chesterfield charity news

Dronfield Hall Barn recognised as one of UK’s top wedding venues in LUX Life Magazine

The team at Dronfield Hall Barn are celebrating, after the venue was recognised as one of the nation’s best wedding venues in LUX Life magazine’s Global Wedding Awards 2021.

The multi-purpose venue which is managed by the Dronfield Heritage Trust and is a registered charity, has been awarded the title of “Best Individual Wedding Ceremony Venue – East Midlands.”

Pauline Hindle Hospitality Manager “We are all delighted to receive this accolade. It recognises the stunning beauty of the Barn and the hard work of the team who put so much effort into ensuring that everyone who  has their wedding here has a perfect day.”

LUXlife Magazine is a premium lifestyle publication which is distributed to a circulation of 238,000 globally. The magazine focuses on a range of topics within the luxury lifestyle industry, featuring articles on; fashion, beauty, fine dining, travel, luxury real estate and much more.

Alongside weddings, the barn serves the local community in Dronfield in a number of different ways. One recent example was how it provided food collection and delivery services to local residents during the coronavirus pandemic.

Since its restoration, Dronfield Hall barn has hosted a number of events including heritage displays and art exhibitions. There is also a coffee shop serving light lunches and delicious home-made cakes, along with heritage, sensory and wildflower gardens to add to the high quality visitor experience.

This month is also cause for more celebration for the team, as the barn marks five years since it was first opened to the public. Now self-sustainable, the Trust continues to engage the community and generate income to keep the Barn open.

Staff at the barn say they are now taking bookings for 2023 weddings. For more details, head to: https://dronfieldhallbarn.org/weddings/

Dronfield Hall Barn supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in Business, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Ashgate Hospicecare welcomes two new Trustees

Ashgate Hospicecare have announced the appointment of two new Trustees who will help to shape the charity’s strategy, as they plan for the future needs of their local community and help meet the needs of patients for years to come.

Joining the Board of Trustees are Kirsty McMillan, Director of Integration and Direct Services for Derby City Council and Dermot Toberty, former Director of the largest HR Shared Service Centre in Europe.

In addition to her current role, Kirsty McMillan is also an active member of the local NHS and social care system, known as ‘Joined Up Care Derbyshire’. She previously worked as a Chief Officer within Local Government, as well as operationally within the housing association, supported housing and homelessness sectors.

Kirsty McMillan, Trustee at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “Having supported my own mother to live her final months in a way that she wanted, even though this was not conventional and at times tested the local palliative care team, I saw first-hand that as far as she was able, she died her way and in control of even the smallest decisions right up until her last few days.

“This was incredibly powerful to see and reminded me that individuals can have amazing strength in character, even at the most testing times in their lives. I am a passionate advocate for the ethos and values of the hospice sector, and Ashgate embodies this and more!

“I hope to be able to raise the profile of the contribution that Ashgate and palliative care can make to people’s lives.”

Dermot Toberty trained as an accountant and qualified whilst living up in the North East, and then moved to Chesterfield with his wife and two daughters in 1988 to work for Royal Mail.

Following a wide variety of finance roles across the UK, he moved to HR in 2003 to set up and run the largest HR Shared Service Centre in Europe. He remained there until his retirement in 2017.

Dermot Toberty, Trustee at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “In 2019, a very close friend was diagnosed with a terminal illness and she began to receive her end-of-life care from Bolton Hospice.

“Seeing and hearing about the care she received in her final few months was truly wonderful. Knowing that she was being well cared for in a lovely environment made the whole experience of her passing a lot more bearable. Nothing was left to chance and when she needed something it was delivered in an instant, without any fuss or bother, with care and compassion.

“Later, when I heard about the funding issues at Ashgate, and coming from a financial background, I was keen to get involved.

“I am very proud to be part of the Ashgate Team.”

Commenting on the appointment of the new Trustees, Nicholas Jeffrey, Chair of the Board at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome Kirsty and Dermot as new Trustees to Ashgate. They bring with them a wealth of expertise, as well as compassion and a shared vision for a society where everyone can die with dignity and comfort.

“I am really looking forward to working with them as we shape our future services, which includes plans for how we cope with rising demand and more complex patient needs as people live longer with more complicated conditions.”

Ashgate Hospicecare supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in Business, Featured, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , ,

Derbyshire Voluntary Action celebrates 30 years

An organisation which supports the work of the health and wellbeing charities and volunteer organisations in the North Derbyshire area, is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Derbyshire Voluntary Action (DVA), which has created a network of more than 300 organisations with the aim of making the voluntary sector stronger and more joined up with each other, has reached the milestone after forming in 1991.

