News & Developments

While the pandemic is still ongoing, Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council and their Leaders, the High Sheriff and the Lord-Lieutenant feel it is important now to recognise that many across the county have committed themselves to response and relief efforts since the beginning of the outbreak.

The award will seek to highlight those in every sector and community of the county that have played a key role.

Nominations are open to the public, and we want to hear your stories. If you feel you know of a group or an individual that has gone above and beyond to help others during the pandemic, then we'd like to know about it. You can send in their details and a short explanation using the Derbyshire Beacon of Hope nomination form as to why you believe they are deserving of an award and we will be in touch.

This award is a great opportunity for all residents of Derbyshire to show their appreciation and reflect on the hard work done by others. When the situation allows, we will be paying visits to winners to present them with their awards and to take a moment to speak to them about what they have been doing during the crisis and the impact it has had.

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news-events/beacon-of-hope-awards/derbyshire-beacon-of-hope-awards.aspx

Covid-19 has left many Derbyshire residents with complicated money worries, and debts are set to rise when Government Covid support packages for businesses and individuals end. Financial Action and Advice Derbyshire warns of the dangers of ignoring financial problems. 

2020 was a difficult year for many people, and it left many households worried about finances and making ends meet. Many Derbyshire residents have faced a loss of income, financial instability and increasing debts. Redundancy, benefit issues, furlough and low-paid work left many people struggling to afford food, rent or mortgage payments and to pay for energy costs and other bills. 

Financial problems can affect our physical and mental health, lead to family breakdown and even homelessness. Therefore, no matter how small or large money worries or debt may be, it is much better to seek advice and support sooner rather than later. Talking through money concerns can be awkward and uncomfortable, but it is the vital first step to getting back on track.

Financial Action and Advice Derbyshire (FAAD) is a partnership of public, private and voluntary organisations that support financial inclusion and capability work across the county.  Headed by Rural Action Derbyshire, FAAD provides information on where to get free, impartial advice and support with money worries. 

One of FAADs key partners, Derbyshire Districts Citizen’s Advice, specialise in delivering free, confidential impartial advice and support on a variety of issues including debt, access to benefits, housing problems and issues and queries relating to employment. 

For more information about financial advice and support services in Derbyshire, visit 'Financial Action and Advice Derbyshire' at www.ruralactionderbyshire.org.uk

Citizens Advice are open and ready to take calls on any issues. Don’t be embarrassed and don’t delay, it is essential to get the best possible advice on how to manage money problems.  High Peak Districts – 0808 2787 954​

The money did not match what was hoped for, but following a workshop organized by High Peak CVS a successful application has been made to the Vulnerability Fund set up by Police and Crime Commission. 

Last week Sue was able to thank Hardyal Dhindsa personally when he visited New Mills. She explained that the money would hep to employ an Outreach Youth Worker linked to the Digging for Dignity project.

If you want to engage in some gentle physical activity outdoors,  develop your family’s gardening skills or simply engage in friendly chat,  come and meet the team.

First gardening day Saturday 10 April 11am to 1pm, or if wet same time Saturday 17  April

There is plenty of space to work within Corvid guidelines – but please understand if they need to limit numbers. Due to Covid restrictions they will not be able to access toilet facilities or provide drinks and refreshments.

To find out more about Incredible Edible New Mills

Join the Facebook group  IncredibleEdibleNM 

Website   ienewmills.wordpress.com

Or email   incredible.edible.newmills@gmail.com to share your ideas or find out more

Outreach Youth Worker Vacancy

Anyone feeling unwell over the Easter bank holidays can still access a variety of healthcare services when their GP practice is closed.

The Primary Care Access Service (PCAS) offers appointment times outside traditional GP practice hours. Patients can pre-book – via their GP practice - routine evening or weekend appointments with a healthcare professional at one of five neighbourhood hubs. Also, when GP practices are closed, patients who require urgent but not life-threatening assistance may also be offered an appointment at one of the five neighbourhood hubs via NHS 111.

A list of Tameside and Glossop pharmacy opening times have been published for the bank holidays - Friday 2 April (Good Friday), Sunday 4 April (Easter Sunday) and Monday 5 April (Easter Monday).

