News & Developments

Heading out to do some shopping or run errands over the coming weeks, you might notice some new faces that crop up regularly in shops and businesses across the High Peak and Hope Valley. 

More than 170 collection pots are dispersed across the community in places like banks, shops, cafés, pubs and companies, with members of the public donating spare change to help support their local hospice.  

The generosity of local people, and the businesses that are proud to display Blythe House collection pots, helped the hospice to raise an amazing £10,872 throughout 2018 and 2019. 

All these donations enable the Chapel-en-le-Frith hospice to continue to provide free care and services to local patients with illnesses including cancer, COPD, heart failure and neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease, as well as supporting their carers and families.  

If you would like to house a Blythe House collection box in your shop or local business call 01298 815 388 or email fundraising@blythehouse.co.uk

These workshops offer a toolbox of skills for tackling eating disorder difficulties, focusing on warmth, empathy and self-reflection.

firststepsed.co.uk/parents-and-carers/

Take a trip back to Prohibition-era America with Ma Bessie. This show is an incredible time capsule and brings the very best of 20s/30s blues and jazz to the present day, focusing on the life and musical canon of the late, great Empress of Blues herself, Bessie Smith, and contemporaries such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.

Doors open 7pm for 7.30. Bar during interval. Disabled access and lift.

Tickets from www.ticketsource.co.uk/chapelarts and Chapel Town Hall weekday mornings.

Tel bookings 0333 666 63366 – co hosted with Live & Local.

High Peak CVS is working with colleagues from around the county, to look at how local voluntary organisations, community groups and social enterprises (VCSE) can be part of new plans for joined-up health and social care – an Integrated Care System.

New local structures and partnerships are being developed in Derby & Derbyshire to support and manage this new way of working, and it’s really important that VCSE organisations small and large are an integral part of this.

We want your views on :

• How we can best work together, to make sure VCSE voices and experiences from diverse organisations are heard, inform the design, development and delivery of integrated care?
• What existing networks and communication systems can we build on?
• What are the challenges, opportunities and gaps – what else needs to happen and what can we do better?

We invite you to join us for a discussion with other VCSE organisations, public sector and other colleagues on Wednesday 18 March 10am to 1pm at Ballroom at Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale, Matlock

NB Parking is now charged at a cost of £1 for 4 hours.

We are keen to keep an eye on numbers attending - so if you are able to come along, it would be great if you could let us know by emailing Lynn Alison at lynn@avcvs.org

If you can’t make this event there will be other opportunities to have your say, so please contact High Peak CVS on: 01663735350 or email: hello@highpeakcvs.org.uk to express your interest in knowing more, and we will keep you informed.

It needs at least 6 people to support on the day of the event. 

www.facebook.com/CaptainCuthbertScattheCat/

New Mills Town Hall, Saturday 7 March 10am-4pm

transitionnewmills.org/join-the-community-conversation/

A High Peak hospice volunteer service described as ‘gentle, invaluable and amazing’ is seeking local people who would like to support patients in the comfort of their own home. 

Blythe House Hospicecare’s community volunteer programme provides practical and emotional support in the homes of local patients who have life-limiting illnesses including cancer, COPD, heart failure and neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease. 

After completing comprehensive training, community volunteers are able to provide help and support to patients and their families including respite breaks, companionship, light household chores and gardening. The current team of 22 volunteers donated over 400 hours of support between October and December 2019.  

Alison Dronfield-Boyd from Buxton became a community volunteer in June last year after retiring early. She has been offering help to a local patient who has motor neurone disease, and said: ‘I support with a variety of things including improving accessibility to make life easier, for example, moving items in the kitchen to a lower level. I have ironed clothes, as this is something that the individual can no longer carry out. I have also walked the dog and carried out gardening tasks. The main thing during all this is the companionship; we chat and enjoy each other’s company. ‘The community volunteer programme is a massive support to people who need it and is extremely personally rewarding. It’s the best thing I have ever done with my time; I would say that even the smallest amount of time that can be provided is very much appreciated.’