The organisation specialises in supporting health and wellbeing related voluntary and community sector organisations – from tiny volunteer-led self-help groups through to local and regional charities delivering projects to the benefit of large numbers of Derbyshire residents.

Charlotte Repton, Project Manager at DVA, said: “If you were going to sum up what DVA does, I think the simplest version is that we is a charity which supports other charities – but there is much more to it than that!

“Healthy communities really are the key to why we do what we do. The voluntary sector is vital to delivering specialised, responsive support in the community, enhancing what is offered by public services such as the Council and NHS. I think the pandemic has made that more clear than ever.”

DVA supports the voluntary sector in a range of ways including regular forum meetings where members can meet, share updates and find out about local and national news.

Jacqui Willis, Chief Executive of DVA, said: “When DVA was formed in 1991 it was a very small operation, but the ambition was always there to provide a voice for the voluntary and community organisations and to look for innovative ways to strengthen the sector, and our local area as a whole. You could say that the forum is where it all started.

“But now we do so much more. On top of communicating through our weekly bulletins and the quarterly Network magazine, I attend lots of meetings, committees and boards with statutory partners where I am able to be the voice for the voluntary sector. Campaigning for and championing the voluntary sector is one of the most impactful things we do.”

DVA also leads on a specialist Mental Health Liaison Service, which creates a network and hosts forums for mental health support organisations across the county.

The charity also has a history of delivering ‘social prescribing’ where, rather than medication, individuals are prescribed services and activities in the community to help them improve their health.

As with all essential services, funding is key to the work of DVA. The organisation distributes grants to groups, allowing them to continue the great work they do.

As well as giving out funds, as a charity DVA applies for national funding, bringing money and resource into the local area and allowing the organisation to run innovative projects. Two examples of projects currently running are Community Chesterfield, a partnership with University of Derby, and the ConnectTo… project which promotes social connectedness.

Jacqui added: “We are going to be using our birthday to celebrate the voluntary sector and we hope that we can encourage people to show some appreciation for local charities and groups which make a big difference.”

Derbyshire Voluntary Action supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in Development, Featured, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

Ashgate Hospicecare’s retail staff praised for going “above and beyond” during height of pandemic

Furloughed Ashgate Hospicecare retail staff have been praised after swapping their usual roles to support their colleagues in the inpatient unit caring for end-of-life patients, during a crucial period of the pandemic.

Just last month, the charity opened a temporary second COVID dedicated wing at its inpatient unit at Old Brampton, taking bed capacity up to 21, after reporting unprecedented demand for its services and a sharp increase in COVID positive patients.

Staff from across the hospice have been redeployed to support those working on the frontline, including seven members of the retail team who were furloughed at the end of last year, after shops were forced to close in line with the Government’s lockdown restrictions.

The retail staff have taken on several roles including Ward Assistant and Ward Receptionist. Their responsibilities include ensuring PPE is available, delivering COVID test samples to Chesterfield Royal Hospital and welcoming families of patients to the ward.

Jane Jones, Head of Clinical Services at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “We’re so grateful for the retail staff who have been helping out on our inpatient unit; they’ve made such a huge difference since they’ve been here.

“Their support with jobs like putting disposable items away and topping up PPE has meant our nurses and healthcare assistants can focus on spending their time caring for patients.

“They’re all so passionate about doing whatever they can to support the hospice so we can be there for the patients and families in our care. They have the spirit and dedication which embodies everything that being part of the Ashgate family is about.”

Among those who have put themselves forward to take on a new role is Paul Street, a furniture van driver who would usually be based at the Hasland Furniture Store. Paul is working as a Ward Assistant and says it’s been an eye-opening experience to see how the money his team helps to raise is used to directly support families.

“I was furloughed at the start of the lockdown when non-essential retail outlets had to close,” he said. “So, the opportunity to come and help on the inpatient unit at Ashgate was one I couldn’t turn down.

“I’ve certainly been out of my comfort zone; I haven’t really done anything like this before, but it hasn’t taken me long to settle in.

“I get huge satisfaction knowing the little bit we are doing is helping families of patients feel reassured that their loved ones are getting the best care possible. I think my role now is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had; I really am honoured to be part of the Ashgate family.”

Another retail worker who has been redeployed to the ward is Andrea Farmery, who would usually work as the Deputy Store Manager at the Hasland Furniture Store.

