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Action Grants available for local groups with ‘Derbyshire Spirit’

Derbyshire County Council are re offering support to community groups, clubs and charities that are at the heart of local communities and show ‘Derbyshire Spirit’.

‘Derbyshire Spirit’ is about us looking out for each other, following the guidance, staying safe and being kind during the coronavirus pandemic. For more details please visit the Derbyshire Spirit website (opens in new tab).

Through the Action Grants scheme money is available to help groups get back on their feet when the coronavirus pandemic is over so they can continue with their invaluable work.

Derbyshire County Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis said: “We’re very aware that many groups in our local communities have had to stop their meetings and activities during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic but we want to reassure them that we’re still offering support for when they can resume. Their work makes a real difference to peoples’ lives and they’re a glowing example of what we’ve termed ‘Derbyshire Spirit’ through their selfless dedication to others and especially those in greatest need.”

“I know that when the pandemic has passed there will be more inspiring projects going on and I would encourage residents to apply for our Action Grants now. It could be just the helping hand needed.”

The Action Grants scheme has been running for nearly 2 years and the final round closes at the end of May. The grants are mostly up to £500 and Derbyshire County Council are looking to support the following activities:

  • Community Safety: grants for projects to reduce crime and the fear of crime including raising awareness about scams and rogue trading, schemes to tackle anti-social behaviour and initiatives to help residents keep themselves safe
  • Youth Activity: including setting up youth clubs, organising activities for young people, projects to help young people gain new skills or schemes to help them deal with mental health issues
  • Physical Activity and Sport: money for schemes to encourage residents of all ages to take part in physical activities, keep fit and stay healthy – or which encourage people to get active if they’re not already.

There are also a small number of £5,000 and £10,000 grants available in these 3 categories and for another category called ‘community activity’. The community activity category covers things such as setting up new community groups, organising a local event or starting a community project.

The Action Grant process is quick and simple and decisions are usually made within 4 weeks of the closing date. The deadlines for the final round of applications is 31 May 2020.

To find out full details of the scheme, including all the projects awarded grants so far, click here (opens in new tab).

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, Chesterfield Retail Awards, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

New name for Chesterfield FC stadium revealed

Chesterfield FC’s home will now be known as the Technique Stadium following the announcement of an agreement with Technique Learning Solutions.

This new agreement further strengthens the association between the two organisations. In May 2019, Technique Learning were named as Chesterfield’s new shirt sponsor after agreeing a two-year contract.

With seven centres covering the UK and headquarters in Chesterfield, Technique Learning Solutions is a leading training company, offering courses in electrical, air conditioning & refrigeration and programmable logic controllers.

Mark Crook, Managing Director of Technique Learning Solutions, said: “As soon as we were aware of the chance to secure the stadium naming rights, we were keen to seize it as it will provide us with further opportunities to raise our profile and make people aware of what we do.”

Jim Brown, Spireites Commercial Manager, said: “I would like to thank Technique Learning Solutions for their valuable ongoing support, which is very much appreciated. We were delighted to welcome them as shirt sponsors last year and it is very pleasing to see their name also attached to the stadium.

Jim added: “As we welcome new sponsors of the stadium name, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Proact for their valued support over the last decade.”

Chesterfield supporters can take advantage of a special offer from Technique Learning Solutions. Anyone making a booking for any course (including online courses) should simply use the discount code ‘Spireites’ to receive a 10% discount. Please click here to visit their website (opens in new tab).

To view the launch video, please click here (opens in new tab).

proact

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

Specialist Ashgate Hospicecare teams supporting NHS staff at Chesterfield Royal looking after COVID-19 patients

Ashgate Hospicecare is now delivering support sessions for NHS teams at the hospital who are working with patients who have received a positive diagnosis of COVID-19.

The confidential group sessions offer NHS staff a safe place to talk openly about their anxieties, concerns and experiences in a supportive way. This is designed to prevent trauma and support those colleagues to come to terms and process their experiences looking after those patients.

Ashgate are experts in providing bereavement counselling and support – both to their own teams and to friends and families of patients at the hospice. There are now four team members from Ashgate Hospicecare based in the hospital four times a week offering support to NHS teams.

Arlene Honeyman, Head of Supportive Care at Ashgate Hospicecare, says: “Even for our hospice teams who are used to looking after end of care patients we’ve had to provide wobble rooms where they can go and have a moment and get support. There’s all sorts of issues coming into play – providing end of life care while wearing PPE, patients not being able to have the same number of visitors they normally would, worry about their own health and loved ones back home – so emotional support is vital.”