Pharmacies are the first place to go for a minor health concern and will also be open on Saturday 3 April (Easter Saturday) as this is a normal working day. Check the NHS website for more details: www.nhs.uk

As qualified professionals, pharmacists are experts in medicines and can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for a range of minor illnesses, such as cough, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.  People can speak to a pharmacist in confidence, in a private area, about the most personal symptoms, and should telephone their usual pharmacy before travelling as opening times may vary over the bank holidays.

Some pharmacies are providing a delivery service for residents who have no support.  People are encouraged to reduce the demand and pressure on this service if they are feeling unwell and self-isolating by asking friends, relatives or neighbours to collect their medicines in the first instance.

Anyone with a health condition that cannot be treated by a pharmacist should call NHS 111 or go online 111.nhs.uk  - available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

By Contacting NHS 111 before going to an Emergency Department (ED) or Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), it will:

• Ensure you GET THE RIGHT HELP in the right place
• Help keep you, your family and friends SAFE by avoiding too many people being in the waiting room
• Help you be seen in an agreed time slot

Prior to the bank holidays, patients who need to contact their GP practice should visit the practice website to complete a confidential online consultation form for non-urgent health needs, to receive a response before the end of the next working day, or call to discuss a face-to-face or virtual (telephone or video) appointment. 

Anyone with coronavirus symptoms, no matter how mild, is advised not to visit their GP practice, pharmacy or hospital.  It is important that they self-isolate for at least 10 days from when their symptoms started and get a test immediately, so that it’s within 5 days of being symptomatic. To book a test or order a home testing kit go online www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or telephone 119. 

Dr Asad Ali, Co-Chair at NHS Tameside and Glossop Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "When GP practices are closed, patients who have had a clinical assessment via 111 and are deemed to require urgent but not life-threatening assistance may be offered an appointment at one of the neighbourhood hubs.”

For a full list of pharmacy opening times, the pharmacy delivery service, primary care services plus access to other healthcare services including emergency support, visit: www.tamesideandglossopccg.org/accessingcare

Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust is reflecting on an unprecedented year, as this week sees the first anniversary of the UK’s initial Covid-19 lockdown.  

During the past 12 months, the hospice’s fundraising events have been cancelled, and four much-loved shops in Buxton, Chapel-en-le-Frith, New Mills and Whaley Bridge have been closed for the majority of the time. 

This has reflected hugely in the charity’s capacity to raise vital funds for local care. The hospice is more than £190,000 under the budget it would have expected to receive had, its four shops been open as normal between April 2020 and now - that’s over 55% down on expected income. 

Despite this, staff and volunteers have never stopped being there for the local community. The Hospice at Home service has enabled over 190 local patients to stay safe at home, when they might otherwise have been admitted to hospital, where no visitors have been allowed. Helping to alleviate pressure on NHS services, hospice healthcare assistants have provided over 17,000 hours of care since March 2020, to patients across 19 local towns and villages. 

Blythe House’s Community Hub has continued to provide specialist palliative care and support to patients and carers. As well as dealing with patient’s understandable concerns about the pandemic, the team has answered difficult questions around changes or cancellations to treatmentplans, for people who are living with, or dying from, life-limiting illnesses such as cancer.

Alongside clinical staff, the hospice’s team of 42 community volunteers has been available seven-days-a-week to support over 200 patients and local people who’re elderly, vulnerable or isolated, with tasks including shopping, medication deliveries, pet walking and socially-distanced garden visits. Volunteers have donated over 2,500 hours of their time to provide more than 3,400 companion phone calls and 1,140 Covid-safe visits.  

Hospice counsellors have continued to provide Covid-secure meetings for adults, and play therapy for children, who’re experiencing bereavement throughout the pandemic. 

Local people can support palliative and end of life care in their community by setting up a regular monthly donation of just £5. Over the course of a year, this money would help to fund compassionate healthcare assistants to provide the highest quality end of life care to a local patient in the comfort of their own home – that equals just 16 pence per day! 

