Towards an Active Derbyshire, the new strategy for physical activity and sport in Derbyshire, has been launched by Derbyshire Sport.

The ambition to get 50,000 more people active by 2021 was outlined on Wednesday (October 5) as partners from across sport, health, leisure, education, business and voluntary sectors gathered to pledge their support at Derbyshire County Cricket Club.

Prof Kathryn Mitchell, Chair of Derbyshire Sport and University of Derby Vice Chancellor, Andy Reed OBE, Director of Sport Think Tank and Hayley Lever and Ilana Freestone, Directors of Derbyshire Sport, presented the key headlines from the new strategy.

They were united in saying it would require new ways of working to get people who are not currently taking part in physical activity and sport to get active.

Prof Kathryn Mitchell, Chair of Derbyshire Sport and University of Derby Vice Chancellor, said:-

“In Derbyshire we have a greater proportion of inactive people than nationally… nearly 30% of adults are sedentary, and only 56% are active enough to benefit their health. 42% of 15-year-olds are sedentary for more than 10 hours a day.

“A growing number of people are living increasingly inactive lives and for a healthier, happier more prosperous Derbyshire, we have so much more to do.

“Towards an Active Derbyshire seeks to achieve a vision of a physical activity and sport revolution in the county and central to the strategy are calls for a commitment to change.”

In Derbyshire, only 55.9% of the adult population in Derbyshire are meeting Chief Medical Officer (CMO) recommended levels of physical activity to benefit their health.

The new strategy will bid to engage 50,000 more people by supporting the inactive to become active, ensuring people are supported and encouraged to engage in sport, and enjoy lifelong participation in physical activity and sport.

It will also strive to address inequalities by focusing on three priority groups – women and girls, people from lower socio-economic groups, and young people aged five to 18.

Throughout the strategy delivery, disabled people will be supported to become engaged in physical activity and sport.

Hayley Lever, Director of Derbyshire Sport, said:-

“We’ve all been working really hard in Derbyshire to engage people in physical activity and sport, but we haven’t achieved what we set out to do and we need to do something differently.

“Over the past year, we have taken time to understand the trends, talk to partners, learn from national and international examples and policy direction, which has helped us collectively arrive at what we believe is a new, more focused vision.”

Following the launch guests had the chance to ‘practice what they preach’ by taking part in Kwik Cricket or a led walk.

Andy Reed, Director of Sport Think Tank, said:-

“It’s really important to bring a range of partners from across Derbyshire together because the success of this community-based strategy is not just down to one person or organisation, but everyone working together.

“We want to get a little bit of fresh thinking into it because the old adage of ‘build it and they will come’ is no longer relevant.

“There are hundreds of people who get the importance of this across Derbyshire and if we all push together in the same direction we can achieve a lot more.”

A Government commitment to honour funding for projects due to receive European Union investment – worth millions of pounds to Derbyshire economy – has been warmly welcomed by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

D2N2 – the private sector-led partnership of business, local authorities, education providers, and community and voluntary services – has been allocated € 251million in European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF); to promote economic growth and employment in its area of Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire up to 2020.

Following the UK’s June 23 vote to leave the European Union, the Government had agreed to honour funding already earmarked for ESIF projects, if their contracts had been signed off by the time of next month’s Autumn Statement (on November 23).

Now Chancellor Philip Hammond has made a longer commitment; that ESIF projects approved and signed after the Autumn Statement, and which are due to continue beyond the time the UK leaves the EU – currently expected to happen around summer 2019 – will also be honoured by the Government.

ESIF funding includes various EU funding streams, such as:

• European Regional Development Fund
• European Social Fund
• European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

Mr Hammond said projects would need to seen as good value for money and in line with UK economic aims, to have their funding honoured.

D2N2’s €251m in ESIF funding is currently supporting projects which help small and medium-sized businesses innovate, be more competitive and reduce their environmental impact; funding also supports a wide range of employment and skills programmes, often helping those in the most deprived areas or with fewer qualifications.

Over the 2014-2020 period of D2N2’s current ESIF funding allocation – one of the largest amounts allocated to any of the UK’s 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships – its targets include:

• supporting 5,000 businesses, particularly in sectors such as information communication technology (ICT), and low carbon and ‘green’ energy;
• helping 400 start-up businesses;
• enabling 15,000 people to find employment;
• helping 8,000 people overcome social exclusion;
• assisting 2,500 business in improving their employees’ skills levels.

Welcoming the Government’s new commitment David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said:-

“This clearly shows the Government’s recognition that the ESIF programmes run by D2N2 and its fellow LEPs in the UK are a significant component of its economic strategy.

“Projects submitted for ESIF funding go through a robust assessment by ourselves and the Department for Communities and Local Government, with whom we work. Regular checks will be made throughout the life of the projects, to ensure they meet their promises to make a difference to the local economy and our communities.

“This commitment from Government will mean Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire can benefit fully from millions of pounds allocated to help their economy.”

A quest to find the most successful and inspirational local businesswomen will launch next week.

The hunt is on for nominations for the 2017 East Midlands Chamber Enterprising Women Awards.

And the ‘little black dress’ dinner that will start the hunt for outstanding women in business in the region will also mark 20 years of the annual celebration.

Chamber President Jean Mountain launched the Enterprising Women Awards in 1997 to recognise the achievements of women in business, particularly those juggling careers and home life.

The ‘little black dress’ dinner will be held at The Priest House Hotel, Castle Donington on 12 October and will be hosted by the co-chairs of Enterprising Women, Jean Mountain and Eileen Richards.

The awards will be presented at Colwick Hall Hotel, Nottingham, at a men-invited black-tie, little-black-dress dinner on the evening of Friday 3 March next year to coincide with International Women’s Day.

There are six awards to be won this year: Inspirational Woman of the Year, Outstanding Contribution to Business, Enterprising New Businesswoman of the Year, Enterprising Women Team of the Year, Enterprising Woman in the Community and Rising Star.

Entries have to be in by Friday 6 January 2017. Entry is by nomination, but can be self-nominated.

A host of organisations are supporting the awards, including headline sponsor Cambridge and Counties Bank, Qdos, The Money Shop, Derby College, Leicester Tigers and Leicester Racecourse.

Jean Mountain, President of East Midlands Chamber, said:-

“There are some very talented and hard-working businesswomen in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire who make an important contribution to the local economy. All too often, their contribution does not get the recognition it deserves.

“By highlighting their contribution and telling their stories, hopefully we can inspire other women to pursue their business dream, which is why I would urge as many people as possible to send in nominations for this year’s awards.”

Chamber membership is a requirement for nomination. For a nomination application pack email ew@emc-dnl.co.uk or call the Chamber’s events team on 0333 320 0333 and select ‘option 2’ when prompted.