News & Developments

A hospice charity in the High Peak, which relies on 79% of its operating costs to come from donations and fundraising, is set to lose potentially half its fundraising income as the coronavirus pandemic continues. 

Janet Dunphy, CEO at Blythe House Hospicecare, said: ‘The pressures that Blythe House will face over the next few weeks as a result of the coronavirus pandemic are going to be felt for many months to come. Everyone is dealing with worries and uncertainties now, but for local patients who are living with, or dying from, a life-limiting illness, we need to be there now more than ever.’

Blythe House is continuing to deliver 24/7 care to patients who wish to die in their own home; as well as offering telephone support for other patients, families and carers. Volunteers are helping to pick up shopping and prescriptions for elderly, isolated and vulnerable people in the local area.  

Janet continued: ‘Blythe House Hospicecare receives just 21% of its funding from local NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups, with the rest being raised through events, donations and the hospice’s retail outlets. We have made the very difficult decision to close our hospice shops, and cancel many of our fundraising events, which will have a significant impact on our ability to raise vital funds for hospice services. 

‘ We are also very aware that the situation will have a huge effect on local individuals and businesses who support us, so we are expecting a significant drop in income. There is currently no extra support available to us from government to meet the funding gap, so I am making a personal appeal to local residents to please continue supporting us where you can.’

You can support people with life-limiting illnesses such as cancer, COPD, heart failure and motor neurone disease in a number of ways: 

 Make a one-off donation or set up a direct debit to give regularly to the hospice:      blythehousehospice.org.uk/donate/

 Consider having a spring clear out at home and donate any unwanted items to our charity shops when they re-open: 
blythehousehospice.org.uk/our-shops/

 Ask your manager at work to consider making a corporate donation:
blythehousehospice.org.uk/support-us/companies-and-businesses/

Janet added: ‘Throughout these uncertain times, we must come together as a community and support each other. Any donation to Blythe House, however small, will make a monumental difference to local patients and their families who are going through difficult enough times, without the added worry about the ongoing situation. I thank you sincerely for any support you’re able to give.’ 

See the latest coronavirus update from the hospice: 
blythehousehospice.org.uk/keeping-you-safe-information-on-coronavirus/

The Digital Concert Hall - www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/titelgeschichten/20192020/digital-concert-hall/

The Metropolitan Opera - www.vulture.com/2020/03/coronavirus-the-metropolitan-opera-to-stream-free-operas.html

Free Colouring Books - www.openculture.com/2019/02/download-free-coloring-books-from-113-museums.html

BBC Teach - www.bbc.co.uk/teach

Interesting Films - encurious.com/post/126332300103/this-is-what-english-actually-sounded-like-500

Learn a language - www.duolingo.com 

Learn New Skills - www.learnmyway.com

Open University Courses - www.open.edu/openlearn

Museum of Modern Art - artsandculture.google.com/partner/moma-the-museum-of-modern-art

National Theatre - www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/nt-at-home

Virtual Museum Tours - www.top10.com/virtual-museum-tours

Online Games - www.pcgamer.com/uk/15-multiplayer-browser-games-to-play-right-no/

Online Music Classes - alison.com/courses/music

Twinkl primary school resources (Offer code CVDTWINKLHELPS) -  www.twinkl.co.uk/resources/covid19-school-closures

Free eBooks - www.gutenberg.org/

Spread the Happiness 100 things to do indoors - www.spreadthehappiness.co.uk/product/100-things-to-do-indoors/

Wild Earth - www.youtube.com/channel/UCV6HJBZD_hZcIX9JVJ3dCXQ

Zoom Video Calling - support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-Video-Tutorials

Various operators of the services have said they would be willing to provide additional help if required, such as Active Travel services providing a medical prescription delivery service in their area and the shopping bus a grocery delivery option for people who can’t get out.

Details of the areas the different services cover are shown in the leaflets below, along with contact numbers for the different providers. 

Derbyshire Connect

Derbyshire Connect North and East

Derbyshire Connect South and West

The criteria for becoming leader or deputy leader are:
a) you are not in the  vulnerable category
b) no high risk factors
c) not currently self isolating

If people are in any of these 3 categories, but still want to help, then they are asked to ring people up to support them by phone.

The responsibilities of the leaders are:
a) to stay in touch with all your group of homes either by social distancing on door step or by phone.
b) to offer the services of dog walking / shopping / collecting prescriptions / posting mail / chatting.

Those who volunteer to be leaders will understandably have to prove their identity.

IF ANYONE WISHES TO VOLUNTEER IN THIS WAY EMAIL whaleymag@gmail.com stating your name, address and willingness to help. The 'mag' in the email address stands for 'mutual aid group'. 

www.facebook.com/Whaley-Bridge-Covid19-Mutual-Aid-Group-100356144940558/

This is an example of the sort of leaflet that will be used.

