News & Developments

Fracking (hydraulic fracturing of rock deep underground) for gas or oil is clearly emerging as a central plank of this government’s future energy policy. It’s making more and more land available, in principle, for test drilling and possible commercial extraction. This could see licensed exploration in special landscapes, including the Peak District and its National Park. And there’s talk of changing law to stop landowners vetoing fracking under their land. 

So it’s clear there is quite a head of steam behind fracking. But what is it, what are its economics, its scientific base, its environmental impacts?  There is much heat, loud claim and counter-claim, about all this. Sustainable Hayfield are delighted to have two worthy scientists to help shape a local discussion around this: 

Pete Webb, geologist and industrial consultant, has 40 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry.  He considers that, responsibly managed, oil and gas extracted by shale fracking have an important role to play in making the UK less dependent on imported energy whilst alternative home sources of supply are developed;

Royston Sellman is a scientist who worked at and for the Centre for Sustainable Energy. He considers fracking an unnecessary, harmful and wasteful activity, producing more climate-changing emissions of greenhouse gases and diverting investment from more sustainable sources of UK-based energy generation.

Both are accomplished and experienced presenters, who want to promote informed debate on what is a significant public policy issue. We anticipate a rich and constructive discussion, with opportunity for questions after presentations.

Why not consider putting your name forward to join Sustainable Hayfield’s main committee: it meets no more than monthly. Or, if you’re interested in one of their topic groups (food, waste, energy, transport, school) why not find out more and get involved? Let Secretary Ruth Wilson, know (01663 745574 or ruthwilson_58@hotmail.com) of your interest by Saturday 21 June.

Date: 10th July 2014

Depart Buxton 9am, return 10.30-11.00pm

Cost: £20-£25 per person (depending on numbers)

The plan is to arrive in Oxford St area of central London around 12.30pm, have time to do as you please for the afternoon, and then meet up at the Houses of Parliament at 5pm (when Parliament finishes sitting for the day). Andrew Bingham will then give a tour of the Houses of Parliament including ‘behind the scenes corners’ that the tourist tours don’t cover.  You’ll be back on the coach at 7.30pm and back in Buxton by approximately 11pm.

If you are interested, please book with Jackie by 23rd June: jackie@highpeakcvs.org.uk 01663 736436 - places will fill up fast, so book soon or you may be disappointed!

Andrew Bingham is planning another similar trip for voluntary groups later in October and CVS will send out further information well in advance of that.

This is an opportunity to discuss issues specific to small charities and get their voice heard.

The four major themes of the conversation are: 

• Vibrant Communities 
• Addressing Disadvantage 
• Working Together 
• Stronger Sector 

Your views and ideas will help influence how the Big Lottery Fund can make the biggest difference for people and communities in the UK, focusing specifically on the issues facing small charities.

The conversation is open until July 2014. You can join the conversation at: yourvoiceourvision.org.uk

Community Grants give voluntary and community groups an opportunity to access funding to undertake innovative activity to engage and progress unemployed or economically inactive people.  Projects should provide an opportunity for people to engage in activities to learn, develop skills and confidence to help them progress towards; getting a job, further learning or volunteering.   

Applying for a grant

If you are a community or voluntary group and you want to apply for a grant there will be three opportunities throughout the year.

Round One - now closed

Round Two - opened on the 2 June 2014.  

Application packs can be requested up to 4.00pm on 20 June 2014 and completed applications must be received by 4.00pm on 27 June 2014.  Applications received after the deadline will not be included. To apply for a pack please send an email to comm.grant.apply@futuresadvice.co.uk 

Round Three will be September, dates and detail to follow.

Please note: the application guidance and application form will be specific to each round. 

Roadshows - To give you the opportunity to find out more, there will be a series of roadshows across the East Midlands:  Derbyshire 11 June 2014 9:30am - 11:00am Derwent Stepping Stones, St Mark's Rd, Derby DE21 6AH

To register for an event in your area send an email to comm.grant.apply@futuresadvice.co.uk. If you were successful in bidding for Round one of the Community Grant Fund, you cannot reapply until Round three.

The survey is at www.surveymonkey.com/s/KSNQ8LXb (the link takes a few seconds to open).

