News & Developments

More than 59,000 households in Derbyshire live in fuel poverty… many more are living on the brink. Cold and damp homes can have a significant impact on people’s health and increased pressure on health and social services.  

Now Citizens Advice Derbyshire Districts is hosting a unique day conference to develop an energy resilience network of advice and support across Derbyshire. On Thursday 1 September the ‘Warmer, Brighter, Safer’ event in Matlock will bring a range of frontline workers, charities and organisations together with energy companies in interactive workshops and discussion.  A networking lunch is also included.  

If you work, support or volunteer with people who are struggling with keeping their homes warm and meeting energy costs, if you offer energy saving solutions, access to services for individuals, families and communities then we’d love for you to join us. Together we can make a difference.  

To book your place at the event in Matlock please contact Kelly Jones.  email kelly.jones@ddcab.org.uk  phone 01629 832365 

Come along to the library and enjoy listening to some readings about food and drink and joining in the discussion. We’ll cover everything from traditional Sunday Dinners to baking disasters as we reminisce together over a cup of tea.

This is an informal event aimed at older people including those with dementia and their carers. People can come along and enjoy readings that might bring back some memories and join in with the discussion and reminisce. There will be free refreshments.

For more information please ask library staff or call us on 01629 531199.

The Community Fund will award one-off grants of up to £1,000 to local charities, businesses and schools.  The Fund will award grants to support initiatives that will deliver a real impact by improving the environment and helping people appreciate the benefits of nature to the health and wellbeing of local communities and business. The grants should be used as part of the total budget of a project.

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of experts which includes Nestlé Waters, Andrew Bingham MP and Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, and they will be assessed on the extent to which they support each of the stated aims and objectives of the Get Better with Nature campaign:

• To raise awareness of the value of nature to our society, health and wellbeing;
• To empower people to enjoy nature’s benefits;
• To encourage and inspire people to "get better with nature” by making a small investment in their local environment – whether it’s in their community, local green space, wildlife or waterways.

The closing date for entries is 16 September 2016, and any activities must be underway by the end of 2016 and completed by 31 May 2017.

If you are interested in applying or would like further information about Get Better with Nature, the Community Fund and last year’s grant winners, please visit their Community Fund page where you will also find detailed guidance on how to apply and a Community Fund Application Form.

If you have any other questions, feel free to get in touch with them at enquiries@getbetterwithnature.co.uk.

In conjunction with Financial Action and Advice Derbyshire (FAAD), Derbyshire County Council Welfare Rights Service is running a series of FREE Universal Credit Seminars across the County, aimed at Health & Care professionals.

You are invited to attend one of the FREE seminars:

High Peak: Friday 21 October 2016 at Buxton Methodist Church (1.00pm – 4.00pm)

The aim of the seminar is to develop your knowledge of what Universal Credit is and how it will affect your Service Users. By the end of the seminar, attendees will:

• Have increased confidence about how to deal with UC matters
• Be able to explain the rules about Alternative Payment Arrangements
• Be able to explain to service users how the rollout of UC may affect them

The seminar includes a workshop about how to prepare your Service Users for UC. Attendees will receive a comprehensive advice and information pack.

To book a place on this free seminar, please email: welfarebenefits@derbyshire.gov.uk

Please use UC Seminar High Peak as the subject and include your: full name, email address, contact telephone number, name and address of your organisation, any special access requirements.

We have recently launched a JustGiving page which is generating additional funds and we had a successful stall at the recent Children’s Gala (the highlight of Tintwistle’s social calendar) which raised valuable extra revenue.

Applications have been made to the Tesco Carrier Bag Fund and Veolia Environmental Trust Grant, both of which have been successful at the first stage. We are now applying for the second stage which will hopefully result in some funding. If successful, we stand to raise £8-12k from the Tesco fund and £40k from Veolia. We realise the competition for these grants will be tough but success at the initial application stage has given us confidence. We are currently seeking letters of support from other local organisations to support the second Veolia bid.

Our Surveymonkey Survey has now closed after attracting 103 responses, the analysis of which is being used to support the grant bids.

Our next full committee meeting will be in mid-September and we will be considering future events. 

Why not pop in to our Sight and Hearing Cafés on Thursday 22 September at Gamesley library between 10.30 and 12.30 and at Glossop Library between 2.00 and 3.30.

There was a competitive tone to the treasure hunt itself, with good-hearted banter such as definitions of bridges and viaducts and discussion on whether a grange really is the gentleman farmers' buildings where he keeps cattle. !!

The winners received handmade biscuits and sweets, while at the bottom of the league table, the entrants had a lollipop each. A raffle raised £173 for Soroptimist Charities and a good evening was enjoyed by members and friends, including members from Stockport Soroptimists, who beat some of our Buxton members, who ended up in Dove Holes !

The Soroptimists raise funds for many charities, local, national and international, as well as carrying out local events such as the party for Child Carers.

sigbi.org/buxton-and-district

Kathryn Rogers, of Fork Provoking, spoke about nutrition and phytonutrients which can help everyone stay healthy, especially people with diabetes.

This year the group celebrated 30 years of help for people in High Peak and Derbyshire Dales. Many  friendships have developed over he years,and it is hoped that this will be a reunion for some . The party will be held at the Old Hall Hotel in Buxton on 24 October.

The fund is structured around 6 key themes:

• drug and alcohol dependency
• children’s services
• early years
• young people
• older people’s services
• healthy lives

Applications for proposals focused on children’s services and tackling drug and alcohol dependency are now open, to be followed by the other themes over the next 12 months.

The Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University has also launched the Government Outcomes Lab (GO Lab), a partnership with the Cabinet Office, to establish an independent centre of academic excellence for the commissioning of public services.

The GO Lab will deepen understanding of outcomes-based commissioning, including social impact bonds, by researching new ways for the public sector to commission services.

It will provide independent support, data and evidence on what works, and what doesn’t, making it equally beneficial for local authorities, social investors and charities. This will help to improve the delivery of public services through a more outcomes focused and evidence-based approach.

Expressions of interest for funding from the Life Chances Fund for children’s services and drug and alcohol dependency projects are due by 30 September 2016. The other themes will be open to applications over the course of 2017. Further details can be found on the Gov.uk website www.gov.uk/government/publications/life-chances-fund

Whether you’re an amateur, a professional, a volunteer or paid, you’re invited to:

• Learn about two new ways of getting help to protect and share our
• sporting heritage
• Hear some examples of successful sports heritage projects
• Meet other people interested in sports heritage.

There will be two events. One at 2pm to 4.30pm and the second at 6pm to 8pm. The programme for each will be largely the same so you can choose to attend which is most convenient for you.

Through the open grant programmes, HLF can offer awards of £3,000 to £100,000. The Sporting Lives campaign recognises the region’s proud and diverse sporting history. They have supported a broad range of projects around the theme of sport in the East Midlands and we want to fund more. Through the open grant programmes, they can offer awards of £3,000 to £100,000. This is a great opportunity to try your hand at heritage projects and reach new audiences, young and old alike.

The event will also launch the Sport in Museums regional network. Sport in Museums (formerly known as the Sports Heritage Network) is a national organisation that promotes the collection, preservation and access to sporting heritage. Funded by Arts Council England, they are now creating a regional network to support sports and heritage organisations in developing, caring for and sharing the sporting heritage of the East Midlands.

Email the East Midlands development team if you would like to receive updates on the campaign.