She said: “I’m very proud to work for Ashgate Hospicecare and I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to help my colleagues at the hospice during the pandemic. It’s lovely to be able to do a job that helps people when they need it most.

“The transition has been a learning curve to say the least, but I’ve enjoyed the challenge so far and I’m pleased to be doing my bit to support my hospice colleagues during these difficult times.”

Both Andrea and Paul volunteered to help with the vaccine rollout at the Winding Wheel in Chesterfield earlier this year too.

The redeployed retail staff helped during a crucial period of the pandemic and are set to return to their usual roles when the charity’s shops reopen on April 12th.

To fill their roles on the inpatient unit, Ashgate Hospicecare is appealing to anyone who might be interested in volunteering to register their interest.

Anyone who would like to join Ashgate Hospicecare as a Ward Volunteer can find out more by visiting www.ashgatehospicecare.org.uk/volunteer/

Ashgate Hospicecare supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through  Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in Featured, Home, Made in Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

New partnership launched to combat loneliness and social isolation across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire

Residents across Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire and Bolsover District who are feeling alone and isolated during the ongoing pandemic are being encouraged to seek support.

‘Feeling Connected’ is a partnership project led by Derbyshire Voluntary Action with the support of Chesterfield Borough Council and North East Derbyshire District Council, which aims to tackle social isolation in the local area.

The project has been commissioned by the Healthy North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield Health and Wellbeing Partnerships which are funded by Derbyshire County Council Public Health.

The ‘Feeling Connected’ project aims to:

• help people better understand the benefits of being socially connected
• raise awareness of existing services which support social connectedness
• identify interventions, initiatives and activities which help people to feel socially connected and which could be further supported and developed in North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield

Jacqui Willis, Chief Executive of Derbyshire Voluntary Action, said: “Most people, young and old, feel lonely from time to time. This is normal, and even healthy. It can be a prompt for action, a reminder to make contact with other people and to create or reaffirm connections.

“Where it can become a problem is if people become isolated through circumstances beyond their control, and if feelings of loneliness become entrenched, or persist for a long time.”

As well as encouraging people who may be socially isolated to seek support, the partnership is also encouraging residents to think about those in their local community who may be alone and consider how they can help them.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Tackling social isolation and supporting our residents to overcome the impact of the pandemic is a priority for Chesterfield Borough Council and is at the heart of our Covid-19 community recovery plan.

“Many people have experienced social isolation throughout the pandemic – especially those who have limited access to technology so we’re really pleased to be supporting this project and looking into new initiatives which will help promote social connectedness for our residents.”

Councillor Alan Powell, North East Derbyshire District Council’s cabinet member for Partnership Engagement and Strategy, said: “The pandemic has affected us all, but for some people the feelings of loneliness and isolation have been greatly amplified during this time.

“We are therefore delighted to be supporting this project which will help our residents access the support they need and encourage others to think about those who are alone.”

In the spirit of connecting with others, the ‘Feeling Connected’ project has linked up with similar work which is happening in Bolsover District: ‘Connect Bolsover’ led by Bassetlaw CVS.

Bolsover District Council’s Leader, Councillor Steve Fritchley said: “The situation over the past ten months has highlighted the impact of loneliness and the importance of being part of a community. Even though we have new technology, there is no substitute for human contact, having a cuppa, a biscuit and a chat.

“I believe we will see more people suffering from agoraphobia. Organisations like chit chat groups, craft classes and toddler groups play a huge part in a local community and can provide people with the boost they need if they are feeling lonely or isolated. So we are delighted to support this project within Bolsover District and the wider north east Derbyshire area.”

You can find more information about ‘Feeling Connected’ at dva.org.uk/feeling-connected and about ‘Connect Bolsover’ at bcvs.org.uk/bolsover-together

Derbyshire Voluntary Action supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Jacqui Willis, Derbyshire Voluntary Action

 

Posted in Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

Care continues virtually at Ashgate Hospicecare thanks to £80,000 grant

Ashgate Hospicecare is continuing to provide vital care and support to patients who are unable to visit its Day Hospice after a National Lottery Fund grant of almost £80,000 helped pay for new virtual services.

Patients and their families who are referred to the service would usually visit the charity’s main hospice in Old Brampton, Chesterfield, on a regular basis, where they could access a range of services from specialist medical support, to complementary therapies.

But there has been restricted access to the service since the pandemic began to unfold last March, with many patients shielding due to the risk posed by COVID-19.

Thanks to a generous grant of £78,606 from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund, Ashgate Hospicecare has been able to roll out its innovative new Virtual Day Hospice service for patients to attend via video calls in their own homes.