“NHS teams and hospice teams aren’t superhuman, they need care and support like anyone else. And for the staff at Chesterfield Royal many haven’t had to look after so many end of life patients in such a short space of time. We are so pleased to be supporting our colleagues at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. Our aim is to take Ashgate ‘care and compassion’ to those who are working in this challenging environment.”

“We are so impressed with the commitment and care they offer and will do whatever we can to support them to continue and stay well themselves.”

Staff receiving supportive care will also be offered access to the hospice’s ‘wobble room’ which was set up for hospice staff who need and can go for a wobble, pause and recharge or be supported to pause, recharge and move on. Staff from Chesterfield Royal Hospital will be able to receive this service next week and have access in between group sessions if they need support at other times.

Susan Hawkins, Ward Sister at Chesterfield Royal has receiving supportive care from Ashgate Hospicecare along with a lot of her team. Susan said: “Both myself and members of the team feel the support service provided by Ashgate Hospicecare has been brilliant, being able to express ourselves about the issues we’ve been facing in a calm environment and not be judged. We have all felt relieved that we’re able to unload our thoughts and anxieties during this extremely difficult time.”

She added: “To go from where we usually work on the Urology department to go completely out of our comfort zone and away from our speciality has been really frightening and challenging. To have that extra support and for someone to come in and say it’s alright to talk and listen with empathy, it has been really beneficial to all of us.”

Click here to find out more about Ashgate Hospicecare

Ashgate Hospicecare

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home

Help ‘Protect Your NHS’ with free will writing service offered by Chesterfield solicitors

Until 31 May 2020, Chesterfield Champions BRM Solicitors will not charge their usual fees for making a will. Instead, clients will be encouraged to make a voluntary donation to Chesterfield Royal Hospital’s “Protect Your NHS” appeal.

The choice and amount to donate is entirely up to each client, but the suggested minimum donation is just £75 for a single will, or £150 for a mirror will for a couple.

All donations will be used to gift health and well-being experiences to staff as well as gifting enhanced care and facilities to patients.

A regulated professional will advise you throughout the process to ensure that your will is appropriate for your personal circumstances, and that it fully reflects your wishes. When completed, all wills are stored securely for free, and registered with Certainty, the National Wills Register so that your will can be found when it is needed.

Rob Woodhead (right), Head of Wills and Probate at BRM said: “By making a will with us in May, you can show your support to the staff and patients at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, who have been affected directly, or indirectly by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

To find out more and register for an appointment, visit www.brmlaw.co.uk/crh or telephone 01246 555111.

Click here to find out more about BRM Solicitors

Click here to learn more about Chesterfield Champions

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home

CityGrab food delivery app to donate this weekend’s delivery fees to two Chesterfield charities

CityGrab, a local food delivery app created by City Taxis, will donate all delivery fees from this weekend’s orders to two Chesterfield charities, Ashgate Hospicecare and Chesterfield Royal Hospital Charity.

For each of the ‘31 Days in May’ you can order local food and products on the citygrab app, with each weekend dedicated to supporting a local charity. Friday 15th May to Monday 18th May will see funds raised for two local Chesterfield charities, Ashgate Hospicecare and Chesterfield Royal Charity, to help support the fantastic work they are doing providing patient treatment and specialist end of life care under the most challenging circumstances.

Since its launch, local businesses including Afats Grill, Odyssey Greek, Qoozies, Pizza Pi, North Sea Fish Bar, Fat Pig BBQ, Tiffin & Casa Hotel now have food and products available to order through the app.

Russ Wilkinson, Manager of City Taxis said: “To say these are difficult times for our local charities is an understatement, as every penny counts for individuals, families and local businesses”.

He added: “I hope that by donating the citygrab delivery fees to our charity partners, reflects the gratitude we have for the support they give to the community of Chesterfield. I would like to add that these donations are made possible by the continued hard work of our drivers.”

Karen Walker, Ward Sister at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “Our patients need us more than ever before, but providing that care has never been so challenging. With the support of our community and local businesses like citygrab, we can be there for those who desperately need our care.”

Beverley Webster, Chesterfield Royal Hospital Charity Chair, said: “On behalf of the Charity I would like to pass on our thanks and appreciations. It’s a challenging time for businesses, so this is an incredibly kind and generous gesture. The ‘31 days of May’ campaign that City Taxis are running through their citygrab app is a really innovative way to support local charities like ours. We have some really exciting plans that will make a real difference to patients in hospital – and to the staff who are working hard to provide exceptional care in unprecedented circumstances.  Any donations we receive will be used wisely and for maximum benefit.”

