About Chesterfield

Get involved with Chesterfield Museum this March

There are lots of great events to get involved with at Chesterfield Museum throughout March.

From storytelling for pre-schoolers, to crafts for all and even a special session for antiques lovers there is bound to be something for the whole family to enjoy.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The team at the museum have worked really hard to put together some great events for March and I hope as many people as possible will come to the museum and get involved in some of these fantastic events.”

“We’ve got some great exhibitions this month too so I hope residents and visitors will take the chance to do something that interests them and learn more about the history of Chesterfield.”

Kicking the month off is World Book Day and the museum will be hosting a special World Book Day event on Thursday 5 March from 10am until 12 noon where pre-schoolers will be encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters and head along to hear some marvellous magical stories.

Dig out your antiques and art from the loft or garage as Bamfords auctioneers will be visiting the museum on Friday 6 March to hold a valuation day.

To celebrate International Women’s Day and British Science Week, a local social enterprise Kakou CIC will be holding an Explore Science event on Saturday 7 March to highlight the contribution women have made to science and technology. There will be loads of great hands-on activities for children and big kids alike covering a wide range of STEM subjects from code breaking to paper marbling.

Have you found a mystery object or archaeological treasure, but you can’t figure out what it is? The Finds Surgery on 14 March is here to help. Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire’s Finds Liaison Officer will be on hand to help identify all your mystery items and record them with the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Don’t forget Mother’s Day is at the end of March. On Saturday 21 March, local artist Shirley Potter will be hosting a Mothers Day Card Making Workshop.

As well as these great events the Extraordinary Women exhibition which celebrates the lives of local women who have made a significant contribution to their communities and the country overall runs until 28 March. There is also an exhibition, DCAS – Only Time Will Tell, created by young people from the Donut Creative Arts Studio and a pottery exhibition that was inspired by William Gordon’s ceramics.

Entry to the museum and each event is free but donations are greatly appreciated. The museum opens Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 10am to 4pm and is operated by Chesterfield Borough Council.

Click here to search more events in Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Redbrik Half Marathon organisers target record year after successful 2019 event

Organisers of the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon are targeting record entry numbers as the event’s Early Bird entry discount period draws to a close on February 29.

This year’s race, which takes place on 18 October and starts and finishes in Queen’s Park, has seen hundreds of entries in the first few weeks of 2020, having set advance entry records in each of the three events since its establishment in 2017.

More than 1,500 people registered for the 2019 event, a record advance entry total for a Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon.

The 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon’s Early Bird entry discount period closes on 29 February, with runners able to enter the 13.1-mile Half Marathon for just £23 (usual price £29). Entries are also being taken for the event’s Peak FM Five Mile Run, which takes place in tandem with the Half Marathon, for £16 (usual price £19).

In addition, the event will also see the return of the Blachford Fun Run, with new events also in the pipeline in 2020 which will form part of the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon weekend – details for which will be confirmed soon.

John Timms, Event Director for the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, said: “We’re really excited for this year’s Redbrik Half Marathon, having seen a hugely positive start to 2020.

“We really want to build on the success of the first three Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathons by breaking advance entry records again, and with additional elements this year we’re confident we can achieve that.

“The Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, in its short history, has achieved great things for the Chesterfield and north Derbyshire community, with more than £140,000 pledged for good causes including our event charity partners, Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

“We look forward to the event continuing to blossom in 2020 with the amazing support of the people of Chesterfield.”

Mark Ross, Managing Director of event title sponsor Redbrik Estate Agents, said: “We’re proud to be such a big part of the Chesterfield Half Marathon, which has been very successful since it was established in 2017.

“We’re also incredibly grateful for the support of the Chesterfield community, with local people providing strong backing for the event every year.

“Exciting plans are in the pipeline for the 2020 event, too, with even more opportunities for people to get involved. Watch this space!”

The 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon will take place on 18 October, starting and finishing in Queen’s Park alongside the event’s Peak FM Five Mile Run.

For more information or to enter, click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Vicar Lane partners with Derbyshire Adult Community Education in employer challenge for young people

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre is working with Derbyshire Adult Community Education (DACES), part of Derbyshire County Council, to run education programmes for young adults in Chesterfield.

The learners attend Full Time Study Programmes in Shirebrook and Clay Cross; the programmes are based around employment and enterprise and are aimed at young people aged 16-19 to help them gain the skills they need for the world of work.

Vicar Lane is working with organisers on an ‘Employer Challenge’ within the programme, whereby the learners are set a task within a real-life employment environment. Participants are required to visit the centre to familiarise themselves with the task at hand, meet the team and gather as much information as possible, before going away to work on their ideas. They then have to present their proposed solution back to the employer at the end of the programme.

