A recent article, which featured on the Apprentice Eye website, called on charities to recognise the ways in which an apprentice can help them. For example, an apprentice could be responsible for boosting a charity’s social media presence by managing a digital campaign and using a variety of social media platforms.

In addition, an apprentice could help improve and update a charity’s website and using Search Engine Optimisation techniques, learnt as part of their Apprenticeship training, help boost search rankings.

The Apprenticeship Team at the Chamber has helped a number of charities to recruit and train apprentices lately and is eager to hear from other charities looking to explore the Apprenticeship route to recruitment in more detail.

Please get in touch by calling 0844 443 2150 or by emailing apprenticeships@dnlcc.co.uk. 

If your organisation or group promotes health or has a project which promotes the health of your members or the local community, then do consider whether you would be eligible to apply to the Health Development Fund.   The criteria for the fund can be down loaded from  www.ddcvs.org.uk/Health_Fund_Information_2013-2014.doc 

Free courses for carers include: 

Carers Advice and Training for Confidence in Health - These short training sessions cover issues related to caring such as identifying stress and implementing coping mechanisms, and how to grow in confidence within your caring role. Various dates and venues around Derbyshire including Matlock (5 Dec), Chesterfield (16 Jan), Glossop (29 Jan) and Ripley (14 Feb). 

Also specialist sessions in Alzheimers & Domestic Abuse (26 Feb, Belper or 4 March, Ashbourne); End of Life Care (Bakewell 18 March). 

For further information, an informal chat or to reserve a place, please contact: Lyn McNair, Training Co-ordinator. Tel: 01246 222373 or email: lyn.mcnair@derbyshirecarers.co.uk  

The first surgery will take place at High Peak CVS, 105 Buxton Road, Whaley Bridge SK23 7HX on Tuesday 9 December. Surgeries run from 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm and you can drop in to talk to our advisors any time between these times.  

The surgeries are free and offer local community groups the chance to find out about Facebook, Twitter and other free websites and online resources, often collectively called Social Media. The sessions offer groups the opportunity to learn how to use social media to promote their activities, share information and let members and supporters know what’s coming up. A team of willing volunteers, experienced in using social media, are ready and waiting to help people with their queries.

"Surgeries are open to charities, community groups, voluntary organisations and social enterprises across the High Peak and wider area”, says Claire Mitchell, organiser.  "If you are looking for help to make the most of social media, register today and join us for these informal, relaxed, one to one free sessions with no lectures and lots of tea, coffee and biscuits!” 

To register, for more information and a full list of surgery dates go to www.socialmediasurgery.com/surgeries/highpeak or contact Claire: 07527 980 050 or claire@highpeakcvs.org.uk 

Further monthly surgeries are planned from January 2015.

They would like to hear your views on the proposed integration care model for health and social care and to help achieve this, Price Waterhouse Cooper, have set up Care Design Groups to build a better understanding and to develop the way services might look and operate using an integrated care model.

The Care Design Groups will be broken down into 3 work streams:

• Preventative/Pro-active Care and Urgent Care
• Elective Care
• Women and Children

Price Waterhouse Cooper would welcome some patient input at the workshops, with the initial meeting dates being as early as next week:

Elective Care
Mon 1 Dec 5-8pm at New Century House, Denton, Meeting Room 2
Tue 16 Dec 5-8pm at Lecture theatre, Werneth House, THFT

Women & Children’s Care
Tue 2 Dec 5-8pm at Lecture theatre, Werneth House, THFT
Tue 16 Dec 5-8pm at Lecture theatre, Werneth House, THFT

Prevention/Pro-Active Care and Urgent Care
Thur 4 Dec 5-9pm at Lecture theatre, Werneth House, THFT
Wed 17 Dec  5-9pm at Lecture theatre, Werneth House, THFT
THFT - Tameside Hospital Foundation Trust

highpeakcvs.org.uk/documentsfiles/SGP-ViewFromThePeak-35-Winter2014.pdf

Contents:

• VIP winners at the CVS Annual General Meeting
• Glossop Autism Support Group
• Glossop Arts Project
• The BIG S
• G52 women’s community group Gamesley
• High Peak Fibromyalgia
• Farewell to Kathleen Wharton and Alison Salmen
• Big Energy Saving Network
• Significant Supporting non-resident parents.