To show your support, simply place an order on the citygrab app between 6pm on Friday 15th May and 6am Monday 18th May and your delivery fee will be automatically donated. The total amount raised will be split evenly between the charities.

Download the citygrab app here.

Click here to see a list local food & drink suppliers offering takeaways

Dine at Home

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

Chesterfield technology firm recruits four new staff to improve customer support

Chesterfield-based technology firm and Chesterfield Champion, Central Technology, has this month hired four new staff members in order to continue valuable business support to their customers and the wider business community.

Central Technology has welcomed three new team members to their Sales department (pictured below) as well as a new member of the Service Desk team. The new team members will help to support the company’s growing new customer base by providing an enhanced customer experience.

Tom Aplin-Ward, Senior Account Manager, has a wealth of experience in technical, account management and senior client service roles. Stephanie Markham, Internal Account Manager, has exceptional customer service skills and will help maintain and deliver high levels of customer service across all accounts. Loui Fox, Account Manager, worked for the past six years in electrical wholesale & manufacturing and was ready to transfer his experienced sales skills to the challenge of the technology world.

Nathan Carlsson has joined the busy Service Desk team as Junior Development Operations Engineer. Nathan is currently working part time but will take on a full time role upon completion of his degree in Computer Software Development. Nathan will be helping to streamline processes within CT and drive greater efficiencies to provides a more seamless experience for customers.

Managing Director, Ian Snow, said: “It is great to be welcoming new joiners to CT. Now more than ever we need to ensure we have the right skills and efficiencies within our own business to ensure our customers are still receiving a reliable, stable and uninterrupted service from wherever they are working. This is a new chapter for all of us and we need to ensure we are constantly innovating, adapting and improving the way we deliver our services. Having great people is critical at this time so we are delighted to have such fantastic new talent join our team.”

Central Technology are proud members of the Chesterfield Champions business membership scheme. Joining the scheme is a direct statement of belief from organisations about their commitment to Chesterfield and its successful future.

Ian said: “Being a Chesterfield Champion affords us with links into a vibrant and growing business community for us to share learning and business ideas.”

Click here to find out more about Central Technology

Click here to find out more about becoming a Chesterfield Champion

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home

10 caregiver jobs created by Home Instead

Chesterfield Champion Home Instead Chesterfield has launched a major recruitment drive to meet increasing demand for its services.

The company is currently advertising 10 CAREGiver roles to help more people in Chesterfield to stay independent in their own homes.  Services are tailored to the needs of individual clients and provide a variety of non-medical services that include respite care and palliative care.

Stephanie Metham, Care Director at Home Instead Chesterfield has welcomed applications from people who may be new to the profession, but who are compassionate and want to make a true difference to the quality of life for their clients:

“Quality care workers are key to our organisation’s services and we work with a team of experienced, friendly CAREGivers from all over Chesterfield and the surrounding areas.  But we need to recruit more if we are to meet the current challenges.

“You do not need any experience or particular qualifications to become a CAREGiver. However, it would be useful to have some experience of working in a care setting or interacting with older people.

“This could be personal experience of caring for a family member or voluntary experience. You will have a passion for supporting others and pride yourself on delivering an outstanding service. You will be reliable, trustworthy and respectful. You will enjoy building professional friendships and comfortable in spending time in the company of others.”

For more information, please contact Stephanie Metham, Care Director at Home Instead  Chesterfield by email: stephanie.metham@homeinstead.co.uk, by calling 01246 580187 or by visiting www.homeinstead.co.uk/chesterfield.

Home Instead supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.  Find out more about Chesterfield Champions at https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/destination-chesterfield/champions/.

Image: Nigel Metham and Stephanie Metham, Home Instead Senior Care, Chesterfield.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home

Twist continues to publish virtual magazine

Chesterfield glossy magazine, Twist, has published its May edition in a virtual format and is supporting regular advertisers by designing and including their messages completely free of charge.

Although most members of staff are furloughed and the company’s offices are closed, directors Mike and Helen Firth have managed to compile a 44-page publication from home.

The May edition features the regular monthly column by Chair of Destination Chesterfield, Peter Swallow and Destination Chesterfield Manager Dom Stevens explains about the town’s ‘Supporting Local’ campaign.