Response deadline is 27th June 2014, but better still DO IT NOW!

It is vital that there is a credible base on which to develop the new application for funding. 

If you would like additional information please contact: Amanda Brown 01629 538475 Amanda.brown2@derbyshire.gov.uk 

Many people who look after partners, relatives and friends because they are ill or have disabilities do not recognise themselves as carers. This means they can often neglect their own personal needs as they put their responsibilities to others first. 

DCC are backing a series of events which are being run during Carers' Week by Derbyshire Carers' Association. These events are free for carers to attend.  

Details of the events can be found on the DCC website

The Trust has 4,000 packs of trees to give away this autumn. They come in three sizes – 30 saplings, 105 saplings and 420 saplings in various themes (hedge, copse, wildlife, wild harvest, year-round colour, working wood, wild wood and wetland).

You can apply for more than one pack and theme with 420 saplings being the maximum quantity. If you’re interested in planting on a larger scale or on private land their MORE woods scheme might be of interest - the scheme will cover up to 60 per cent of the cost and landowners are being urged to sign up now. 

The deadline for applications is 4 September 2014, but groups are being advised to apply sooner rather than later

Further information www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/in-your-community/

The Buxton Twin Peaks Challenge is a "Moonlight Sponsored Walk” which you, your colleagues, family or friends can enter to help fund a project that is important to you or your group.  

The "Challenge” requires you or your team, setting off at 10pm to walk from the Pavilion Gardens to Solomon’s Temple, then onwards to Corbar Cross and back to finish at approximately midnight at the Buckingham Hotel.  Buxton Lions are providing the support to this event and will be marshalling the route to guide those people who have entered.

Application and sponsor forms are available from www.buxtonlions.com or www.facebook.com/buxtondistrictlions or twitter @twinpeakswalk  

The cost to enter is again £10 and all the sponsor money you raise goes to your nominated charity.  Don’t forget to register so that there are enough torches to light your way around the course.

The fund, which is believed to be worth around 40 million pounds, will be open for bids from April 2015 and will run for one year.  The VCS can feed into NCVO’s response to the consultation, which closes on Thursday 24 July.

In partucular, NCVO would like respondents to focus on the following key questions:

Who should the fund support? As the fund will be quite small, resources need to be targeted at those organisations that need it most. Who should be eligible for funding? What parts of the voluntary sector most need help adapting to changing times?

What kind of support do charities need? The consultation proposes funding to help organisations cut costs, identify new sources of funding, build capacity and analyse future needs. But are there other areas where charities might need support e.g. governance?

Where is support most needed? The fund will be open to organisations across England, but as the consultation document points out, different parts of the country have different needs. How can the fund reflect that and find ways to support organisations in these areas?

How do we identify those that need support? Charities that are most in need of support are unlikely to have the time or resources to devote to applying for this fund. How do we make sure that these charities can access the fund? Should local actors such as VCSs, LEPs and local councils help identify those that need support?

To feed into NCVO’s response email Andrew.Obrien@ncvo.org.uk or leave comments at blogs.ncvo.org.uk/2014/05/12/an-open-call-for-ideas-for-new-cabinet-office-fund/#comments

NCVO state that charities wanting to pay the living wage are unable to do so because competitive tendering for public service contracts is driving wages down, particularly in fields such as social care.

Citing the Living Wage Commission’s finding that the Treasury could save between £3.6billion and £6billion per year if everyone was paid the living wage, NCVO state that ensuring that commissioners understand the social and economic benefits of paying a living wage would make a real difference.

It recommends that spending settlements for local government and public bodies should reflect the costs of paying the living wage, recognising that this will reduce expenditure elsewhere on tax credits and benefits.

The manifesto also warns that the short-term approach to spending is failing communities and that the next government should prioritise preventative spending to address social problems and save money in the longer term.

Other recommendations for the next government include:

• Creating a Centre for Social Value to support commissioners and charities implementing the Social Value Act;
• Simplifying the under-used gift aid small donations scheme so that it is open to all charities registered to receive gift aid;
• Establish a Paralympic legacy fund to help people with disabilities to volunteer; and
• Continue match-funding incentives for philanthropy through community foundations.

For further information and to download the manifesto visit their website