This week we have set up a Facebook page for our Social Prescribing service – New Connections.

If you are on Facebook, please like and share please for our latest news, tips and information on staying physically and mentally well in the Derbyshire Dales. https://bit.ly/2TWDmLy

Our Annual General Meeting will be on Thursday 19th November, on Zoom, starting at 10.00am. The formal business will be brief, and we will then move into a general networking event from 10.30 with talks from:

• Louise Champion about the Hurst Farm Food Project
• Debbie Rushworth and Harriet Brown from New Connections – the Dales Social Prescribing service
• John Titterton (Ashbourne Heritage Society) about how the group have adapted to working online

In addition to the general business of the meeting , we will also be presenting our annual Derbyshire Dales CVS Award to a local voluntary organisation, and the recipient of the award will be telling us a bit about their work.

If your group is a Member of Derbyshire Dales CVS, you will receive your invitation in due course. If you are thinking about running your own AGM on Zoom, you may find this information from the Charity Commission useful. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus- ...

Our next Online Coffee Mornng will be on Thursday 3rd December at 10.30. Please email jonathan@ddcvs.org.uk for the link.

Also, just to note there is a new fruit, veg and baking box delivery service called Verdoora, in the Peak District with free delivery within 20 miles of Chesterfield. Visit www.verdoora.co.uk.

We continue to work a mixture of remotely and in the office so the answerphone, post-box and email address are checked regularly. Please ring or email in advance if you need to arrange to come in to see us as the picture can change. Contact the team on 01629 812154 or email enquiries@ddcvs.org.uk

We currently have vacancies on our Board of Trustees, and would be glad to hear you from if you are interested in taking one of these roles. You don’t necessarily need any particular qualifications or experience to be a trustee, but some knowledge of managing organisations, or knowledge of the voluntary sector and the communities of Derbyshire Dales might be useful.

We would welcome applications from all sections of the community, and would particularly like to hear from people involved in the local voluntary sector; people with some knowledge of information technology; and from younger people over 18 years of age.

If you are interested, please contact Neil Moulden on neil@ddcvs.org.uk or call 01629 810901 for more information.

Hello, I’m Dean Wallace and as Derbyshire’s Director of Public Health it’s my job to protect the health and well-being of everyone in the county.

For the past few months, a huge part of mine, and my team’s work, has been to help prevent the spread of coronavirus in our communities.

But despite all of our best efforts, confirmed cases have continued to rise across the county, as they are nationally, resulting in the Government’s new national lockdown.

The new rules, which came in to force just after midnight on November 5 until December 2, mean you should:

  •  Stay at home except for specific reasons such as work (if you cannot work from home) education, essential shopping or to care for others

  •  Not mix socially with anyone outside of your household or support bubble inside or outside although you are allowed to meet one other person outdoors for exercise

  •  Nurseries, schools, colleges and universities remain open

  •  Non-essential retail, pubs, bars, restaurants, gyms, hair salons, entertainment and leisure venues should close although take-aways and click-and-collect services can continue

For more details of the restrictions now in place visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national ...

The rate at which the number of cases continues to rise across Derbyshire is alarming with more people in hospital now than at the peak of the first wave. I would urge everyone to abide by these new rules. If we don’t, many more people will die.

And if anyone is under the illusion that they’re not at risk, then I’m here to tell them that they’re wrong. We all have a duty to do everything it takes to stop the spread of this highly contagious virus. I understand another ‘lockdown’ is frustrating but it is necessary to try to stop community transmission. This virus thrives on people being together so for a while we must remain apart to try to stop it in its tracks. So I implore everyone in Derbyshire to do the right thing to protect themselves, their loved ones and their friends. There has never been a more important time to summon our famous Derbyshire Spirit.

I’d also like to remind everyone to keep doing what they have been doing for the past few months – washing their hands regularly, staying apart and wearing a face covering if they do need to leave their homes for specific reasons. And if you develop symptoms – a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a change to your taste or smell – you should self-isolate immediately and book a test. It is vitally important that you do not leave your home while you wait for your results or if you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace because you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.

If we all act now to lower infection rates across Derbyshire we can perhaps avoid an even longer lockdown and make sure we go back to the lowest possible local alert level so that we can start to do some of the things we love again.

If you’d like more information, to find out how and when to get a test and how to access support visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/coronavirus

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Stay safe. Dean Wallace, Derbyshire Director of Public Health

Sue Heyes, fund officer for the Severn Trent Community Fund, will take you through the Community Fund, the aims and criteria, what it will support and how to apply. The fund has been designed to support the wellbeing of communities in the Severn Trent region and it seeks to fund projects that link to three key elements of community wellbeing – People, Place and Environment – with favourability shown to projects that ideally lie within a ‘sweet spot’ that incorporates all three.

If you’re applying for over £75,000, please note that a combination of all three of these themes is necessary to be eligible.

