News & Developments

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

Numbers using foodbanks have increased hugely and presenting reasons have changed.  People awaiting furlough payments from struggling employers, self-employed people and families awaiting school meal vouchers are among those now needing emergency food aid. The three foodbanks are gearing up to cope with more demand as people start to lose jobs when the furlough scheme is withdrawn.

Generosity across the High Peak from individuals, businesses and organisations given as food and money has kept the foodbanks open and able to support those in need. Volunteers from other organisations like Buxton Street by Street and Chapel en le Frith Covid 19 Mutual Aid have been helping to distribute much needed food parcels.

To use a foodbank in the High Peak, people generally need a referral. These are available from any kind of support, health or social worker, Citizens Advice etc. One self-referral is allowed but after that recipients of food parcels usually must be working with a service that will help resolve the underlying cause of emergency food need.

The three foodbanks referral numbers are:

High Peak Foodbank  @Zink  (Buxton, Chapel, Hope Valley, Hartington, Bakewell): 07811 684299

Helping Hands Foodbank (New Mills, Whaley Bridge, Furness Vale, Hayfield, Chinley and Buxworth): 07425 177999

Glossopdale Foodbank (Glossop, Hadfield, Gamesley, Tintwistle): refer to children’s centres in Glossop or Hadfield or The Pantry in Gamesley. 

As things are getting back to normal, foodbanks are ready to offer support to people so they no longer need emergency food. 

High Peak Foodbank is part of Zink. 

Advice @Zink will help people sort out problems related to benefits, housing, finance, furloughing etc; contact: julie@zink.org.uk.  

Employability @Zink can help people get work, training, education or go self-employed; contact: jane@zink.org.uk. 

Glossopdale foodbank’s Citizen’s Advice worker is on hand to help, contact: ghazala.darr@ddcab.org.uk   

At the very beginning of the pandemic, High Peak CVS put together a database of services and organisations that could offer support to those that needed it the most. This has been an essential tool for individuals and professionals to refer into and has been shared amongst the local community and our partners. As guidance changes and society slowly but surely tries to return to some form of normality, we recognise the importance of still being available for support for those that need it. Whether it’s continuing support that has developed during lockdown or new issues that arise during this recovery process, we wanted to ensure that if anyone needs support they know where to look.

So, our database is still available and can be accessed here: highpeakcvs.org.uk/directory.asp 

We will be working hard on continuing to update this with changes in services and new support that becomes available over the coming weeks and months. If your group or organisation is offering help to those during this period please do let us know and we can get you added to this directory. If your services have changed please do notify us. Most importantly, if you need some help or advice please do make use of the resources available or if you can’t find what you’re looking for get in touch and we can help.  

In addition to this, we have adapted our social media accounts to offer a new ‘Community Recovery’ group and thread to publicise the support that is out there across the district. Our original community response campaign was hugely successful and helped engage more people into the incredible work going on in the High Peak. Please do join these groups and share any information that you feel can help.

These can be accessed here:

Facebook - www.facebook.com/groups/2878019722241277/?ref=bookmarks

Twitter – twitter.com/HPCVS/status/1274990820874244100

Once again, thank you to every individual, volunteer, group and organisation that has worked so hard to help us all through this pandemic. There are still going to be many challenges ahead but by working together we can all ensure that those that need support can get it. 

Take Care - James Bromley, Chief Executive at High Peak CVS

The High Peak Connect COVID-19 Support Grant is a small grant scheme aimed at supporting new groups that have responded to the current COVID-19 pandemic or existing groups that have been directly impacted by the Coronavirus.

The Health and Wellbeing Partnership in the High Peak is a core strategic group that comprises representatives from a wide range of organisations to improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities across the High Peak. A sub group of the Health and Wellbeing Partnership has been developed which is looking at ways to develop and encourage social connectedness across the High Peak. 

How much can you apply for?

Up to £500  

Who can apply?

Any voluntary/community groups or local people within the High Peak area who come together to support the health and wellbeing of their community during the pandemic are eligible to apply for funding.

For example, your group might be a neighbourhood watch, mutual aid, a social group, a self-help group or another type of community group that provides help and support.

We want to hear from people who’d like to make a difference to their community.  Whether you are a formal group with working rules or a group of neighbours that have got together to support your local community, please think about applying. Speak with HPCVS for advice and if the application is successful they can support you to deliver your project.      

Grants that support the following High Peak Connect focus areas will be prioritised but all applications will be considered:

 Supporting Expectant or New Families

 Supporting Mental Health and Wellbeing

 Supporting Children and Young People

We are aware of the restrictions and pressures COVID-19 has had on small groups and organisations and we want this grant to help where it’s needed. We are willing to consider supporting groups with CORE costs and operational expenditure where appropriate where evidence is provide that proves this will help the immediate and long term sustainability of the group.

What do you need to show on your application form?

 Information on what you will deliver with the grant money. This needs to be specific about what you plan to do and what you will spend the money on.

 Evidence of how the project meets the needs of people in your community. This can be as simple as having a list of people already waiting to get involved in the project.

 How you will know if your project has been successful. For example, what impact do you expect the project to have on people in your local community?

 How the project will contribute towards one or more of the High Peak Connect Priorities.

 How your project/group will continue to benefit local people into the future.

Monitoring and Evaluation

As a condition of funding all successful applicants will be expected to complete a short End of Project Report on the impact of their project.  This will be provided with the Decision Letter if you are successful and will provide guidance on the type of information we are looking for.  This report must be returned to High Peak CVS at the end of the funded project/activity and demonstrate that the funding was used for the purpose it was intended.  This information will allow High Peak Connect to assess the impact and overall effectiveness of projects for future funding.

Process

Completed application forms (with all supporting documentation) should be submitted to High Peak CVS as detailed in the application form. There is no deadline but the funding is restricted so will close when it has been fully allocated.

A small grant panel comprising of representatives from High Peak CVS, Public Health and another Partnership member will meet on a regular basis to make decisions on the applications.

If you are a formal constituted group or a group with working rules payment will be made to the successful applicants via cheque or BACS within 2 weeks of the panel’s meeting.  If you are not a formal constituted group or a group with working rules High Peak CVS will reimburse you for receipted expenditure or process invoices on your behalf.

On completion of the project, successful applicants will be required to submit their End of Project Report. The grant scheme will be administered by High Peak CVS.

Applications should be returned to:High Peak CVS via email to Donna Wren:
donna@highpeakcvs.org.uk

High Peak Connect COVID-19 Support Grant - Application Form May 2020

High Peak Connect COVID-19 Support Grant - Guidance Notes 2020