The grant, which has funded staff and equipment in order to roll out the scheme, was awarded to the North Derbyshire charity in September last year, and patients accessed the virtual service shortly after.

David Lawton, aged 73, from Hayfield, High Peak, had never accessed the hospice’s services before the lockdown started, but has enjoyed making friends at the weekly coffee and quiz meetings, while testing out his art abilities at the activity sessions.

He said: “It’s nice to have friendly people to speak with, and people who are on the same level as me with regards to their ailments. We can have a laugh and a joke, doing the art and taking part in the quiz.

“There’s lots of useful information you pick up on and everyone shares their experiences. It’s all helped and given me something to do which isn’t too strenuous at this moment in time. I’ve found it to be interesting and very entertaining, and it’s stopped me from going round the bend because I’ve had something to look forward to!

“I would recommend the services of Ashgate to anyone because having it has been a big help. You can find out so much useful information with the people and services that are made available to you – always being able to ring them up and ask them about anything. It really is a great thing and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to be involved with it.”

From one-to-one support from healthcare professionals, to creative art sessions, and a weekly quiz, patients have been able to link up in virtual groups with friends from the hospice, limiting feelings of isolation and the potential impact on their mental health. The initiative aims to give patients the opportunity to access all of Ashgate’s Day Hospice services including group counselling support, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, lymphoedema care, complementary therapy and more.

The project has initially been accessible to attendees of the Day Hospice service, but it will be developed into virtual support to patients across North Derbyshire with a life-limiting illness, and their families and carers.

Hayley Wardle, Director of Quality and Patient Care, said: “Unfortunately the pandemic has meant our community patients, who would usually come along to our Day Hospice, have been unable to access our usual Day Hospice services as we seek to protect them and our patients on our Inpatient Unit from the virus.

“Thanks to a generous grant from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund in partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund, we were able to continue offering that care for people who were shielding at home, many of whom have been experiencing extreme feelings of anxiety, loneliness and isolation.

“While I’m sad that we’ve been unable to welcome patients to access Ashgate’s Day Hospice since the first lockdown last March, I’m glad that our wonderful clinical team have been at hand to offer vital care and support to the people who need it most during these difficult times.”

To read more about how Ashgate Hospicecare has supported people living with incurable illnesses with its Virtual Hospice during the pandemic go to: www.ashgatehospicecare.org.uk/patient-stories

Ashgate Hospicecare supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

David Lawton celebrates his golden wedding anniversary with his family

Posted in Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, UncategorisedTagged in , , ,

Staff from Ashgate Hospicecare join vaccine rollout

Retail staff who are furloughed due to Ashgate Hospicecare’s charity shops being closed in lockdown have stepped forward to support the NHS with the vaccine rollout in North Derbyshire.

The partnership comes after the charity had  called on its staff and volunteers to come forward to help protect the local community and save lives.

Staff who volunteer will be assisting at the vaccination centres, ensuring smooth arrival onsite of those coming for vaccination, efficient patient flow to the clinical assessment and overall onsite safety and security.

Some 76 Ashgate Hospicecare staff are currently on furlough, and the charity said that they had the ideal skills to help with the rollout efforts.

Barbara-Anne, Chief Executive at Ashgate Hospicecare, confirmed that staff had begun volunteering at the Winding Wheel in Chesterfield and that the charity had received huge interest from furloughed employees.

She said: “We are incredibly proud that staff from Ashgate Hospicecare are volunteering their time to be at the forefront of the fight against this dreadful virus. They have helped to ensure that the sites are safe and that as many people as possible are able to receive the jab.

“They are making a real difference to the national effort to get as many people vaccinated as possible. Not only are they supporting members of the local community, but they are there to support our own frontline workers to receive their vaccine.

“How wonderful that our team can come together, supporting each other and the wider community.”

Paul Street, 60, is a driver for Ashgate’s Furniture shop at Hasland and was one of the first to volunteer. Last week he began supporting the vaccinations at the Winding Wheel.

Paul said: “Putting myself forward as a volunteer was an easy decision because I wanted to give something back and help get the world back to normal. We are living through a global crisis and it will take the actions of a lot of people to stop the spread of COVID-19, and we need
that to happen sooner rather than later.

“It is incredibly rewarding volunteering at the vaccination centre, supporting people to overcome the fear of needles or the vaccine itself. The best part is seeing those same people come out relieved and happy, realising there wasn’t anything to be afraid of.

“At the end of the day, I’d rather be out there doing something to help rather than sat at home doing nothing, it’s a great feeling knowing that you are there to put people’s minds at rest as they walk in and direct them to where they need to go.