To find out more about setting up a direct debit to support Blythe House and Helen’s Trust, visit: blythehousehospice.org.uk/donate/

A video is being launched to commemorate the lockdown anniversary, highlighting hospice services during the past year -  youtu.be/LJM2sim76pA

As  we  reach  the  one  year  milestone of  the  Covid -19  response in Derbyshire it is  important that  we reflect on all aspects of the response so far, including the successes in addition to the challenges and personal  tragedies that it has  brought. 

Since the earliest days of  the pandemic I have been aware of the work done by people who have offered their time and skills on a voluntary basis to support  neighbours, vulnerable people and our health and care  services.  Without this  willingness at the heart of the system  the pandemic response in Derbyshire, we  would not have reached so many  people, or achieved the level of success that  it has.

I am writing this letter to all volunteers and community responders; to those who came forward as part of a spontaneous outpouring of community goodwill, those who have responded to the call-out for support from health and care services and those  coming forward through local voluntary sector organisations.   

I would like to acknowledge your achievements and to offer a personal thank you for the support you have given to health and care services in the Derbyshire system during a year that has seen our greatest challenges since the NHS was founded.   

Looking back on these times, our residents will remember the volunteers and responders who brought food and prescriptions to their doorstep when they had no way to collect these themselves; the volunteers who put them at ease when they  came nervously into a vaccination centre; those who helped them at the food bank and those who gave a few minutes of their time to give them a call and make sure  they were  OK.

The work that you have done has been of great value I am sure to the people of Derbyshire and that this continues without wavering a whole year in, is down to your  dedication and determination. 

Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do. 

Yours  faithfully, Dr Chris Clayton (MA MB BChir DRCOG PGCGPE MRCGP)
Executive Lead 

Mental health support has never been as important. This health and wellbeing gardening project is for adults of 17 and over of all abilities, no experience needed; tools and refreshments provided.

If you are feeling lonely, anxious or depressed, then come along and join the friendly support group. They offer a safe space where you can be listened to, understood and accepted. Make new friends and enjoy working in the peaceful atmosphere of a garden.

For more information call Single Derbyshire Recovery and Point of Access number 01773 734 989 or email DerbyshireRecoveryPeerSupportService@rethink.org

The Women Thrive Fund

rosauk.org

Delivered by Rosa and Smallwood Trust, the Women Thrive Fund is distributing grants of up to £40,000 to specialist women’s organisations across the UK. Organisations should be working to enable women and girls to improve their mental health and wellbeing and/or improve their financial resilience. The fund responds directly to what women’s and girls’ organisations have reported throughout the pandemic: that declining mental health, increased risk of emotional trauma and increased poverty levels are their biggest concerns for women and girls across the UK.

Organisations can apply for:

• Grants of up to £15,000 with a turnover of £200,000 inclusive
• Grants of up to £40,000 with a turnover of £200,001 – £999,999.

They can also apply for an additional 25% of their grant request for work which will strengthen their organisation. Funding is available to spend until December 2022.

Deadline  5:00pm on Thursday 25 March.

Funding Workshop – Severn Trent Community Fund

High Peak CVS is very pleased to be hosting another funding workshop on Zoom on 30th March at 1.30pm.    This time our keynote speaker will be Sue Heyes from the Severn Trent Community Fund which is giving away more than £10M over five years. The fund has three themes; People, Places and the Environment. 

There are also three levels of grants available £2K - £10K, £10K – 75K and £75K - £200K. Please note this fund is not available across the whole of High Peak, only organisations active in the Severn Trent Water region are eligible to apply. 

www.stwater.co.uk/about-us/severn-trent-community-fund/check-your-projects-eligibility/

We are delighted that Sue Heyes the Community Fund Officer for Severn Trent will be joining us to explain more about the fund and answer your questions. So please join us to find out how your organisation can apply. 

Book your space here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/139937196923

Easyfundraising

As part of our aim to provide funding support to voluntary groups and charities in these difficult times, we are now working in collaboration with fundraising website easyfundraising to help your organisation generate additional income.

