The funding comes from a joint initiative of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and BIG Lottery Fund (BIG) which announced last October that they were investing £100 million in the Parks for People programme over the next three years. The programme aims to get local people more involved in the management of their parks and for the first time, is providing funding to conserve historic cemeteries. 

Grants of between £100,000 and £5 million are available to support the following:

• The landscape design 
• Historic features or buildings.
• Natural heritage 
• Archaeological sites,.
• Collections of plants, trees, objects or documents.
• Cultural traditions such as stories, festivals, fairs and crafts.
• People’s memories and experiences of the park or cemetery.
• The history associated with individual features such as memorials or veteran trees.

There is a two-round application process. Applications can be made at an early stage of planning in order to get a good idea of whether the project will receive funding. The second round will require greater detail. Full details can be found on the Heritage Lottery Fund website www.hlf.org.uk .

Bring your community together to do something good for your neighbourhood by applying before 13 September 2013 for the chance to receive a free tree pack to plant in November 2013.

Each pack is worth £30, £105 or £420. All you need to do is find a suitable site and supply the volunteer planters and tree protection.

Pre-school, school, college and university groups interested in a small pack of 30 trees should head straight over to the school pack page.

Tree packs come in three sizes... 

Small contains 30 saplings. Medium contains 105 saplings. Large contains 420 saplings.

For more details see their website   www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Through the package charities can get free access to the online collaboration suite Google Apps including Gmail, Google Talk, Hangouts and Drive.

Charities will also have access to educational videos and invited to the Google+ international community for non-profit organisations and premium features in YouTube and Google Earth Outreach.

UK charities were already able to access some parts of the programme, including the Adwords scheme and Google Grants. Those that have already signed up to those programmes do not need to re-register for those services when applying for the new aspects.

To apply for the Google for Nonprofits charities need to be registered with the Charity Commission, with headquarters in the UK. Healthcare and education organisations are not eligible for the programme, although Google runs a similar programme of support for educational institutions.

For further information visit www.google.co.uk/intl/en/nonprofits.

This year’s questionnaire asks residents whether they know who Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is and how to contact them, how safe they feel, what their understanding of frontline policing is, how their quality of life is affected by the fear of crime and their top five priorities for policing.

Commissioner Charles says: "It’s my job to secure a police service which meets the needs and expectations of the public but to do this I need genuine feedback about what we can do to improve their experience of policing, how crime impacts on their lives and what concerns them most.

"Have Your Say has become an extremely reliable information resource over the years and will be of equal value to myself as I strive to enhance performance and make Derbyshire even safer. By publishing the survey online, I hope that even the busiest of residents is able to find time to respond to the questions and take an active role in the future of policing in the county.”

The survey will be available at www.derbyshire-pcc.gov.uk until Monday 5th August 2013.

The guidance, entitled It's Your Decision, explains the key principles of decision making that the courts and the Commission expect trustees to apply when they are making significant or strategic decisions about their charity.The guidance also covers practicalities, including making sure meetings are properly conducted, recording decisions accurately, and what to do if trustees disagree.

It outlines a trustee's role and responsibilities and what good decision making looks like; areas of knowledge that will help trustees be accountable to people with an interest in their charity. 

To view a summary of the guidance visit www.charitycommission.gov.uk/trustees-staff-and-volunteers/trustee-board/making-decisions.

To view the full guidance visit www.charitycommission.gov.uk/detailed-guidance/trustees-staff-and-volunteers/its-your-decision-charity-trustees-and-decision-making

Applying couldn't be easier – the form is online (and available in other formats) and there is detailed guidance to support applicants through each step.

The following link to direct people to more information about the programme – www.peopleshealthtrust.org.uk

Guidance Notes which can be found at online.

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, hints and tips for applying for funding in general.

There are ten half hour slots available throughout the day, there are five sessions between 9.30am and 12.00 followed by a further five sessions between 1.00pm and 3.30pm.

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

Surgeries are also being held in other areas of the County:

· Ashbourne: Thursday 21 February 2013

· Bakewell: Monday 14 March 2013

· Bolsover: Monday 4 March 2013

· Chesterfield: Tuesday 19 February 2013

If demand is high we may consider holding additional sessions so if you are unable to make the dates set please contact us for more information.

They have been appointed to the executive board of Healthwatch Derbyshire - a new independent service set up by the Government.

From April 1 each area will have its own Healthwatch to improve how local people can influence, challenge and get involved in the planning of health and social care services including hospitals, GP surgeries, care homes and care at home. Click here to read the full article.

Article reproduced with thanks to Derbyshire Link

This is a great chance for the community and interested groups to find out more about the Bare Necessities Glossopdale Food Bank and how you can get involved.

This informal evening will include free refreshments on arrival. Glossop Adult Education Centre is on Talbot Rd, Glossop, SK13 7DG. Tel: 01457 858035