On Wednesday 18th March and 29th April respectively, learners from Shirebrook and Clay Cross will visit Vicar Lane between 10:30am and 12:30pm. They’ll learn about the shopping centre and how it works from day to day, before being given an overview of the project, which will be a creative task.

Proposals will be presented by the learners, back to the centre management team on Wednesday 1st April and Wednesday 13th May. Their plans will be compared to the centre’s own thoughts to see how they align.

The work that young people complete during this task, forms part of their City and Guilds Level 1 and Level 2 Extended Certificate in Employability qualification which will prove beneficial to these young people in their quest for employment.

Shaun Brown, Centre Manager at Vicar Lane said, “It’s a pleasure and a privilege to once again be working with a team of young people from the Chesterfield community to help improve their career prospects. The initiative last year generated some really exciting results so we are looking forward to seeing what the latest group of learners come up with.”

Click here to find out more about Vicar Lane Shopping Centre

Posted in About Chesterfield, Apprentice Town, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Manufacturing

Derbyshire County Council launch survey for armed forces community

A survey carried out by the University of Derby, on behalf of Derbyshire County Council, is aiming to find out more about the county’s armed forces community.

The research sets out to identify the size and make-up of Derbyshire’s armed forces community to help inform and improve local services for individuals and families who are connected to the British armed forces.

The survey is open to people aged 18 and over who live in Derbyshire and is completely anonymous. It is open now with a closing date of 3 April 2020.

Derbyshire County Council Armed Forces Champion Councillor Neil Atkin, said: “The council is committed to helping to make sure no member of the armed forces community in Derbyshire faces a disadvantage when it comes to public services.”

“Last year we re-signed our Armed Forces Covenant alongside all Derbyshire’s district and borough council’s to reaffirm our commitment to support military personnel with day-to-day life.”

Derbyshire County Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis, added: “If you are part of Derbyshire’s armed forces community we’d really like to hear from you. We want to reach as many people as possible.”

“Research is important to help local authorities, health and social care services to meet the needs of the armed forces community so they are treated with fairness, compassion and respect.”

Derbyshire County Council want to hear from:

  • regular currently serving personnel from the armed forces
  • volunteer and regular reservists
  • veterans
  • families of regular, reservist and veterans
  • the bereaved – who are family members of service personnel and veterans who have died whether that death is connected to their service or not

Research is being externally funded from a grant provided by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund and Derbyshire County Council has commissioned Derby University to conduct the research.

The covenant fund gives grants to community projects that are mutually beneficial to the armed forces community and the civilian community.

Click here to take part in the survey (opens in new tab)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure

Free social swim for Chesterfield cancer patients

Residents in Chesterfield who are recovering from or have cancer are invited to take part in a new swimming session at Queen’s Park Sports Centre.

OutSwimming Cancer is a supported swim session that will take place once per week and is completely free to attend, thanks to funding from Weston Park Cancer Charity.

Lesley Rechert (right), a swimming instructor at Queen’s Park Sports Centre who organises the OutSwimming sessions, said: “Swimming is a wonderful activity for people who have experienced cancer – it’s fun, enjoyable and therapeutic.”

“Recovery from cancer can take a long time but swimming is really beneficial for the journey back to better health. It’s a great way for rebuilding your strength and confidence.”

“It can often be a challenge to return to swimming after suffering with cancer but quiet sessions like this aim to create an inclusive environment that is supportive as well as enjoyable.”

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We are very proud to be supporting these sessions, it’s important that everyone in the Borough feels like they can pursue a healthy lifestyle and use our facilities for it.”

“It makes me proud that we can offer support like this to people who are going through such a difficult time in their lives.”

Lesley added: “A swim teacher will be available before, during and after the session to encourage, reassure and improve people’s swimming if they wish, so it is ideal for anyone who has had cancer and wants to start swimming or get better at it.”

Dr Ruby Osborn, grant officer at Weston Park Cancer Charity, said: “We’re proud to fund this scheme to help anyone who has or has had cancer to enjoy swimming in a supportive environment.”

“Changes to the body following cancer and cancer treatment can make it difficult to begin or return to exercise, so these sessions with a dedicated swimming teacher to guide people will make a big difference.”

The sessions start on Monday 2 March and run between 2pm and 3pm. Booking is not required.

Funding for the OutSwimming Cancer sessions is provided by Weston Park Cancer Charity with support from Chesterfield Borough Council. Swimmers must be fit and healthy enough to be in the swimming pool, please consult your GP if you are unsure.