It’s a very simple idea – register your organisation as a good cause with easyfundraising and you will be able to collect free donations when anyone connected to the organisation shops online with 4300 well known retailers including Amazon, eBay, Argos, John Lewis, Trainline, Booking.com, Currys, Aviva and Waitrose and Direct Line

It’s free to register and use. With many more people shopping online these days and traditional face to face fundraising methods on hold, this is an easy way for your volunteers and supporters to raise money for your organisation safely from home through their normal online shopping.

easyfundraising has enabled good causes to raise £34m to date, including £4m in 2020 alone. Your organisation does not need to be a registered charity to use easyfundraising and it is open to voluntary organisations of all shape and size.

The benefits:

• Free to register and use
• Regular, on-going revenue stream for your organisation
• Easy to set up and requires minimal management

Getting started

All you need to do is create an easyfundraising page for your organisation. It’s free and quick to set up and requires very little ongoing management. You can set up your page her

If you have questions and would like to speak to someone before signing up, please contact becky@easyfundraising.org.uk who will be happy to help you.

Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioners Vulnerability Fund

Small Grants 

www.derbyshire-pcc.gov.uk

The above fund has extended its deadline to 1 September 2021, giving more local groups an opportunity to apply. 

The Commissioner is looking to support projects which:

• Help individuals to live safely and without fear of crime in their homes;
• Empower the local community to tackle problems in their neighbourhood areas;
• Are organised by (and involving) community/neighbourhood groups;
• Can demonstrate that they can make a difference to local communities;
• Take a new and sustainable approach to tackling long term problems;
• Foster good relations between partner agencies and communities and do not work in isolation.

The fund:

• is Derbyshire-wide including the City
• can be used for meeting capital or revenue costs 
• is available to the Voluntary and community sectors, charities and non-profit making associations on behalf of the individuals and communities they work with.  

The Fund is currently taking applications for small grants of up to £1000 - these are being distributed through the CVS organisations in each locality so High Peak based groups wishing to apply for under £1K should contact Donna@highpeakcvs.org.uk. 

Deadline 1 Sep 2021

CVS Vulnerability Fund Application Form

The National Lottery Heritage Fund 

www.heritagefund.org.uk/news/search-2021-sustainable-project-year

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is sponsoring a sustainability award for the second year at the 2021 Museums + Heritage Awards.

 At a time of ecological emergency, the heritage sector can play its part in reducing carbon emissions and tackling climate change. The Sustainable Project of the Year award showcases the heritage organisations who are leading the way in sustainable practices.  NLHF are seeking the most outstanding environmentally sustainable project or exhibition which can demonstrate best practice in its approach to managing environmental impacts during 2020. 

This year NLHF are looking for examples of:

• energy efficiency measures
• recycling and reuse
• sustainable procurement
• green visitor travel, planning and encouragement

Entries should also identify any wider economic, social or environmental benefits to the organisation or community which have arisen from ‘thinking sustainably’, particularly during the pandemic. The award is free to enter.

Deadline 31 March 2021.

The Climate Action Fund (CAF) 

CAF is supporting communities across the UK to take action on climate change. These communities will demonstrate what’s possible when people lead in this work. With National Lottery funding, they’ll work together, share their learning and be active participants in a broader movement of change.

CAF is part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Environment Strategy. Since April 2013, the Fund has awarded more than £450 million, through over 7,500 grants, to projects that focus on improving the environment to enhance communities and people’s lives.

In 2020, CAF awarded funding to 23 projects across the UK as part of the first round of the CAF programme, supporting communities to respond to the climate emergency.

This second round will focus on supporting medium-scale to large-scale projects addressing waste and consumption.  The focus remains on place-based, community-led partnerships that will make the changes in their community they believe will have the biggest impact on climate change.

At this initial application stage, CAF is  interested in hearing about your project, the long-term vision and aims, and how your community has been involved in shaping and deciding what you’ll do. This application should come from one lead partner, which should be one of the eligible types of organisation listed in ‘Who can and cannot apply’.

There are two types of funding in this round - development funding and full awards. The maximum grant size for development funding is £150,000. For full awards, the maximum available is £1.5 million. The total available in the second round is around £8 million to 10 million.  It is expected there will be 12 to 15 awards in total in this round, and to award more development grants than full awards.

