News & Developments

Super Kitchen, a project of Eudaimonia, is a membership-based network that supports groups to set up and run their very own social eating space with the aim of creating and sustaining a social eating movement through partnership working. A Super Kitchen is a kitchen that runs primarily on some of the hundreds of thousands tons of 'perfectly good to eat' surplus food that the food industry creates each year. 

In partnership with FareShare in Derbyshire who supply the kitchens, and Derbyshire County Council, we encourage the use of this fantastic food resource- tackling hunger, food waste and social isolation through the promotion of social eating spaces and activities. There is a huge cascade of positive effects for customers; ranging from increased feelings of inclusion and well being, the development of  informal support networks, modelling good table manner to children, to the more obvious delivery of a high-quality, hot meal to those that may be struggling to nourish themselves through lack of education or ability. In these times of food poverty it is vital that for example, children can get easy access to a second meal after-school or during holiday times or that neighbours can take a freshly-made meal home to an elder or relative.

The aim is to build the network of members throughout the County and to continue to form collaborative relationships with schools, local youth services, homeless charities, food banks and Church groups and to support the Feeding Derbyshire Strategy with experience and passion for social eating.  

To find out more call Super Kitchen on 01909 485335 or take a look at the website which also contains a download brochure for you to work through: www.superkitchen.org

Friday 11 December 13:00 – 15:00 at Buxton Methodist Church.

All Welcome. Chill out chat, meet your friends and make new ones.

Saturday 12 December 7.30pm at Buxton Methodist Church.

Tickets £8 (under 12s free) from Halls Mica Hardware in Chapel.

www.chapel-en-le-frithladieschoir.co.uk

The computers are being made available through the Arthur Rank Centre. This is a collaborative unit supported by the National Churches, the Royal Agricultural Society of England and the Rank Foundation. For organisations that need more than one computer, such as for a drop-in centre or school, the prices are even lower.

www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk/communities-and-farming/computers-for-rural-people

See DCC website for details.

The Foundation currently offers three funding streams:

Improving Lives Fund is for local community groups, charities or social enterprises delivering projects or services that directly support Equity customers and their families around the key themes set out by the Foundation. The wider community can be involved, but the primary focus should be on Equity customers. (Up to £2500)

Community Awards are for local community projects that target the Foundation's key themes. Consideration should be given to how Equity customers could also benefit. (Up to £2500)

Equity Together Fund is exclusively for Equity customers and their families who want funding for projects they would like to set up or are already involved with. (Up to £500)

Projects should address at least one of the following key themes which include examples of possible projects:

Fuel poverty

• Education and awareness projects around energy efficiency
• Practical support with paying energy bills via direct debit or online

Digital inclusion

• Opportunities for older people to learn IT skills
• Opportunities for disadvantaged customers to access the internet
• IT literacy projects for families

Financial inclusion

• Improving basic skills
• Additional support services to complement the work of Equity's Money Advice Officer
• Tackling the root causes of poor money management or debt

Safer communities

•  Education and awareness about personal safety
• The establishment or development of tenant and resident groups
•  Neighbourhood watch groups
• Anti-social behaviour (ASB) prevention initiatives

Social isolation

• Creating opportunities for volunteering
• Reducing isolation and loneliness amongst older people, single parent families or people experiencing mental health issues
• Creating opportunities for micro-enterprise or social enterprise

Wellbeing

• Health and wellbeing projects aimed at older customers
• Healthy eating projects
• Projects that help to reduce the prevalence of obesity and smoking cessation

Work and skills

• Community job clubs
• Opportunities for unemployed people to gain skills or experience that help them to get closer to the labour market
• Literacy and numeracy projects or projects to help people to become work ready.

An application pack can be downloaded from the Foundation's website. The completed application form should be returned by email to foundation@equityhousing.co.uk

Contact the Equity Foundation for further information.

The deadline for applications is 11 January 2016 (5pm).

Come and have fun! Contact Janet on 01298 812053.

As part of this redevelopment they want to ensure that as many views and ideas from local residents and other users of the park are fed into the plans. So they are holding Beard Crescent Open Day on Sunday 22 November 2015 at Low Leighton Methodist Community Church.

Please pop round any time between 2.30 - 4.30 to share your ideas and find out more about the project.  

Creating Spaces will also be there to chat to you about how we could work together to create an art installation at the park as well.

As well as reviewing service provider organisations, they are also reviewing infrastructure for the VCS. Infrastructure organisations are organisations that provide support and representation at a strategic level for VCS. NDVA is an infrastructure organisation for its members in the health and social care VCS in this area, and CVS and Volunteer Centres also provide support.

NDVA would be grateful if you could spare a few minutes to complete a short survey.  The purpose of this survey is for NDVA to find out from its members; 

a) what are your concerns for your own groups and organisations for the future? 

b) what you would like to see from NDVA.

www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VCSreviewsurvey 

What is the purpose of life if it isn't to thrive and survive? Living well and being healthy will help us to do that. This means practising Self Care for Life which most of us already do on a daily basis. Choosing to brush our teeth, to eat healthily, to self-treat common ailments and to be active are all positive self-care actions.

Dr Amir Hannan, a Hyde GP and the CCG’s lead for long-term conditions, said:

"We can also do more to stave off conditions that can be prevented such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and COPD (chronic pulmonary obstructive disease) which are on the increase.

"Here are some simple steps to Self Care for Life and help to prevent avoidable conditions:

• "Move more! You don’t even have to join a gym, just walk the dog, leave the car at home, ignore the bus, take the stairs, dance around the kitchen table, go for a walk!

• "Stop smoking! One of the best things you can do for your health is to stop smoking. Ask your local pharmacist about stop smoking services.

• "Sleep. A good night’s sleep is essential to good physical and mental health so don’t burn the candle at both ends, make sure you get at least seven seven hours sleep a night!

• "Eat well. It is vitally important that we get the nutrients we need and avoid excessive amounts of salt, fat and sugar. Information is available from the NHS Choices website or ask your pharmacist for advice on managing your weight.

• "Relax. We have such busy lives that we sometimes forget to take time out to relax, but it is essential for our physical and mental wellbeing. Find time in the day to be still and quieten your mind, holistic exercise such as yoga can also be helpful.

"You can also help take control of your health by using online services that your GP practice may have available such as making your appointments online or getting access your own medical records.”

During Self Care Week, and always, make time to think about the positive steps you can take to Self Care for Life. Thrive to survive.