News & Developments

Compassionate Communities Derbyshire aims to encourage people and communities to talk about death, dying, bereavement and loss, to allow people to share their preferences and wishes about the future and to support each other in practical and emotional ways.

Project coordinator Jane Butler explains, ‘Many people face the end of their lives unprepared emotionally, practically, financially and legally, and this can add a huge strain to the person concerned and their families. Making a difficult time even more difficult, not only at the time of the death, but in the months and years to come. It can have far reaching impact across health and social care, voluntary, community and faith groups, and mental health services too. I think as a society we’ve lost confidence in talking about and dealing with death and dying, this project will show that it isn’t a taboo subject, but is part of who we, our families and communities are, and should be talked about and planned for as much as a new arrival into the family.

As well as helping individuals to plan for the end of their lives, we will be encouraging and sharing the many things communities are doing to help them. We’ll be holding public events to give people the chance to talk about death openly and to find out about ways in which funeral rites can be truly individual.   As well as working with health and social care professionals, we’ll be supporting employers to adopt best practice for their employees and promote the Dying to Work Charter. 

For further information, contact Jane - Jane.butler@ageukdd.org.uk  www.ageuk.org.uk/derbyandderbyshire   Mobile 07421227078

At First Steps main office in Derby City Centre, £99 per person.

Training dates in 2018 include: 24 February, 19 May, 8 September.

For more information or to book a place on a workshop contact Sarah at First Steps, sarah@firststepsderbyshire.co.uk, 01332 367571.

firststepsderbyshire.co.uk

The project commenced on 13 October, but referrals are still welcome from anywhere in the High Peak.  

The sessions are every Friday from 10am to 4.30pm and run from Oct 2017 – Sept 2018.  Lunch and transport are provided. 

Activities include: gardening, animal care, fencing, dry stone walling, conservation, guided walks and survival skills, Workshops include mindfulness and stress control, nutrition, cooking and arts and crafts.

For referrals or further information contact Kev or Chris at Beardwood Farm, Furnees Vale, High Peak SK23 7QF. Tel: 01663 749038 Mob: 07793 982648, Email: beardwoodnlp@gmail.com

Facebook: Beardwood Natural living project/community

Join together with colleagues and take part in the 2018 Active Workplace Challenge by adding activity into and around your working day.

Kick off the New Year by getting involved with a new campaign set to tackle inactivity in the workplace. From 8 January to 4 March sign up to the Workplace Challenge, track physical activity online and compare it to other individuals and organisations.

The focus will be on bitesize chunks of activity, encouraging workers to step away from their desks during the lightest and brightest part of the day - helping to improve physical and mental wellbeing including improving symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).    

www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/derbyshire/

Mike had been on our Board for 13 years and was one of the longer serving Trustees.  He was Chair for a year and Vice Chair for 5 years, in fact he retired from the Board only last month.  Mike was also on our Small Groups Advisory Committee for 2 years and helped the Small Groups Project Co-ordinator with groups in the Hayfield Area for over 10 years.

Mike was such a lovely, kind, caring, helpful, generous man and he entertained us with his jokes, the Board meetings aren’t going to be the same without him.

Mike was involved with quite a few groups in the local Voluntary Sector and we are sure that he will be missed by many people and groups in the area. 

Mike was very hard working and always willing to help with anything that needed doing, he had a vast knowledge, expertise and was a wealth of information.

Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.

Established to celebrate and support ambitious charities working in the fields of Youth, Welfare and Community, Pilotlight and the Garfield Weston Foundation are looking for charities who would like mentoring and coaching support to get their organisation to the next stage in its development.

This year the Awards are expanding to support 20 charities across the North East, the North West, Yorkshire, the Midlands and, for the first time, Wales.  Winners will receive £6,500 unrestricted grant funding alongside business mentoring support from award-winning charity Pilotlight. 

westoncharityawards.org/about-the-awards/how-to-apply/  or call us on 020 7283 7022. 

Deadline for applications: Friday 12 January 2018.

Join us earlier at 6.30 on Norfolk Square for a candlelit vigil to commemorate the two women a week killed by abuse in the home.

Tickets £10 including all food, mulled wine and Christmas craft activities.

Tickets: www.crossroadsderbyshire.org/christmas OR Bay Tree Books

Derbyshire Law Centre employs a team of solicitors and advisers who prevent evictions and homelessness; assist people who are experiencing problems with debts, rent or mortgage arrears and serious disrepairs in their rented properties. 

They also advise people on their problems at work such as unpaid  wages including holiday and sick pay, redundancies, dismissals and discrimination.

The Law Centre works tirelessly in supporting people to manage their money better and become work ready as well as on how to get their social care needs met so that they can live independently in their own homes. 

derbyshirelawcentre.org.uk

Call for advice - Freephone 0800 707 6990

The survey will help Neighbourhood Watch to signpost people to the right place. Your responses are completely anonymous.  

www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NWN-DV-Survey

Meeting on Monday 18 December at  Community Room, Buxton Fire Station - In view of the growing number of people diagnosed with dementia, High Peak Diabetic Self Help are pleased to welcome Kathryn Rogers who will present the latest dietary information, which, with exercise, are found to assist delay the development of dementia.