Deadline 5pm on 8 April 2021 for your initial idea. If you get to the next stage, it is expected the rest of the application process will take six to eight months.

Peoples Post Code Lottery Magic Little Grants 

The aim of the Magic Little Grants Fund is to support organisations with an annual  turnover below £250K  meeting one of the themes below. Organisations also receive access to the Localgiving online fundraising platform and benefit from online fundraising training and support.   

1.  Improving mental wellbeing

2.  Enabling community participation in the arts

3.  Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty

4.  Supporting marginalised groups and promoting equality

5.  Improving biodiversity and green spaces

6.  Enabling participation in physical activity

7.  Responding to the climate emergency and promoting sustainability 

8.  Increasing community access to outdoor space

9.  The application process should only take 15 minutes to complete and are reviewed on a rolling basis every month. You should receive a decision on your application and the funding within two months.

The application process should only take 15 minutes to complete and are reviewed on a rolling basis every month. You should receive a decision on your application and the funding within two months.

Groups who meet any of the following criteria are NOT eligible for the grant:

Organisations that have previously been funded by a Magic Little Grant, or any other trust funded by players of People's Postcode Lottery that have not yet finished the project/activity / completed their evaluation form.

Once you have completed your registration with Localgiving, you will be directed to the grant application form.  If you are successful with your funding request, you will also benefit from a free annual membership with Localgiving, funded by the People's Postcode Lottery.

Deadline 31 October 2021.

Thomas Wall Trust Grant 

www.thomaswalltrust.org.uk

The Thomas Wall Trust charities grant programme aims to support people with an emphasis on building confidence, knowledge and skills, and therefore increasing prospects of employment.

They offer grants up to £5,000 towards specific projects or core activities that support literacy, numeracy, digital and additional skills for learning that are likely to assist employment prospects. The Trust recognises that the future of the labour market will become increasingly competitive, with employers placing greater emphasis on transferable skills.  To be eligible UK charities have to have been registered with the Charity Commission for at least 3 years and have a turnover under £500K.  They will fund;

• A project or running costs for a charity that equips people (aged 11 and over) with the skills ready for employment
• Annual repeat funding for up to 3 years – subject to satisfactory annual reviews of progress and impact

Deadline for Expressions of Interest 30 April 2021. 

www.derbyshire-pcc.gov.uk

The Commissioner is looking to support projects which:

• Help individuals to live safely and without fear of crime in their homes;
• Empower the local community to tackle problems in their neighbourhood areas;
• Are organised by (and involving) community/neighbourhood groups;
• Can demonstrate that they can make a difference to local communities;
• Take a new and sustainable approach to tackling long term problems;
• Foster good relations between partner agencies and communities and do not work in isolation.

The fund:

• is Derbyshire-wide including the City
• can be used for meeting capital or revenue costs 
• is available to the Voluntary and community sectors, charities and non-profit making associations on behalf of the individuals and communities they work with.  

The Fund is currently taking applications for small grants of up to £1000 - these are being distributed through the CVS organisations in each locality so High Peak based groups wishing to apply for under £1K should contact Donna@highpeakcvs.org.uk. 

Deadline 1 Sep 2021

CVS Vulnerability Fund Application Form

Funding is always challenging and with the impact of COVID-19 hitting everyone hard, High Peak CVS wants to understand more about the challenges you are facing and how we can help you through the pandemic and beyond. As an infrastructure organisation, we work with many partners in administering and promoting funding opportunities and we want to ensure we are able to offer the support you need rather than what we think is required.

This survey will give us an opportunity to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 and what we can do in the coming months to ensure all our invaluable groups and organisations have the support network in place to re-engage with your service users and continue the incredible work you do.

We are asking ALL voluntary and community groups across the High Peak to answer the questions as fully as possible so that we can get a real understanding of what is going on across our invaluable sector. The data received in this survey will be used to influence and encourage the way we work to support YOUR needs and help us influence other funders to meet the needs of our community.

Deadline for responses: 31 March 2021

Survey: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/KZ9N8JN