News & Developments

The Community Action Award Scheme will recognise best practice amongst those who are working to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency in their local communities. Supported by DECC and British Gas, 15 awards will be made to community groups, third sector organisations, health agencies, local authorities and other public and not-for-profit organisations in England that demonstrate innovative approaches to tackling fuel poverty.

Winners will receive £1.5k to develop or enhance their project; a free place at the NEA Annual Conference in 2014; plus practical and financial support to hold a community celebration event. Following the events four of these will be named as national winners and provided with an additional £2k to further enhance their initiative.

There are two phases with various awards. The closing date for phase 1 is 31 October 2013, for phase 2 it is 14 February 2014.

For more information visit www.nea.org.uk/communityaction or call 0191 269 2935.

The 17 seat minibus, with ‘easy access’ hydraulic tail-lift for those with restricted mobility, was formally ‘opened’ by County Councillor Beth Atkins. Over 20 village and local organisations attended.  It has been funded with Big Lottery money.

The minibus can be hired by local organisations, community and neighbourhood groups. What makes it different to many others is that it is intended for self-drive community use, so there is no cost of having a driver. Sustainable Hayfield is organising brief MIDAS-approved training for those groups wishing to use the minibus. Hayfield Primary School and New Mills Volunteer Centre are already regular users, whilst local sports groups are also increasingly using it: it has taken fell runners, and girl football teams, to distant competitions, for instance. There is also interest in commuters using it for travel to/from local stations. 

The minibus is intended to support local groups’ travel plans, without the polluting wastefulness of multiple car journeys. It is part of Sustainable Hayfield’s wider transport project, aiming to provide varied means of reducing car journeys for people travelling to shared destinations.  Also planned are development of peer-to-peer car rental schemes, promotion of car sharing and a mobile phone app linking people with the same travel needs together.

A co-op has been formed to oversee the project, including the minibus, with members shaping overall direction. If you would like to know more, or just use the minibus, contact Roland Strube on 01663 749062 or via roland.strube@gmail.com. 

Awards for All is a small grants funding programme with awards between £300 and £10,000 open to voluntary and community organisations. Reaching Communities awards grants of between £10,000 and £500,000 to voluntary and community organisations and statutory bodies.

The following link provides all the details with dates and how to book on to a webinar session. www.ccberks.org.uk/big-lottery-webinar-training/4579118382

The R68(i) forms will no longer be accepted. Those without access to the internet will have to claim using a new form – ChR1.

You will need to register for Charities Online in order to make claims. You might not need to claim right now, but by registering you will avoid any delays with future payments.

Guidance and how to register can be found on the HM Revenue and Customs website.

The Free Tree Packs, which are provided by the Woodland Trust, are worth £30, £105 or £420.  All applicants need to do is find a suitable site and supply the volunteer planters and tree protection.  

Pre-school, school, college and university groups interested in a small pack of 30 trees should head straight over to the school pack page. The closing date for applications is 9 January 2014. Read more at: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/moretreesmoregood/free-trees/Pages/free-tree-packs.aspx

Further information about New Mills Volunteer Centre at nmvc.org

Funding is available to organisations that work with young people who are suffering from: illness; distress; abuse or neglect; disability; behavioural or psychological difficulties; living in poverty or situations of deprivation.

The Main grants programme is open to applications for over £10,000. Read more at: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008dk4b/features/cin-grants-applyforagrant

SITA will accept applications from projects which are within 3 miles of qualifying SITA UK waste processing sites. Grants of up to £20,000 are also available through their Fast Track Fund for projects with an overall cost of no more than £40,000.

Projects on school or pre-school sites where the facilities will primarily benefit the school are not eligible. However, an application may be considered from a school if it can be clearly demonstrated that the wider community has significant opportunities to use the facility and the facility is run by an organisation that is separate from the school (although the school may be represented); and access to the facility for community use must be via an entrance that is separate from the school.

The next closing date for applications is 10am on the 13 October for the Fast Track Fund and 5pm on the 25 November 2013 for the Core Fund. Read more at: www.sitatrust.org.uk/community-funding.

They are looking for the best runners, bikers, climbers, cavers, skiers, skateboarders, free-runners, kayakers and sailors in the county.. If you know anyone 17 or under who goes to school or lives in Derbyshire and who would qualify, they would like to hear from you.

Nominations have just opened and close on 25th Oct. There will be an awards ceremony at Oaklands Manor on Friday 1st November including a keynote speech by British adventurer Dave Cornthwaite.  There's a great prize - the chance to race the Junior Adventure Racing World Champs in the French Alps next summer - 5 days for two with travel and accommodation.

Full details are at: www.buxtonadventurefestival.co.uk/bafyoungadventurersawards.html

The first issue of their Newsletter can be downloaded from Dropbox.

It has information about: activities, groups, events; World Mental Health Day; allotments; facts about mental health, and a guest article by Dr Linda Young 'Simplify Your Life'.