News & Developments

Derbyshire Voluntary Action are working on an exciting project to publish a book 'Life in Lockdown', documenting the Covid-19 Pandemic as seen through the eyes of Chesterfield and surrounding areas residents, and they need your help in doing this.

As an organisation Derbyshire Voluntary Action proudly supports hundreds of voluntary sector organisations and community groups. They are passionate about championing the work of the community and its volunteers. They are incredibly proud of their strong working relationship with Public Health, NHS, local businesses, and our funders. With this in mind they feel truly able to make a powerful book that represents how the community has responded to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Submissions are welcome from amateur and professional artists, poets, photographers, creative writers, crafters and song writers. Allow your creativity to record your experience, the ups and the downs, the feelings of isolation and let’s not forget the heart-warming stories, the acts of kindness and elements of lockdown we may not want to lose! This book aims to celebrate how we rose to an unprecedented challenge and showed that community spirit is alive and kicking.

The  book will be for sale to the public with the proceeds going towards supporting local charities or the community.

dva.org.uk/covid-19-book-project/

A number of alternative options are available if you are unable to shop for yourself.

If you are on the official shielding list, you can get access to a priority supermarket delivery slots offered by seven supermarkets. If you have already signed up for these supermarket deliveries they will continue beyond the end of July. If you have not already signed up you can still register as a vulnerable person to get coronavirus support before Friday 17 July 2020.

The NHS Volunteer Responders can pick up your shopping that you have paid for and deliver it to you. Tel: 0808 196 3646 between 8am and 8pm, 7 days a week to register. When you call, mention that you received information about NHS volunteer responders in your food box.

Many food retailers are also selling their own set food boxes or can deliver prepared meals for you. Other commercially available options include telephone ordering, food box delivery, prepared meal delivery and other non-supermarket food delivery providers. You can check online or try calling local stores to see what is available.

DCC Community Response Unit can also help if you have no friends and family to call on for support.

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/social-health/health-and-wellbeing/health-protection/disease-control/coronavirus/community-response-unit/emergency-food-supplies/emergency-food-supplies.aspx

Tell us about your experience of the last few extraordinary months, and what support you need – and win a £25 supermarket voucher!

Closing date 31 July 2020

>>> www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3D2020 

We want to hear community groups, voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises of all kinds and all sizes, from all parts of Derby City and Derbyshire. 

This includes established organisations (whether or not you have been able to provide services during the lockdown), as well as new informal mutual aid / neighbourhood groups; and faith organisations, parish councils and food banks responding to the crisis.

All completed surveys will be entered into a draw to win 1 of 3 x £25 supermarket vouchers!

We want to find out, capture and share:

• All the good work that you have been doing to make sure that people affected by COVID, especially the most vulnerable, have been supported.
• What you have learned and experienced.
• What the impact has been on your organisation.
• Crucially, we also want to know what support and resources you will need in future, so that we can make sure that you get this.

The survey should take about 20 minutes, and will ask questions about:

• Your organisation (what you do, where you work, who you support and your annual income).
• What you have been doing (if anything) to support people during COVID (including the kinds of support you have provided, the numbers of people you have helped and the number of volunteers who have been involved). 
• The impact of COVID on your organisation, including your income, staff (if any), volunteer numbers, levels of demand, needs and geographical differences.
• Your experience of COVID – what the challenges have been, what you have learned – and what support you will need going forward.

Click here to start the survey www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3D2020 

This survey is being carried out by the 3D (Third Sector Support for Derbyshire) network of local CVS, Volunteer Centres and other local voluntary sector support organisations working in partnership with public sector colleagues.

High Peak CVS are working in collaboration with our partners at The Bureau, New Mills and District Volunteer Centre and Connex Community Support to collate information locally and so we can support you and the local community together.

If you have any questions, or if would rather complete the survey on paper or as a Word document, or if you need someone to help you fill it in please email: 3derbyshire@gmail.com

If you have any particular queries related to the High Peak please contact us at: hello@highpeakcvs.org.uk  

Due to the current situation this Forum will be held online via Zoom.

The agenda includes:

Mental Health and Wellbeing during the pandemic, James Creaghan, Public Health Lead for Mental Health, Derbyshire County Council

State of the Sector (Voluntary and Community updates and feedback), Join us to reflect on the last 3 months impact on local groups and communities, plans to move forward and lessons learnt

Test and Trace, Jane Careless and Abid Mumtaz, Derbyshire County Council will update us on how test and trace is developing in Derbyshire

Question Time Panel, Q & A session with the morning’s speakers and some additional key panel members tbc. If you have a question you would like to ask about any of the agenda items please email these to info@dva.org.uk by Friday 17 July. The Question Time Panel will have sight of any questions submitted prior to the Forum, this is with the aim of making the Forum run efficiently.

If you would like to attend, please register through Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.com/e/derbyshire-voluntary-action-health-social-care-voluntary-sector-forum-tickets-111798678858

Each person attending must be booked on separately via Eventbrite. The name/email used to book must be for the person attending. If you can no longer attend please cancel your place to allow others to book. The Zoom link to access the meeting will be sent to you before the Forum – when you receive this link please do not share it with anyone else.

If you need any further information contact info@dva.org.uk

www.ashbournect.org.uk/contact

Social distancing has become the norm for all of us. Keeping in touch through Zoom, telephone, email, and Snapchat are all good ways to communicate, but what says "Hello", "Welcome" and "Be happy" better than a banner. The Soroptimist dynamic S logo has been created by joint President Jo, and is a part of Buxton's colourful display.

Soroptimists everywhere send best wishes to people who are isolating, shielding and caring.

The changes include making some pavements wider by taking away a small number of parking bays, making some roads one way or closed to give more space for shoppers or offer a safe cycling and walking route, and putting up signs reminding people to keep their distance from others.

Towns that have now had changes made include:

• Ashbourne
• Bakewell
• Belper
• Buxton
• Chesterfield
• New Mills
• Ripley

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news-events/news-updates/news/we-make-changes-to-town-centres-across-derbyshire.aspx

Residents must book an appointment to visit their library if it is one of those set to reopen, and people are being urged not to turn up without having arranged their appointment first.

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news-events/news-updates/news/county-libraries-to-roll-out-reopening-with-safety-a-priority.aspx

The service is delivered by Remploy and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions.

• Specialist advisers provide:
• Tailored work-focused mental health support for nine months
• Suitable coping strategies
• A support plan to keep them in, or return to work
• Ideas for workplace adjustments to help them fulfill their role
• Practical advice to support those with a mental health condition.

If you or your colleagues would like support, call us now on 0300 456 8114 or email a2wmhss@remploy.co.uk

www.remploy.co.uk/employers/mental-health-and-wellbeing/workplace-mental-health-support-service-employers

During these COVID19-affected times, there will be no closing date for applications.  They aim to get back to you with a decision within two weeks of receipt of your form. 

The maximum amount you can apply for is £1,000, but grants awarded are likely to be in the region of £500-£600.  Applications will be paused or closed if necessary.

Groups can only receive funds from this scheme once in any 12 month period – therefore if you have previously received a Derbyshire Voluntary Action Small Grant you have to wait a year before applying again.  

dva.org.uk/small-grants