do get in touch.

Hand Massage Training and Aromatherapy Introduction delivered by 4E Learning.

This session is for anyone working with or caring for someone with dementia, learning disabilities, mental health issues, or any other condition causing anxiety and stress.

Course fee £80.00, full payment must be received in order to secure a place.

Training will take place at the Matlock and District Mencap Centre, Greenaway Lane, Darley Lane, Matlock, DE4 2QB.

To book your place please contact Cecelia Harris on 01629 760127 or email ceciliaharris4e@outlook.com

Rural Action Derbyshire (RAD) is a registered charity with a long track-record of supporting people in rural areas. Set up in 1924 to address issues such as education, employment and basic services such as electricity and water supplies, nowadays the organisation works to address a range of issues that affect people living in the countryside.

Beverley Parker, Chief Executive of RAD said, “Living in a rural area isn’t always the idyllic lifestyle that many envisage it will be. Transport, the erosion of local services and the cost of living are added pressures that impact more on vulnerable people, or those on limited incomes. Mental health, social isolation and poverty are all very real issues. What we do is to highlight those issues, and work with communities to identify ways to improve people’s lives.”

There are currently 3 volunteer Trustee vacancies and applications are being invited from anyone who has an interest in supporting rural communities in Derbyshire. Requirements are enthusiasm, some relevant skills and experience, along with being able to spare the appropriate time.

Simon Taylor, Chair of Rural Action Derbyshire said: ‘Trustees play a vital role in the work of any charity, and at RAD we have been very fortunate to have some excellent Trustees who have really supported the development and success of our work. We now have an opportunity to recruit additional Trustees and we are keen to hear from anyone who would like to help us to support rural communities across Derbyshire.’

He went on to say: “We are looking for three people to join our Board of Trustees. We are seeking individuals who are open-minded, comfortable with change, who have proven they can work in a team and who are passionate about rural issues.”

Trustees undertake the role on an unpaid, voluntary basis, and as a minimum would be expected to attend Board meetings four times per year. Other occasional meetings, training and events are also organised and it would be beneficial if Trustees are available to attend when possible.

A Trustee Information Pack and application forms are available – please contact Simon Taylor, Chair of Trustees at chair@ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk or Beverley Parker, CEO on 01629 592971 or email b.parker@ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk

Derbyshire Autism Services (DAS) is a vibrant and developing organisation working closely with autistic children, young people and adults in support, development and advocacy to improve opportunities for those with autism and their parents and carers.

DAS is looking for a Service Co-ordinator who will be responsible in producing staffing and club schedules around our 1:1, 2:1 and groups services. Based in Ripley, 37 hours per week, salary £19,500 rising to £20,500.

The successful applicant will report to and work closely with the Operational Services Manager. The role is office based although there is some limited participation in outside events/meetings. For this reason, a full driving licence, access to your own car and business insurance are required.

Should you be interested please contact us requesting an application pack. This will include the job description and person specification. Suitable applicants will then be invited to interview.

Closing date for applications 31st January 2020

Contact: enquiries@derbyshireautismservices.org for an application pack.

Are you looking for something new to do in 2020?

Careline, based in Ashbourne, is hosting a Volunteer Information Day at Ashbourne Town Hall.

You can find out about Careline itself as well as other local voluntary and community sector organisations. For more information please call 01335 210353.

The address of the Town Hall is 22, Market Place, Ashbourne, DE6 1HQ.