As well as holding down the role of BMC CEO since 2002, Dave has climbed in 20 or so countries and is perhaps best known for his exploratory new routes in Scotland and South West England.  His recent trip to the Fitzroy / Cerro Torre massif in January this year coincided with one of the best spells of good weather Patagonia has seen in a decade - and he has the photos to prove it.

Surgeries are under greater pressure than ever as they battle to meet the growing demands of an ageing population with complex health needs against a backdrop of funding that is not keeping pace with inflation.

Now, NHS North Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is drawing plans for a major shakeup that could see practices joining forces to help each other and could even result in some surgeries closing.

Patients will be able to make themselves heard on big changes in the pipeline by attending two public meetings organised by the CCG, which plans and buys healthcare for nearly 290,000 people.

Patients attending the meetings will be asked for their views on:

• Practices merging, or working together to offer appointments 
• Using technology to make it easier to get an appointment 
• Offering home visits at different times of the day. 

The CCG will also seek feedback on arranging appointments differently for patients needing a one-off consultation than for people with a long-term condition.

The first meeting will take place on Monday 25 November at Chesterfield FC’s Proact Stadium from 5pm to 7pm and will be followed on Monday 2 December by a session in The Octagon at Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens from 2pm to 4pm.

Opinions expressed at the events will be used by the CCG to shape a bid for money announced by the Government to make primary healthcare more efficient and accessible.

To book a place at either event, email linda.jameson@northderbyshireccg.nhs.uk or call her on 01246 514382. 

Alternatively, you can write to her at North Derbyshire CCG, FREEPOST SF1298, Scarsdale, Nightingale Close, Newbold Road, Chesterfield S41 7PF.

Following consultation with DDCVS members earlier this year it is clear there is a need to provide assistance to organisations looking to attract and train new trustees. The session will encompass, rights, responsibilities and offer interesting, practical, day to day and cost saving hints and tips to allow you to recruit the best people into your organisation. All content is delivered in a simple no-nonsense format and handouts will be provided.

Recruiting Trustees, is the first in a series of courses highlighting the importance of getting HR issues right in local charities, voluntary organisations and community groups. For more information or to book your place please call us on 01629 812154 or email david@ddcvs.org.uk / enquiries@ddcvs.org.uk.

Training will be delivered by Nicki Williams MCIPD of Tall Poppies, a local HR consultancy based in Derbyshire Dales and will be held at the DDCVS Office, Bakewell on the morning of Thursday 28th November.

Cost for attendance: £25 to members of DDCVS. £50 to non-members.

Sportivate is a £56 million Lottery funded London 2012 legacy project that gives more young people the chance to discover a sport that they love.

Funding is available for activities that are six to eight weeks in length where the target is to get participants to attend (be retained) five out of six, six out of seven or seven out of eight of the sessions. The providers can be sports clubs, schools and local authorities, or community groups.

Applications for projects to be delivered between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015 are now open.

More information about the Sportivate programme can be found at www.derbyshiresport.co.uk/sportivate/

Applications should be sent to EITHER  your National Governing Body contact (sport) or Mark Rushworth at Leisure Services, High Peak Borough Council by November 29, 2013. 

Priority projects:

• demonstrating a clear demand need for the project - this can be from market segmentation, questionnaires, analysis etc 
• focused on 19 yrs+ 
• catering for minority/hard to reach groups – disability, BME, females, over 20s 
• with clear sustainable exit routes 
• targeting non sporty/semi sporty groups
• using NGB participation Products -e.g Back 2 Netball, Ping etc 

For further details or to discuss a potential project, please contact Mark Rushworth, Leisure Contract & Sports Development Officer, Leisure Services, High Peak Borough Council / Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, Tel: 0845 1297777, Mobile: 07836 693815, email: mark.rushworth@highpeak.gov.uk / mark.rushworth@staffsmoorlands.gov.uk

The Telephone Befriending Service is aimed at lonely and socially isolated people. The aim is to make people’s lives better by calling those who feel in need of support. By receiving support through telephone calls from a volunteer befriender, we aim to help the socially isolated person to feel less lonely. We offer friendship to the people we call and peace of mind to their family and friends.  If you are interested in this service please call Adele on 01663 744011.

The Computer Training Service gives free training to those people who have never used a computer or tablet before or have a little knowledge and want to expand it. The training is provided by local volunteers who freely give of their time and knowledge.

Computers are a marvellous source of information, a good way to keep in touch with friends and family and can save you money! We have, for example, one client who saved nearly £200 on her energy bills by learning how to use a price comparison website! Please contact Ed Mountifield on 01663 744196 to find out more.

They were particularly praised for the way they have involved young people in the process and for the way they have gained support within the local community. A framed certificate, trophy and cheque for £100 was presented by High Peak CVS Chair Joy Brown to Hayley and Geoff Sumner on behalf of the group.

This year’s runners up for the Award were GLOSS (Giving Lots of Sensitive Support), a self help support group offering help to people with mental health problems. This year they have secured funds to increase the range and frequency of their social and activity events and were successful in a funding bid to extend their therapeutic gardening and wellbeing allotment area. Joy Brown presented a framed certificate to the Chair of the group Howard Lee.

Thanks to everyone that attended our AGM at Spring Bank Arts in New Mills on Wednesday 23rd October, to everyone that helped and also to the guest speakers, Jonathan Wardle, High Peak Locality Manager for North Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and John Phillips, Community Liaison Officer, University of Derby Buxton.

Its aim was to identify good practice, generate discussion, and draw up key messages on integrated healthcare for people with mental health problems. Download (pdf, 1.86MB) via mhf.unified.co.uk/publications/crossing-boundaries/.

Applications by midnight 17th November, see official news item.

With a focus on England, the Commission will provide long-term and strategic thinking about how the sector can prepare for and adapt to an ageing society in the next 20 years.

Civil Society Media news item  or go direct to voluntarysectorageing.org.

These changes include questions on whether the charity pays trustees, is registered with the Fundraising Standards Board, and whether certain policies are in place, such as conflicts of interest and safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries. The Summary Information Return will be dropped. See Commission news release, or Civil Society Media article www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/16279/.

Latest newsletter from Charity Commission - the autumn edition of its newsletter, issue 44 covers the revised public benefit guidance, fundraising regulations and disposing of charity land. In web or pdf formats.