The link below is to the Derbyshire County Council website which is updated at 3pm every day with the latest information:

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/social-health/health-and-wellbeing/health-protection/disease-control/coronavirus/coronavirus-covid-19.aspx

At High Peak CVS we see every day the fantastic work that groups and individuals undertake which has significant impact to those communities that need it the most. The Health and Wellbeing of the public is the absolute priority at this time but we are aware there will be practical and significant concerns regarding your groups and members. Below is a handy checklist to work through to ensure everything is under control and you are doing everything to stay safe:

- Regularly check the latest information from proven sources and follow the guidance given (Derbyshire County Council link above). Share this with group members so everyone is up to date.

- Consider a buddy system with members of your group. Arranging scheduled calls to check on each other. Sometimes just chatting can make all the difference.

- Remember YOU are part of the group too so ensure you are getting the same support as everyone else.

- Contact your funders. They are all aware of the current situation and will support you in ensuring the group can deal with a loss of service.

- Avoid Social Contact where possible – events, meetings may need to be postponed. Ensure everyone is notified including venue organisers and attendees.

- Consider virtual meetings. Many people are utilising video conferencing to ensure face to face or telephone meetings can still go ahead.

- If you are concerned about a particular group member then please do get in touch.    However, for health related concerns contact 111 or in an emergency 999.

Our message to you is simple.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE.  Isolation and restrictions over the coming weeks is a real challenge but there are lots of community, voluntary and statutory services out there that can help.

High Peak CVS will be contacting all our members over the coming weeks to offer our support but please do get in touch if you have any concerns or queries regarding your group, members or anything suggested above. You can contact us at: hello@highpeakcvs.org.ukor call and leave a message on 01663 735350.

The programme is funded jointly by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund operating across Derbyshire (as well as Derby City, Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire) and has three strands:

1) Towards Work – For people who want to access training or employment but have barriers preventing them from moving forward. Examples of barriers could be mental health, disability, low skills, criminal record and childcare.

- Personalised 1:1 support to move closer to work, education or training for 12 months, including 3 months in-work support

- Support with the costs of travel, childcare, qualifications and other barriers if identified within their needs assessment.

 www.towardswork.org.uk

 www.towardswork.org.uk/casestudies

2) Opportunity and Change – For people who have multiple complex needs, which are preventing them from being socially included and preventing them from achieving stability to gain employment. Multiple and complex needs include homelessness, or being vulnerably housed, having mental health issues, substance misuse issues, offending or ex-offending past (need to have at least 2 complex needs to be eligible).

- Personalised 1:1 support with work for 12-18 months  - Support with the costs of travel, childcare etc. if identified within needs assessment at a barrier

www.opportunityandchange.org

3) Money Sorted – For people who require assistance with money management and financial inclusion support.​

- Personalised 1:1 support with work for 6 months 

- Support with the costs of travel, childcare etc. if identified within needs assessment at a barrier

moneysortedind2n2.org

moneysortedind2n2.org/case-studies/

Please note that an individual can self-refer, or an organisation can refer on an individual’s behalf. If you would like to refer in to the strands, please find the details of each delivery partner local to you by going to the websites above.

We are particularly trying to gain referrals from women who have childcare requirements and might want to start thinking about training or qualifications that might help them get back in to work.

If you have any questions or would like to develop stronger pathways between BBO and another organisation, please contact Rosie Morton, Derbyshire Stakeholder Manager for the BBO programme: Rosie.Morton@derbyshire.gov.uk / 07850503171. 

The Quick Referral Guide: 

bbo-d2n2.org.uk/app/uploads/2019/05/BBO-Quick-Referral-Guide-Derbyshire.pdf

Applications are open and you have until 9th April to submit your project for funding. So, get your thinking caps on and apply for up to £5,000 of our £85,000 funding pot.

communityfund.calor.co.uk

To try and help Martin Lewis plans to release £1,000,000 from a personal charity fund to provide grants of £5,000 to £20,000 to small registered charities, or local arms of bigger charities, across the UK – to help with specific UK coronavirus-related poverty relief projects.

Examples could include foodbanks, charities engaged in community aid, financial advice help and more.  The hope is to get the money distributed within the next couple of weeks, and they are looking for projects that are up and running, or are in the process of being set up, to deliver help at speed. 

blog.moneysavingexpert.com/2020/03/i-m-making-p1m-available-to-fund-urgent-small-charity-coronaviru/

foundationderbyshire.org

Subject to available funds, their initial focus is on providing £1000 emergency grants to Food Banks (that may be experiencing a fall in food donations and/or increases in demand) and befriending services, who will play a key role in helping those in self-isolation, as a result of the virus.

As the situation develops and they understand more fully where the pressures and challenges are, they aim to respond to the needs of community and voluntary groups more widely and will also review the size of grants that they are able to award.

The National Emergencies Trust will also be using Foundation Derbyshire to distribute money that they are raising - further information on their website next week.

If your group would like to apply to the Foundation Derbyshire Coronavirus Fund, email the Grants Team at emergencies@foundationderbyshire.org