There is disabled access to the building from the carpark and disabled facilities within the building.  During the Post Office opening hours a small shop and cafe will be available for the convenience of clients and the general public.  

Interested parties will be able to call in on 9 December from 1.30 - 4.30 to meet Tim Boothman the Postmaster and familiarise themselves with the PO service we can now enjoy in the heart of our Community.

Thanks are extended to the Post Office for their negotiations, mainly through Mr Steve White, to bring this service into Furness Vale after the closure of the old Post Office, it will be managed by Chapel en le Frith Postmaster Mr Tim Boothman.  A Consultation document is available at the Community Centre, The Solider Dick and the Crossings to enable public to comment on the provision of the service.

The Community Centre Committee encourage residents of Furness Vale and neighbouring villages to use this facility and see it progress from strength to strength in the heart of the village.  Volunteers interesting in helping with the running of the shop and the cafe are needed and welcomed to get in touch.  Contact Frances Footitt on 01663 747440 or Susanne Lomas on 01663 744764.

Learn about the extensive work carried out across Derbyshire including Wheels to Work, Agricultural Chaplaincy, Suicide Awareness Training, Financial Action and Advice Derbyshire, Community Buildings Management Support, Community Led Planning, Community Oil Buying and much more.

The Political Agenda – hear from members of four Political Parties to understand how their Parties’ policies will impact rural Derbyshire:
Andrew Bingham MP – Conservative Party
Cllr Caitlin Bisknell – Labour Party
Charlotte Farrell – Derbyshire Green Party
Cllr Stephen Worrall – High Peak Liberal Democrats

There will be the chance to question the speakers, hear from RAD Chair about work in 2013-14 and understand plans for the future from the Chief Executive Officer, Sylvia Green. Everyone welcome!

Friday 12 Dec 2.30pm (registration from 2.00pm) at United Reformed Church, Hardwick Square East, Buxton (parking is not available at the venue, please use public parking). RSVP: 01629 592970 / 0845 3138800

www.ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk/agm.html

Healthwatch Derbyshire would like to meet with representatives from the Voluntary and Community Sector to discuss how to work together to improve Health and Social Care services for the patients and the public in Derbyshire.  

They would like to explore working in a mutually beneficial way using the strengths of individual organisations to ensure that the voice of the public is heard. They particularly want to hear from small community organisations.

Wed 21 Jan 2015 - 10am - 2pm, including lunch, at Agricultural Business Centre, Bakewell.

Wed 28 Jan 2015 – 10am - 2pm, including lunch, at Erewash Volunteer Centre, Granville Ave, Long Eaton.

To book a place email: tammi@healthwatchderbyshire.co.uk or telephone 01773 880786.  Places are limited.

High Peak CVS is running a Big Energy Saving programme to help people cut their energy bills, offering informal workshops and one-to-one support sessions for people on low incomes or who are struggling with their fuel bills. 

These sessions will help people to 

• Find ways to use less energy
• Cut costs further by finding a cheaper deal - by choosing a cheaper tariff with their existing supplier or switching to a different supplier
• Claim an energy-related benefit if they are eligible

Fuel poverty is running at higher than the national average in the High Peak. 

A household that has never switched energy provider before can usually expect to save £150-200 a year by switching. Last Winter we found several households in the High Peak that could save £500 or more.

Also energy-related benefits are going unclaimed – people simply don’t know about them, or that they might be eligible.

As well as the informal workshops and 1-1 support sessions, High Peak CVS is offering training for staff and volunteers in organisations and agencies which support those on low incomes who may be at risk of fuel poverty.

If you would like to book a Big Energy Saving session for your group, staff team or volunteers, or arrange a session at your community centre, village hall, school or church, please contact Esther Jones at High Peak CVS on 01663 736 429 or by email via esther@highpeakcvs.org.uk.