News & Developments

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. 

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The Social Media Surgeries will help local charities and community groups to make the most of current social media to raise awareness of local issues, promote their work and activities, fund-raise and keep in touch with their members.

The Surgeries will be held in a relaxed informal setting. As a volunteer, or 'surgeon' as they are known elsewhere, your role will be to offer help to voluntary organisations, community groups, charities, clubs and societies to gain skills. 

Groups you will be helping might just want to see what is possible and go away and think about it; they might be itching to set up a blog and start using it; they may want help with online campaigning and awareness raising, or perhaps they think video might help them tell their story but don't know where to start.  You won’t be delivering any lectures, just sharing knowledge and ideas, and helping community groups make best use of the internet and social media for their group or organisation. You won’t be the only surgeon at a session either so you don’t need to be experienced in using every tool – it will be a team effort!

Claire Mitchell, organiser of the High Peak Social Media Surgeries, said, "Social Media Surgeries are not a new idea. They already work really well in Manchester, Leeds and elsewhere, but we’re keen to offer them close to home in the High Peak. If you can offer approachable one-to-one help and support on social media and internet resources, and would like to help local community organisations in the High Peak, we would like to hear from you!”

High Peak CVS is inviting anyone interested to come and find out more at a meeting on Monday 24 November, 6pm at the High Peak CVS offices, 105 Buxton Road Whaley Bridge. This meeting will give you a chance to find out exactly how the surgeries are run, and the opportunity to talk to an existing surgeon and the surgery organisers who can help you decide whether being a surgeon is right for you.

For further information prior to the meeting please contact Claire Mitchell at High Peak CVS via claire@highpeakcvs.org.uk or call 07527 980 050

For more information about the new Social Media Surgeries or High Peak CVS in general, please contact Esther Jones on 01663 736 429 or 07766 753 779 or email esther@highpeakcvs.org.uk 

£100,000 has been set for the Capability and Capacity Building for Victims’ grant which is to be invested in services that provide specialised help to victims who fall within one of three categories. These are victims of the most serious crime, persistently targeted victims and vulnerable and intimidated victims.

Experienced voluntary or local authority organisations are being invited to apply for a maximum of £50,000 from the fund, which will cover a 12-month period. 

The Commissioner anticipates that the grant will provide an organisation with an opportunity to run a pilot project to trial new approaches for supporting victims of crime.

Both an electronic copy and a  hard copy of your application form.need to be completed. The electronic copy needs to be sent to cpgrants@derbyshire.pnn.police.uk  and the signed hard copy needs to be sent to: Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner for Derbyshire, Constabulary HQ, Ripley, Derbyshire DE5 3RS.  The closing date for applications is 1 December 2014.

> Further information.

This annual event gives you the opportunity to discuss your funding requirements with one of the Foundation’s grants team, in an informal half-hour one-to-one session that is tailored to meet your needs.

These sessions can cover discussion of projects and which of the funds administered by the Foundation is suited to your project, help with developing applications you are currently working on, and hints and tips for applying for funding in general. 

There are ten half-hour slots available throughout the day, there are five sessions between 10am and noon followed by a further five sessions between 1pm and 3pm. 

To book an appointment please contact Misbah Ramzan on 01773 514850 as soon as possible as places are limited.

The Peoples Health Trust are seeking projects that bring small communities together to share, learn, or play – projects that bring communities closer together and by doing so improve our quality of life and well-being. 

If you are a local community group with an annual income of under £350,000 and would like between £5,000 and £50,000 for a two year project (existing or new) then you will be welcome to attend one of our Funding surgeries taking place Mid November. You will also need to be based in certain eligible wards as the programme is geographically specific. The wards selected are areas of high disadvantage and so are limited across the City and County.

We will also be providing a unique and useful service of checking through any Derbyshire Active Communities applications, before the submission date of 10 December to ensure you have the best possible chance of acquiring a grant. 

Call the Foundation on 01773 514850 to see if you are in an eligible ward and to book a 20 minute funding appointment or if you cannot make the date arrange a telephone appointment.

Please note these are appointment only sessions, FD will not be able to see groups on a drop in basis.

Mon 17 Nov - Community Action Derby: 1.30pm – 5.00pm 

Tue 18 Nov - Bakewell:  10.30am – 4.00pm

Fri 21 Nov - Foundation House, Ripley: 10.00am – 4.00pm

Mon 24 Nov - Foundation House, Ripley: 10.00am – 4.00pm

And at the High Peak Funding Surgery in Whaley Bridge on Mon 1 Dec

The deadline for deliverers to submit applications to either their NGB's or High Peak Borough Council is 5 December 2014.  Decisions will be announced in Feb 2015

Applications should 

• Reflect the principles within the latest Sport England Youth Insight (www.sportengland.org/media/359792/20140805-yr-insight-pack-fv.pdf)
• Be Aimed at 11 – 25 year olds 
• Focus on women/ girls, 19-25 year olds and the inactive 
• Show clear evidence of demand 
• Be sustainable and have valid and appropriate exit route 
• Have equipment costs of no more that 20% of total project cost 
• Cost no more than £100 per completed participant (a greater cost may be allowed in certain circumstances and the extra cost is justified 
• Cost coach per hour at a maximum of £25 
• Keep marketing to a maximum of £100 unless engaging a hard-to-reach group 

For further information or to request an application form and guidance notes, contact, Mark Rushworth, Leisure Contract & Sports Development Officer at High Peak Borough Council on:  07836 693815 or email:  mark.rushworth@highpeak.gov.uk 

Derbyshire County Council are seeking to make cuts of  £157 million by 2018. This means they will look at what funding they provide local bus and community transport services.

But before developing full proposals for these services they want people to tell them about the buses they use, the type of journeys made and how they would be affected if services were withdrawn.

The questionnaire is online at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/supportedbuses or pick up a copy at your local library. 

Please send your completed questionnaires by Sunday 14 Dec 2014.  A detailed consultation will begin in early 2015 before any final decisions are made.

Further information on DCC website

It isn't about becoming a befriender or giving long term support - others will do that. It’s about encouraging and supporting people to get the help they need.

Places are available on a free initial training day running on 7th November, 9.30am – 4.00pm at New Mills Volunteer Centre.

The course will give you 

• The opportunity to meet other people in a similar role

• An information pack about local groups and services

• Regular updates and further training opportunities from the Derbyshire Trusted Befriending Network

For more information or to book, contact Rebecca Hyde at Glossop & District Volunteer Centre Tel: 01457 865722 or Email: rebecca@vcglossop.org.uk

Research by the Community Development Foundation shows the vital contribution these groups are making to society and how funders can best support them. 'Tailor Made: How community groups improve people’s lives' finds that without small amounts of funding, much of this activity would never get off the ground and the value of the services these groups provide, the volunteers they attract and their impact on communities would be lost.

For example, a study by the London School of Economics found that a typical befriending service would cost about £80 per person and produce £300 worth of value per person per year when taking into account the reduced need for treatment and improved quality of life as a result of better mental health.

An article in the Guardian says "these groups need advice, support and, most importantly, small amounts of funding to get going. It is a folly to think that communities will not need some small grant funding to get them started. Every type of new community finance model starts with a small investment".