News & Developments

The open days will be on Wed 30 April, Wed 24 Sept and Wed 28 Jan 2015.  Venues and times to be arranged.

You will be able to join them throughout the day. Staff will be on hand to talk to you about services and new developments in your area.

If you would like to attend one of these open days please reserve a place by contacting gwa@f2s,com or ring 01457 8656675.

Grapevine Newsletter Issue 2 - download

• National #TimetoTalk Day
• An update on the sessions and forthcoming happenings
• Grapevine appoints A new trustee and new volunteers
• Allotment Blog - Memoirs from one of our volunteers
• Heard it off the Grapevine - Contributions from our service users
• Guest Article - How should we talk about mental health
• Calendar Dates

Not just for women! - the funding will enable New Mills Women’s Group to run weekly community art workshops, providing Ollersett residents of all ages (grandparents through to their grandchildren) with a safe space to plan, design and make pieces of artwork.  Workshops will be facilitated by local artist Claire Parker and local volunteers, with the aim of celebrating achievements through permanent artwork displays and exhibitions within the community. 

Creating Spaces artist says "You don’t need to be good at art to join in, it’s about having fun and trying out new things. Bring a neighbour, a granddad or just come on your own. We will provide a variety of art skills to try including felt making, textile work, collage, drawing and clay work."

Creating Spaces Art Project launches on 23rd February 2.30-4.30pm at Low Leighton Community Methodist Church with its Crafternoon tea and fun day.

For more information contact Rachel on 07756 247398 or email: creating spacesnewmillseast@gmail.com,  www.facebook.com/creatingspacesnewmillseast  

Applications to the Fund will be invited between 4th February 2014 and 13th June 2014 with a value range between £10,000 and £10,000,000.

The MOD plans to host a briefing and networking event about the Fund at the beginning of March 2014.

Further details about the Fund, including criteria and application form, can be found at www.gov.uk/government/publications/veterans-accommodation-fund

Adult social care has the largest share of the overall county council budget and currently £206 million is spent on services for older and vulnerable people and adults with disabilities.

The consultations have been officially launched on 28 January and last for 12 weeks, during which time Derbyshire residents will get the chance to give their views before final decisions are made later this year.

Consultation online:   www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/news_events/news-updates/2014/january/council_agrees_adult_care_budget_proposal_consultations.asp

It is important that people give feedback on the impact of the 4 main proposals:

• Changing who qualifies for adult care
• Increasing the amount that people contribute to their care package
• Introduce a flat rate charge of £5 per journey to services 
• Substantially reducing housing related support 

DCC get children coming into care who have had upsetting or difficult times in their short lives. They want them to have the childhood and teenage years they deserve – and you can help give them that.

If you think you might have the experience, skills and patience to care for a young person, particularly one who might have challenging behaviour, then DCC want to hear from you.  They are looking for people to join Derbyshire County Council’s contact care fostering scheme to look after youngsters aged 11 to 18 years for short-term, long-term and emergency placements.

To be part of the contract care scheme you cannot have any other children at home under the age of 16 and cannot take on any other paid employment.  Ideally you’ll have experience of working with teenagers with emotional or behavioural problems as well as experience of residential social work or specialist foster care.

Once you are approved as a contract carer you can receive up to £34,537 per year dependent on the age of the child and level of needs. You’ll also get comprehensive training, dedicated support, up to 24 paid respite days a year and an annual review bonus of up to £1,000 dependent on length of service.

To find out more about contract care or other types of fostering Call Derbyshire for free on 0800 083 77 44 or visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/contractcare

Complete the survey by Wednesday 12 Feb www.surveymonkey.com/s/VF8RX5H

The plea was made this week by NHS North Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group(CCG), which called on residents to sign up to a Winter Friends pledge.

The promise says: "I will take time out this winter to look in on an elderly friend or neighbour to make sure they are warm and coping well.”

Those who sign the pledge will get free cold weather alerts and email tips throughout the winter to help them do their bit. 

Visit the webpage and sign the pledge at www.pledgebank.com/WinterFriends

Sarah Finch from the Heritage Lottery Fund will explain the funding stream: First World War: Then and Now.

This grants programme from the Heritage Lottery Fund provides grants of £3,000 to £10,000 for communities to mark the Centenary of the First World War.

To book a place please contact Sarah Paisley or Jonathan Simcock at Derbyshire Dales CVS on 01629 812154 or email sarah@ddcvs.org.uk

They are developing new guidance for NHS and social care organisations across England (e.g. doctors, hospitals, councils).  This guidance will be an ‘Information Standard’ which will tell organisations how they should make sure that patients, service users and carers can understand the information they are given.

To help with this, they want to find out what people think about their plans. To find out more click on the link below, where you can find an introduction to this work (including getting the information in easy read format, BSL video and braille) and links to 3 online surveys: 

• Patients/clients and carers, 
• Staff
• Voluntary organisations and other partners

www.england.nhs.uk/accessibleinfo 

Deadline for responses is 21 February 2014.

If you are based in Derbyshire and have questions please contact: Sharon O’Hara, Service Manager (Information) Adult Care, Derbyshire County Council Tel: 01629 532451 or Email: Sharon.O’Hara@derbyshire.gov.uk