We will be on Zoom and there will be chance to ask questions! Please contact enquiries@ddcvs.org.uk or 01629 812154 for the link.

With the festive season approaching at the end of a difficult year, the region’s electricity distribution network company, Western Power Distribution, is extending its ‘In This Together – Community Matters Fund’ to offer help to the most vulnerable people affected by COVID-19 and in need of additional support at this time.

WPD is inviting charities, community groups and local authorities to apply for awards of up to £1,500 to support initiatives such as those offering food and clothing parcels and hot meals, as well as gifts and support to vulnerable children, adults and the elderly over the winter holidays.

Phil Swift, Western Power Distribution CEO, said: “We all know that the festive period is going to be different this year but, for some, the effects of the pandemic will hit particularly hard and make this time incredibly difficult. I’m delighted we’re able to extend our commitment and play our role in supporting our communities through this challenging time. Our grants have already delivered a welcome boost to a wide range of organisations from large city hospitals to smaller community groups. As winter approaches, we are recognising initiatives that work hard to spread a little festive cheer and practical support amongst those that need it most. By the end of 2020, WPD will have contributed £1million to many immensely worthy causes, and I can say – hand on heart – that every penny will have been money well spent.”

To date, grant-funded initiatives have directly benefited thousands of people impacted by the emotional, social and economic impact of COVID-19 across the breadth of the WPD network, with £750,000 awarded to 463 organisation so far this year already.

Applications for the ‘In This Together – Community Matters Fund’ are welcome from registered charities, community groups and councils within the WPD distribution network area.
The application form is available from the WPD website www.westernpower.co.uk/ITT-festive-fund and the closing date for submissions is Sunday 15 November. Applicants will be notified as to whether their application has been successful or not by the end of November.

WPD welcomes applications up to £1,500 but no funding request is too small.

As detailed in our bulletin of 23.10.20 there is a new small grants programme for Derbyshire from the Police and Crime Commissioner, whereby community groups can apply for funding if they are doing something that will help communities to develop practical solutions to the problems occurring in their areas. This might be anti-social behaviour or crime, or it might be support for a neighbourhood or community.

The Commissioner will prioritise schemes and ideas that make people less vulnerable to becoming a victim of crime.There are micro-grants (of between £50 and £1,000) administered by local Councils for Voluntary Services (CVS) organisations which can help, for example, to make homes more secure and ensure vulnerable people are given the help that they need.

In the Derbyshire Dales area, the smaller grants can be applied for, via Derbyshire Dales CVS between 14 October and 1st February 2021. Please note the change in closing date from our previous e-news.

For more information visit the PCC’s website by following this link: www.derbyshire-pcc.gov.uk/VF

Please contact Sarah via email sarah@ddcvs.org.uk or tele[phone 01629 812154 and leave a message, and we will send you the Zoom link.

If so, Connex Community Support can help you to identify and apply for volunteering opportunities, whether this is with us as a Telephone Befriender or Volunteer Driver or with other charities, community groups, non-profit or public service organisations. The service is free to members of the public. You may incur some expenses when you start volunteering, such as travel. Many organisations will be able to help with these costs, but not all, so if this is important for you, it is worth asking before you commit your time.

By volunteering you can:
• meet new people, make new friends
• develop your skills and CV
• change the lives of people in your community
• improve your confidence
• gain a sense of self achievement

Do I need any experience or qualifications?
This will depend on what you wish to volunteer to do. However, we can usually help to find a suitable volunteering role for most people, whether they have experience or specific skills or not, and regardless of age, gender or ability.

How do I apply?
Contact our Volunteer Coordinators at the Buxton or Ashbourne offices by email – see the contact details below. They will arrange to talk you to discuss local volunteering opportunities. They will help you consider what you want to gain from your volunteering experience and help you match your interests, skills and development needs to an opportunity that will help you achieve your personal goals.

If you are a community group, a non-profit organisation, a public sector body or charity looking for a volunteer – you can register with Connex for free. Connex will advertise your volunteering opportunity on the website, at the offices and through a network of contacts. Additionally, if you need support and advice on volunteer recruitment Connex would be happy to talk to you.
Contact Gaynor Atkins via the Ashbourne office, email: gaynor@connex.org.uk

Healthwatch Derbyshire want to hear from friends and relatives whose loved ones have been in care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Share with Healthwatch Derbyshire how the wellbeing of care home residents has been affected and how the care homes have addressed these challenges. Sharing your experience will help identify good practice and ideas to improve local services. The pandemic has been a difficult time for residents, their friends and families and care home staff.

At the same time, HWD is aware of some amazing examples of care and innovation by care homes. The information will be used to inform those who run services. Complete this short survey by Monday 16th November 2020.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/hwd-car ...

All responses will be treated confidentially and remain anonymous. People without internet access can contact Healthwatch Derbyshire on 01773 880786 to share their views over the phone.

From the Connection Space Community Interest Company, an accessible range of free activities to engage and share.