For residents who are unable to attend the weekly sessions, a limited number of OutSwimming Cancer vouchers are available for free to be used at either the Healthy Living Centre, Staveley and Queen’s Park Sports Centre, Chesterfield.

For more information about the sessions or to book individual vouchers please contact:  rebecca.truman@chesterfield.go.uk.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Trustees required by Friends of Queen’s Park Cricket

Friends of Queen’s Park Cricket is seeking to appoint a number of Trustees to help achieve their objectives and to move forward the aims of the group.

Queen’s Park has seen cricket played there since 1894. The Friends want to celebrate that history and promote this iconic and historic ground in order to ensure the future of cricket at Queen’s Park.

Over the next couple of years, the Friends of Queen’s Park Cricket intend to:

  • Increase the membership and especially corporate membership
  • Raise funds in order to support investment in facilities and ground maintenance
  • Promote the Cricket Festival and increase the range activities to appeal to a wider audience
  • Increase the opportunities to play cricket in the park
  • Promote the historical significance as a world-renowned major cricket venue

Chairman Neil Swanwick stated: “We need help to achieve this and are looking to recruit additional trustees. In particular we are seeking skills and experience in Marketing and PR and using social media but above all else, we would value you anyone who shares our passion for cricket and the legacy of Queen’s Park Cricket and prepared to give us your time and commitment.”

Deadline for applications is 28 February 2020. Please click the below links to download more information about each role.

Social Media Trustee

General Trustee

Friends of Queen’s Park Cricket a Registered Charitable Organisation who: act as a voice for cricket in Queen’s Park; campaign to maintain high-standard facilities; strive to keep cricket in the park; ensure the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket continues and expands; develop the history and promote the playing of cricket at all levels and ages.

Click here to find out more about the Friends of Queen’s Park Cricket

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Stars of hit West End musicals to perform at Queen’s Park

After successful sold out events in 2018 and 2019, Derbyshire County Cricket Club is bringing stars of London’s West End to Chesterfield this summer for An Evening of ABBA.

The event, which takes place on Sunday 21 June, will round off the popular Chesterfield Festival of Cricket in association with Chesterfield Borough Council, with crowds set to be wowed by a stunning display of ABBA’s back catalogue.

Performed by some of the West End’s brightest talents and featuring hits such as ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘Waterloo’, it’s a night no ABBA fan should miss!

Set in the picturesque, tree-lined Queen’s Park, the outdoor concert is the must-see event of the summer in Chesterfield, full of singalong classics and entertainment.

Chief Executive Ryan Duckett said: “We have run sold-out events of this kind in Derby and it’s exciting to take the format to Chesterfield as part of the annual festival.

“We have strong ties to Chesterfield dating back to the nineteenth century and this is the latest chapter, bringing a new and vibrant concert event to Queen’s Park with a chance to welcome a new audience in the local community.”

Tickets for the outdoor concert spectacular are priced at just £25 and are on sale now via derbyshireccc.com , reception at The Pattonair County Ground or by calling 01332 388 101.

Only a limited number of tickets are available for this special event.

Evening of Abba at Queens Park

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Pitchford equals best World Tour performance

Chesterfield born table tennis player Liam Pitchford equalled his best performance on the World Tour by reaching the semi-finals of the Hungarian Open.

Seeded ninth for the event, Pitchford did not have to play the qualifying rounds and started in the last 32 with a 4-2 (11-2, 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5) win over Alexander Shibaev of Russia.

He followed up with two confident victories, first 4-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7) against Qiu Dang of Germany, who had won the Portugal Open the previous week, and then taking out 11th seed Kristian Karlsson from Sweden 4-0 (11-9, 13-11, 11-4, 11-8).

His semi-final was against Yukiya Uda, a rising teenage star from Japan, and the match swung back and forth for four games before Uda pulled away to win 4-2 (11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7).

But Pitchford will be pleased with his form going into the Mark Bates Ltd National Championships, which start on Friday in Nottingham.

Liam Pitchford

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure

BMX pro Libby Hawkins supports Chesterfield’s Beat the Street game

Meet Libby Hawkins, the co-ordinator of the Beat the Street game that’s starting in Chesterfield this week.

Libby is well-known locally as the founder of the Tuff Riders BMX School and club manager and coach for Chesterfield BMX Racing Club based at Ringwood Park in Brimington, Chesterfield. She is a development pathway coach for Team GB and also runs coaching sessions for people of all ages and abilities from beginners to international standard.

As well as cycling, she enjoys rock-climbing, indoor bouldering and is the co-founder of a non-profit dance school. She was recently shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero award plus was a finalist in the Special Recognition category at the recent Active Derbyshire awards for her commitment to encouraging the community to try BMXing.