In addition, you can read how editor Mike was once called upon to help promote a Disney film in Chesterfield, learn how you can make use of Chesterfield Museum from your own home, find out about which bands made a local record shop proprietor’s top ten album selection and discover why there was a row over a drummer’s pedal when Bill Haley performed in Chesterfield! You can also read about the Brampton connection which is keeping a vital children’s home operating in desperate times in Ethiopia.

Editor Mike said: “The ongoing crisis means we can’t deliver our publication to the 15,500 Chesterfield letterboxes we usually reach each month. It would have been simpler to batten down the hatches and re-emerge once the worst of the crisis is over, but we felt we had an obligation to carry on supporting our regular readers and advertisers as best we can.”

“We hope people will appreciate our efforts and enjoy clicking their way through the pages of this online ‘Twist‘.”

The company has also expanded its online presence elsewhere and throughout the crisis has published a ‘Picture of the Day’ feature on its Facebook pages to remind local folk how fortunate we all are to live and work in such a beautiful part of the world.

‘Twist’, which is ten years old later this year, is one of five magazines published by one of the original Chesterfield Champions, Heron Publications Ltd. Mike and Helen have also been able to continue production of their other titles ‘Wings’, ‘Dronfield Eye’, ‘Active8’ and ‘My Kind of Town’.

Mike added: “We’re one of thousands of local businesses which have been forced to adapt what we do, but I believe this new-found flexibility will stand us all in good stead as the Chesterfield area begins to emerge from the crisis.”

To enjoy the May 2020 edition of Twist for free, click here.

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

Derbyshire recycling centres to open for waste that cannot be stored safely at home

Derbyshire County Council household waste recycling centres will reopen with restrictions in place from Monday 18 May – but residents are only advised to visit them if they have waste they cannot store safely at home.

The safety of site staff, residents and the wider community is the number one priority and new measures are being introduced at all sites so that users and staff can stick to social distancing rules to help prevent the spread of coronavirus and to help manage traffic. These include a traffic control system based on odd and even number plates and limiting the number of vehicles on site at any one time.To help the centres run smoothly, users are being asked to follow these golden rules:

  • Only travel to your local recycling centre if it is essential because you can’t continue to store waste safely at home without it causing injury or harm. No other reason for the journey would be considered a legitimate purpose. Please use your kerbside bins and bulky waste services where possible or store until sites are operating as normal.
  • If your journey is essential then check which day you can access the recycling centres based on your vehicle number plate and please be prepared to queue as social distancing measures mean fewer vehicles will be allowed on site at any one time.
  • Avoid taking excessive amounts of waste to keep vehicles moving in and out as quickly as possible to help reduce queue times. That means leaving vans and trailers at home for the time being.
  • Wear protective gloves, appropriate footwear and clothing and only bring what you can safely handle as staff will not be able to help you carry your waste as they normally would.
  • Keep the number of people on site to a minimum by travelling alone – unless you need another adult from your household to help carry your waste – stay at least 2 metres away from staff and other users and wash your hands when you get home.
  • Stay at home if you have had coronavirus symptoms in the last 14 days, are self-isolating or at high risk of contracting the virus.

Vehicles will be allowed into recycling centres on certain days depending on whether the last number on their number plate is odd or even. Vehicles with 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 as the last number will be allowed in on even numbered dates in the month and those with 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 will be allowed in on odd numbered dates in the month.

Councillor Simon Spencer, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Infrastructure, said: “We know that many people want to see our recycling centres reopen and I’d like to thank them all for their patience, but we need everyone to take a sensible approach and only visit our sites if it’s absolutely essential because their waste cannot be stored safely at home.”

“Social distancing measures mean fewer vehicles than usual will be allowed on-site and there will be queues – and if the queues start to obstruct the road network we will have to temporarily close the sites so please avoid our sites in the first few weeks if at all possible.”

“Please continue to use the kerbside waste and recycling services run by your district and borough councils and hang on to any items you would normally take to our sites if you can or try selling them online if there’s still some life left in them.”

“If your visit is essential, please read our safety guidance before you travel and remember to stay in your vehicle while queuing.”

“Our priority is the safety of site staff, residents and the wider community. We’ll be keeping a close eye on traffic and taking steps to limit disruption on roads in surrounding areas but there’s no doubt this will be challenging.”

“Staff will be doing all they can to help things run as smoothly as possible so please treat them with respect. You can help by avoiding busy times and checking traffic information and apps before you travel.”

The recycling centres will be open 7 days a week from 8.30am-6pm in the following locations: Ashbourne, Bolsover, Bretby, Chesterfield, Glossop, Ilkeston, Loscoe, Northwood (Darley Dale) and Waterswallows – near Buxton. They do not accept business or trade waste.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure

Former Chesterfield Register Office to be sold

The former Chesterfield Register Office has been sold for an undisclosed fee.