To find out more about community volunteering at Blythe House, including a new training programme due to get underway next month: ​

Email:  volunteering@blythehouse.co.uk

Call: Vicci Wild or Julie Forrest on 01298 816 990 

blythehousehospice.org.uk/volunteer-for-us/community-volunteer-project/

Find out what's happening in Hope Valley.  Information and activities on how to reduce energy and waste, how to make gardens wildlife friendly. Activities for children.

Facebook.com/hopevalleyclimateaction

Film night 7pm - 10pm

Claire Hughes on rowing the Atlantic and Cal Major paddle boarding Land's End to John O'Goats

TwoWomenTwoJourneysBamford.eventbrite.co.uk

The Gardens are a favourite with visitors and residents alike.  In the bad weather people often shelter in the Conservatory which leads into the Gardens themselves.  While they are there they enjoy the beautiful flowers and exotic plants as well as the soothing sight and sound of the water in the pond.

Soroptimist President Jo Holdway initiated the gift of the bench to the local community.  Soroptimist International is a women's organisation working for Human Rights and for betterment of Women worldwide, and this includes local people too.

Please come, sit and enjoy the view, and hopefully some conversation too.

High Peak CVS are delighted to announce that we have secured a three-year grant of £123,933 from the National Lottery Reaching Communities programme in order to continue our Glossop Bereavement and Loss Support Group as well as extend the service across the High Peak.

The funding will enable us to continue delivering our bereavement support in Central Glossop which has directly supported over 80 people since it was launched in March 2018, as well as develop two new daytime groups and an evening group across the High Peak. People living in the High Peak area who have experienced the loss of a loved one will be able to access vital support and we are proud that the Lottery have acknowledged the importance of such a service.

Liz Fletcher, Bereavement and Loss Support Group Lead, High Peak CVS said:

"I am delighted that we are able to expand our bereavement support across the High Peak, which has been developed in full collaboration with those who need our support. We are also working in partnership with other relevant services to create effective and compassionate support groups, holding people as they take time to grieve in the most appropriate and understanding company of all, other people who are also grieving.”

The Glossop pilot was funded by Tameside and Glossop Integrated NHS Foundation Trust (ICFT) to help improve the health and wellbeing of those that have suffered bereavement. The pilot launched with an initial membership of 12 and within a year an additional evening group was set up to meet demand for support.

Liz added: "Everybody experiences grief in different ways – some may feel anger or shock, a deep sadness as well as complicated and mixed feelings such as relief, guilt and regret, others may feel incredibly lonely, lost or even numb to their feelings. Bereavement can have a detrimental effect on wellbeing by affecting sleep, appetite and motivation to participate in everyday activities like exercising and socialising, asking for help or being able to offer help. The pilot group in Glossop has proven invaluable in providing a safe space where people can open up about their feelings, share their grief journey, share progress and setbacks, supporting each other to start to take steps towards leading a different life without their loved one.”

Some of the beneficiaries of the pilot were known to have travelled over 30 miles to attend the Glossop group, showing the desperate need for additional groups to meet a need across the wider High Peak geographical area. In addition to the existing Glossop group, the funding will allow High Peak CVS to offer services in Chapel-en-le-Frith and Buxton, therefore reaching more people that need dedicated support.

High Peak CVS is working with partners across the health and social care sector to help refer people to the groups who are struggling with their loss and who may be at risk of social isolation.

Helen Sharples, End of Life Care Facilitator for Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust Palliative Care Team said:

"The Glossop Bereavement Group offers a place of safety to express your love and loss. Talking of your memories which bring smiles, tears and laughter. Members can bring photographs to remember, with love, the joy before the loss”. 

If anyone is interested in attending any of these groups, know someone who may benefit from them or would like to know more please contact Liz Fletcher via lizsgp@highpeakcvs.org.uk or Tel: 01663735350

James Bromley – CEO of High Peak CVS
Liz Fletcher – Bereavement and Loss Support Group Lead at High Peak CVS