News & Developments

Hayfield Sustainable Transport Ltd (a Community Benefit Society) runs a community minibus which is used by local schools and community groups on a self-drive basis.

They are planning to launch a community share issue in February to fund the purchase of a second minibus so that more schools and groups can make use of the minibus facilities.

They would like as many people as possible to take part in their online survey about the scheme at www.surveymonkey.com/s/8ZH7X6W .

The proposed Derby and Derbyshire Combined Authority will include Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council, and the District Councils of Derbyshire.

The D2 Joint Committee is clear that developing a combined authority is not about the merger or take-over of councils, neither is it about instigating local government reform to create unitary authorities nor giving up powers to a single body at the expense of local decision-making. It is about genuine partnership, working within a legal framework that provides a range of benefits which otherwise would not be available. 

A Combined Authority offers new opportunities for region wide development, more cohesive planning and cooperation with neighbouring combined authorities in Sheffield and Manchester.

There are five ambitions in the proposed scheme:

• Supporting our People: Skills – creating a 21st Century Guildhall to improve training and links with employment
• Shaping our Place: Routes to Work – delivering improvements to public transport networks and transport infrastructure 
• Shaping our Place: Homes – more affordable homes in the right place to meet local needs and create sustainable communities
• Supporting our Business: securing more and better paid jobs for local people
• Financing the Future: Enabling improvement - innovation and creativity in securing increased investment and flexibility to support growth

All of the information about the proposal is on the Derbyshire County Council website - www.derbyshire.gov.uk/CA

You can consider the information and participate in the online survey. You are also invited to send other considerations to: Joe Battye, Director Economy and Regeneration, Derbyshire County Council, County Hall, Matlock, DE4 3AG; Email: Joe.Battye@derbyshire.gov.uk ; Tel: 01629 536574.

Each winter the mix of freezing temperatures and icy roads leads to dramatic increase in 999 calls for East Midlands Ambulance Service. 

East Midlands Ambulance Service have produced a "at a glance guide" as to how they respond to 999 calls, which can be viewed here.  Below are some tips to help you stay safe and well this winter. 

• Protect yourself, your family and your friends by having the flu jab #flufighterface 

• Plan ahead – get your repeat prescriptions sorted before the holidays 

• Take your regular medication with you if you visit family or friends 

• Keep warm to prevent colds, flu & serious conditions such as heart attack, stroke or depression. Remember to look out for older neighbours or relatives to make sure they are safe and well 

• Access free medical advice via NHS telephone 111, pharmacy, out-of-hours GP service, or by visiting an urgent care or walk-in centre for minor illness or injury 

You can get more health tips from NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk and to keep up to date with EMAS news, follow on Twitter @EMASengagement or visit www.emas.nhs.uk/about-us/emas-news . 

If you came to either of the previous two fairs you'll know what a fantastic day was had, with masses of stalls, music and entertainment. 

There was a climbing wall, an artificial cave, donkey rides and more behind the town hall; canoes, kids bikes, alpacas and a guide camp on The Slopes; a health and therapy area around St Anne's Well in the Crescent; bands on the roof of the Pump House, and more bands, dancing and street theatre on the Market Place, on Bath Road and on Hardwick Street; school sports and circus juggling on the bowling green. 

Whether you are a trader, club, charity, or entertainer, you won't want to miss the busiest day in the Buxton year.  Prices will be kept as affordable as possible - for the previous fairs we asked £5 - £10 for charities and not-for-profit societies, £10 for sole traders, and a minimum of £20 for businesses with employees. 

Full details and application forms will be available at the end of January, but please do put the date in your diary. 

If the answer is yes then please get in touch as soon as possible, as Santa is drawing ever closer.  SDCVS have a variety of donated (new) gifts for children and teenagers as well as some presents for the parents.

To make a referral, please contact Eileen Banton, Project Manager - Tel: 01283 550163 or email: eileenb@sdcvs.org.uk 

You will need to provide details of the age and gender of the family members and someone to collect the gifts from the CVS offices, 46-48 Grove Street, Swadlincote DE11 9DD, when they have been put together.

Young people, youth workers and invited special guests celebrated "YouthInc" - a brand designed by and for young people to badge up all Derbyshire County Council  youth services.

A YouthInc website, launched in February this year, continually offers young people vital information about:

• Something to do 
• Something to learn 
• Somewhere to go 
• Someone to talk to 
• Something to say

YouthInc's branding was designed by Adrianne Nussey and Chloe Frew after they beat 27 other entrants in a countywide competition for 11 to 18-year-olds. 

The one-day alcohol awareness and brief interventions course covers:

• Facts about alcohol; myths, units and safe limits
• Short and long term information about the physical effects of alcohol
• Definitions; such as binge drinking, high risk drink and dependency
• Brief interventions such as the cycle of change, drink diaries, decisional balance sheets and working towards change
• Services available and how to refer

Dates available:

• 20th January
• 17th February
• 10th March

Registration at 9:15am for a 9:30am start – 4:00pm finish

Visit  www.daas.uk.com to book your place and for further information

Deaf and Hearing Support second drop in session will be held at the Anglers Rest, Bamford on Friday 12 December 10:30 am. They hope to make these sessions a regular monthly fixture, where everyone is welcome.

BREAK the SILENCE groups are for you, your partner, family members and friends: 

• If you are on your own at home
• If you have a hearing loss and are struggling with communication
• If you just fancy a friendly chat

Come and join them for coffee or tea and meet new friends. Beat Isolation which can happen when you acquire a hearing loss or live with deafness or hearing impairment. 

• Do you find it difficult to explain to friends and family why you are unable to follow or join in conversations?
• Do you miss the phone or doorbell? 
• Are you unable to follow the plot of TV shows and have to keep asking what has been said?

They will be setting up groups so that people can be in the company of others who understand and can share strategies to support themselves and family members. You can learn how to use assistive technology to support your hearing aids or just to have a friendly chat over a cuppa. 

If you know of a community café who would also make us welcome please get in touch with our helpful and friendly staff and volunteers at

Deaf and Hearing Support 
Phone 01246 555 934
Minicom Textphone: 01246 555933
Mobile for text: 07442536409

Download the Small Grant application form and guidelines.

If you are applying for the first time you will also need to complete the membership and database forms below.

Download the NDVA membership form.

Open the NDVA database form.