“It means a lot to me that I am helping make a difference in stopping this virus.”

Last week the charity announced that it was supporting its NHS colleagues by deploying all available nursing staff to its inpatient unit in order to relieve pressure at the nearby Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Hayley Wardle, Director of Patient Care at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “It’s really important that we do everything we can to support our colleagues during this time of national crisis. Our staff on the frontline are helping to keep people out of hospital, whether that is providing
care on the ward or in a patient’s own home.

“It is heartening to see so many staff from right across Ashgate Hospicecare coming together to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”

To date, the pandemic has already cost the charity £2.4 million in lost revenue with the current lockdown expected to cost an additional £350,000 in lost sales. To support Ashgate Hospicecare’s fight against COVID-19, go to: https://www.ashgatehospicecare.org.uk/winter-crisis-appeal/

Ashgate Hospicecare supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Featured, Home, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

Spireites’ Community Trust team deliver food parcels

The Chesterfield FC Community Trust team helped out at Derbyshire Community Hub last week, delivering food parcels to those in need during Lockdown 3.0.

Whilst always maintaining social distancing and following guidelines, staff volunteered at a charity that supports households who need help during the pandemic.

Having supported Derbyshire Community Hub during October’s Free School Dinners project, the synergy between both organisations of being community focused and supporting those in need made for another opportunity to work together.

Keith Jackson, the Trust’s head of sport and activities, said: “Throughout the last ten months, the team have tried to think of ways to support the local community in these trying times.

“We always set out each year to impact as many local lives in a positive way and this has been no different, despite the difficulties. Be it serving food, collecting food or delivering it, we continue to do as much as we safely can to engage with and help out the local area.”

Nic Finch from the Community Hub said: “A huge thank you to the Trust for their support today. We are always looking for donations and volunteers to get involved so please do get in touch.”

Anyone who would like more information about Derbyshire Community Hub or would like to volunteer for them should email derbyshirecommunityhub@gmail.com

Chesterfield FC Community Trust also recently spread some Christmas cheer across the town, by collecting donations for Chester’s Christmas Toy Appeal, which aimed to ensure no child in our area was left without a present on Christmas Day. You can find out more about the initiative here. 

Chesterfield FC supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Featured, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

New Information Point launched for military veterans in Derbyshire

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Covid Fund, STAND TO, Derbyshire veteran community support services – (Operating under Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service CIO) is to launch a New information point for Derbyshire veterans and their families.

Working closely with University of Derby researchers in Veteran Health, STAND TO are launching a new veteran first point of contact, (VIP) accessed via phone Tel 01246 959333 or email standtovcs@daas.uk.com between office hours Monday to Friday with an out of hours message service.

The new VIP will link to a Directory of support services which may be veteran specific or may be engaging with employer recognition schemes for the Armed forces Covenant. The directory will also provide information on wider more general support services such as CAB, hospitals, GP practices, Mental Health support, addictions, welfare, relationship and financial support services.

Any member of the veteran community in Derbyshire who contacts the VIP will receive a response from a fellow veteran, a worker or volunteer from our STAND TO service.

“This new provision will help to link the needs of veterans and their families to a wide range of information we have in our VIP directory,” says Elaine Handley DAAS CIO Manager.

“We know from the five years we have delivered our successful STAND TO veteran alcohol service that  alcohol issues are only one of the problems experienced by our veteran community, our new VIP will widen our remit to reach out to veterans who may be experiencing a range of problems, those which may be as a direct result of Covid  or due to longer terms issues.

“This is much more than an information point, our veteran workers and Volunteers will engage with callers and link them to a range of groups, recovery events and activities such as  walking, boot camp and fishing offering them the opportunity to regain the camaraderie  many of them miss.”

Destination Chesterfield board member, Dr Paula Holt MBE, Patron of ‘STAND TO’ is pleased to see development of the Veterans Information Point (VIP): “It is good to see a resource that is developed and resourced locally to support local veterans and their families”

The VIP will link with the existing Veteran Gateway to ensure that callers are aware of national and regional services as well as those local to them.

The new VIP launches on Thursday 3rd December If you are a veteran or family member, would like advice, information or guidance or would like to support us by becoming a volunteer for our VIP, please get in touch! Our VIP needs you!

Derbyshire Alcohol Advice Service supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 180 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

 

Posted in Development, Featured, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , ,

Stay informed

Keep up to date

Dont miss out on all the latest news, updates & special offers.

Signup to our newsletter