A meeting on Friday 17th April 2020 agreed the sale of the former register office and a two-storey house on the site. The three-storey former registry building sits next to the 45-space Beetwell Street multi-storey car park, opposite Tesco Metro and close to the Portland Hotel. It was built in the 1940s and used for four decades by residents registering births, marriages and deaths.

Derbyshire County Council said: “In principle and subject to planning permission, the site is suitable for a range of uses including residential, commercial office, community uses, healthcare or other institutional uses.”

“The site is not in the primary retail area or an otherwise established retail frontage, but could be suitable for retail or food and drink use of an appropriately limited scale.”

“We are advised that Chesterfield Borough Council’s preference would be for conversion and re-use of the existing buildings.”

In 2018, Chesterfield Register Office moved from New Beetwell Street into Chesterfield Town Hall and in November 2018, it welcomed the first families to register the births of their babies.

The new venue offers improved facilities for those who use the Register Office, and will offer a greater choice of rooms for weddings and civil partnerships. The new office is also much larger and includes separate waiting areas for people who are registering a birth to those who are registering a death.

Councillor Carol Hart, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Communities said:“The register office has been in New Beetwell Street for over 40 years but wasn’t giving us the opportunity to offer the sort of services we want to.”

She also added that the new office in the town hall “will be a much better place to visit to register a birth or death, celebrate getting married or a civil partnership.”

The new register office also gives more space for the historic registers containing entries of all the births, deaths and marriages in Derbyshire since 1837.

Image credit: Derbyshire County Council

Posted in About Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home

DBCP helps fund and distribute PPE visors for healthcare workers in Chesterfield

Derbyshire Building Control Partnership (DBCP) is one of a number of businesses paying for the materials for 20,000 masks which are then donated free of charge to frontline NHS staff, GP surgeries, First Responders, care homes and hospices.

Ashgate Hospicecare, Whittington Moor Surgery and Lime Tree House in New Whittington are just three of the healthcare settings that are benefitting from visors that are being made by an army of volunteers from animal charity Broken Souls Rescue.

The masks are the brainchild of Stephen Greaves, a volunteer at Broken Souls Rescue and owner of SG Design Studio Architectural Services based in Swadlincote. He was inspired to produce the masks after talking to Simeon Cornes, a building inspector at DBCP who revealed how his wife, who is a nurse, desperately needed PPE in her workplace.

Stephen used his office’s 3D printer which is more used to printing architectural designs, to create an initial batch of 200 visors. Word spread and now, with an army of volunteers  and funding from businesses for materials, Stephen is hoping to make and supply more than 20,000 masks.

Stephen said: “Fundraising during lockdown is particularly difficult so the opportunity to both support the national pandemic effort locally and raise money for the charity is something I am delighted to be able to do.”

“We are relying on donations to enable us to purchase the material used to make the visors. Other than this, all time, cutting and expenses is given from volunteers. Without these volunteers, this would not be possible.”

As well as providing funding for materials and production costs, the team at DBCP is also helping distribute the visors. Hundreds have already been gratefully received by healthcare settings in and around Chesterfield.

Ali Ward-Foster, Partnerships Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare, thanked DBCP for the donation, saying: “We are incredibly grateful for the support of our community and local businesses like DBCP who have donated essential PPE supplies to the hospice. The equipment not only keeps our patients and staff safe but also enables loved ones to spend precious time together when it matters most. For that we cannot thank everyone involved enough.”

Val Johnson, Practice Manager at Whittington Moor Surgery, commented: “They are much appreciated and useful to protect staff against COVID.”

Karen Mitchell at Lime Tree House added: “It is reassuring to know there is community spirit at these difficult times. The donation has gratefully received by us all at Limetree House.”

Neil Johnson, Managing Director of DBCP said: “These are unprecedented and trying times for everyone and I am delighted that we have been able to make both a practical and financial contribution to the COVID-19 effort.”

“The DBCP team were only too happy to help deliver the masks. Being able to get involved in some small way with both the Broken Souls Rescue charity and the local COVID effort has lifted spirits across the company.”

Broken Souls Rescue works nationally to re-home and rehabilitate dogs and cats in need. To donate to Broken Souls Rescue, please visit www.broken-souls-rescue.org/donate.html

Click here to find out more about Derbyshire Building Control Partnership (DBCP)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield

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