Her latest role brings together her love of sport and community to the Beat the Street Chesterfield game which takes place from 26 February to 8 April.

Anyone from the Chesterfield area is welcome to take part in the free game which encourages people to ditch the car and to walk, cycle, scoot or run as far as possible. More than 120 beeping and flashing sensors called Beat Boxes will be placed on lampposts around the area for the duration of the game. Players join a team or choose to support one of the chosen charities: Age Concern Chesterfield and District; Community Transformation for Cosy Hub and Fairplay.

Libby is currently visiting schools, workplaces and community groups in Chesterfield to raise awareness of the game and to encourage as many people to take part as possible.

She said: “I love encouraging people into physical activity and to help remove any barriers that might be stopping them from taking part in sport. What I love about Beat the Street is that it helps people make healthy lifestyle changes like considering walking to school, or cycling to work, or perhaps getting outside at lunchtime.

“I’ve always believed that sport is a way of bringing communities together and to connect people and change their approach. When I heard about Beat the Street, I wanted to get involved as it reflects what I currently do, but on a mass scale.

“Beat the Street is so much more than just a six-week game – it leaves a sustainable legacy of signposting people into finding an activity that suits them. It’s about changing perspectives and helping them find an activity they might not have thought of or had the confidence to consider before.

“We’re delivering fobs to each school in the area, and anyone else who would like to play is welcome to pick up a free card and map from a distribution point listed on the Beat the Street Chesterfield website. There are great prizes of vouchers for books or sports equipment for the top scoring teams, and also an average points leaderboard so smaller teams have a chance of winning too, plus ‘lucky tap’ prizes that you could win just for taking part.”

Beat the Street is being delivered by Intelligent Health in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council and is funded by a National Lottery grant through Sport England and Chesterfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership.

Click here to find out more about Beat the Street Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure

Celebrating inspirational local women for International Women’s Day

Chesterfield residents are invited to join a morning of celebration and inspiration to mark International Women’s Day.

Chesterfield Equality and Diversity Forum, supported by Chesterfield Borough Council, will be hosting a special event at Chesterfield Museum on Friday 6 March between 10am and noon to celebrate the achievements of women across the borough over the past 100 years.

Councillor Tricia Gilby, Chesterfield’s first female leader of the council will open the event before guest speakers, Julie Richards, Principal of the Chesterfield College Group and Angie Smithson, Chief Executive of the Royal Hospital, provide a valuable insight in to their careers.

Councillor Tricia Gilby said: “International Women’s Day is an annual event that aims to empower women to live in an equal and enabled world.”

“The council has a good track record of offering opportunities to women: of the nine positions in the senior leadership and corporate management teams, four of them are held by women. Of the 48 elected councillors, 22 of these are also women and we’re proud to have a female deputy leader, Councillor Amanda Serjeant, working alongside myself.”

“This event is a great opportunity for us to come together to challenge stereotypes, celebrate women’s achievements and help create a gender equal society.”

The event will also provide an opportunity for networking and the chance to take a look at the special Extraordinary Women exhibition at the museum (below) which will run until Saturday 28 March.

The event is free to attend, but places are limited. To secure your place, please contact  allison.potter@chesterfield.gov.uk  or katy.marshall@chesterfield.gov.uk or call 01246 345 247.

Click here to read more about the Extraordinary Women exhibition

Posted in About Chesterfield

Chesterfield Museum showcases young artist’s work

Art work produced by young people from across the borough is currently being showcased at Chesterfield Museum.

Donut Creative Arts Studio (DCAS), are showcasing their paintings, collages, sculptures and music at the museum and Chesterfield residents are being encouraged to visit to show their support for local young people.

DCAS is a youth arts facility in Chesterfield that offers evening workshops and sessions in music and art for young people aged 11 to 19 years old. The theme of the exhibition is Only Time Will Tell and focuses on the past, present and future.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We’re really pleased to be welcoming the team from DCAS and there are some great pieces of art on display.

“It’s important that we show our support for the young people across the borough, so I’d encourage as many of you as possible to visit the exhibition. We hope that the artwork on display will leave you inspired.”

Lucie Maycock, creative arts development worker, said: “At DCAS it is our mission to support young people in unlocking their potential through the creative arts, and we were delighted to be invited to create an arts exhibition at Chesterfield Museum as it gives the young people the chance to really show off their talents.”

“All the artwork on display comes from the thoughts and feelings of the young people at DCAS and we hope that you will enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed creating it.”

The exhibition runs until Saturday 28 March and is open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 10am to 4pm.

Click here to find out more

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting