From a height of £6bn in 2003, the total value of public sector grant-making to the voluntary sector had plummeted to just £2.2bn by 2013. There is little to suggest that this trajectory is going to change – austerity looks set to continue and local councils, one of the sector’s biggest funders, are staring down the barrel of a 29% cut to their funding over the next five years.

The Grants for Good campaign led by Charity Finance Group, Children England, NAVCA and Lloyds Bank Foundation believes that grants are essential for charities and community groups.

The case needs to be made to commissioners to ensure they realise the value in commissioning charities and community groups through grants. To do this, the campaign wants to hear about your experience of using grants. How has your community benefited from them? Tell them and sign up to our email bulletin to keep up to date with the campaign.

www.dsc.org.uk/grants-for-good-2/

Full Guardian article: www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2016/feb/11/grants-local-charities-campaign-appeal-government-cuts

Once again, on Bank Holiday Monday 2 May, 10am-5pm, Buxton Town Centre will be full of life - music and dancing, stalls selling food, gifts and artefacts, activities for adults and children alike. Buxton residents will turn out in their thousands, visitors will flock from far and wide. This is your opportunity to advertise whatever you do to the widest possible audience.

If you want a pitch somewhere at the fair, to trade, to recruit new members, to campaign or to entertain, or if you have premises in the fair area and want to extend your frontage, please download the guidance and application forms from :-

buxtontownteam.org/working-on/buxton-spring-fair-2016/

If you are wanting to book a slot to perform at one of the Performance Venues, please bear with us a little while longer. The University of Derby Events Management Team are taking responsibility for organising that side of things this year, they are just finalising details of the application form, it will be available soon.

If you are aged 16-25, unemployed and interested in a career in the NHS, you could:

• Gain valuable work experience and have a guaranteed interview for  entry level jobs you apply for at the end of the programme
• Receive training and First Aid and care certificates
• Develop effective teamwork and communication skills
• Get 6 months support after the programme to help you move into further training or employment

Programme runs from 29 March – 6 May 2016. A taster day date 18 March 2016.

Telephone: 07436797253 or Text "H&S” to 07436797253

Taking part in this programme will not affect any benefits.

This latest CD is being produced specifically to support stimulative work to encourage gentle exercise with older people with dementia  in care settings such as residential care & nursing homes as well as day care centres, although many other groups will find it useful.

Copies of this new CD will be available for purchase at £8 per copy at the Launch.

This event is open, free of charge,  to anyone who would like to attend and we would ask that to help us facilitate arrangements at the Whitworth Centre that anyone wishing to come along advises us that they will be attending

If you would like to attend this event contact - Iris Wagstaffe, First Taste Office, Tel: 01629 733849, Email: firsttaste@btinternet.com , Website: www.firsttastecharity.co.uk 

Tickets £9 - on sale at ‘The Town Hall’ Market Street, Chapel en le frith or via  www.chapelarts.org.uk

All profits to Antibiotic Research UK.

See - www.saferderbyshire.gov.uk

Speakers: George Marshall - Climate Outreach
Emma Bridge - Community Energy England

Workshops: Community Café Project Shareshop & networking.

Full details at www.everybodys-talking.org/derbyshire-and-nottinghamshire-laep-community-climate-action-network-conference

Saturday 12 March  2pm to 6 pm
at Spring Bank Arts Centre, Spring Bank, New Mills

This involves access around the area for wheelchairs, scooters, prams and those with mobility problems, but also access to services for people with visual or hearing impairment.

If you already know of access issues in these areas, bring your examples along for discussion, or email details prior to the meeting so we can take photos beforehand.

Timetable
2.00-2.30  Arrival and registration (tea, coffee)
2.30-2.45  Welcome and introduction to High Peak Access
2.45-3.15  Presentation on local access issues 
3.15-4.00  Discussion of local access issues and solutions
4.00-4.30  Web-based guide to Organising Accessible Events 
4.30-5.00  Question time
5.00-6.00  Buffet and Networking
6.00          Event finishes

To book a place, or for more details, contact Dave Bennett – davembennett@live.co.uk

See www.highpeakaccess.org.uk for information about High Peak Access.  This FREE event and buffet is supported by NDVA.  Free accessible transport is available if needed.

There is a live Ceilidh band, FLASH IN THE PAN and a licenced bar and raffle, Tickets £7.50 from the Volunteer Centre or you can pay on the door.

7.30pm at Whaley Bridge Uniting Church, on Saturday 19 March. Tickets all £8, under 12's free.