chesterfield news

People encouraged to have their say on Chesterfield town centre regeneration plans

People are being encouraged to have their say on a multi-million pound project to revitalise Chesterfield town centre – helping the borough thrive for generations to come – with the launch of a public consultation.

The £10.28m Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield scheme aims to transform the look, feel and flow of the town centre – creating a contemporary market town that has better connections between key public spaces, and a more attractive physical environment.

It includes plans for significant improvements to Chesterfield’s historic market grounds, along with proposals that will help maximise the potential of the iconic Crooked Spire as a key attraction for visitors, while also re-imagining town centre spaces for a range of flexible uses including markets, festivals, events, cultural celebrations and community gatherings.

Together with the £17m refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall – which received planning permission in March 2022 – the project is being brought forward thanks to almost £20m which the council secured from the national levelling up fund at the end of last year.

The latest designs for the scheme were approved by the council’s Cabinet this month and are out for public consultation from 24 May to 8 July 2022 before a final Master Plan is developed.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We’re really excited to share our proposals for the town centre with the residents and businesses of Chesterfield, as well as those who work in and visit our borough.

“This is a chance for people to learn more about the plans and our vision for the future – and then tell us what they think, to help shape the final proposals.

“It builds on the consultation we held last summer, seeking views on plans to revitalise our historic market. Overall there was strong support for our ambition but some issues about the stall layout and size were raised – we have worked really closely with market traders, listened to their views and updated our plans based on their feedback, so having your say really does make a difference to the future of the town.”

People can take part in the consultation online at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/town-centre-consultation or visit an exhibition which is on display in the Visitor Information Centre in Rykneld Square (Mondays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm) during the consultation period, where paper copies of the plans and survey will be available to view.

Cllr Sarvent added: “Chesterfield has been a flourishing market town for hundreds of years, but like places everywhere, we must address the challenges that the increase in online shopping presents to the future sustainability of our town centre.

“Our town has so much to offer, and we want to harness and build on this to create a town centre that remains vibrant, and relevant in today’s world.

“This project, together with the scheme to refurbish our historic Pomegranate Theatre and Chesterfield Museum, will transform the experience for those visiting the town centre, and help sustain the economic future for the wider borough.”

Levelling up funding is being used to extend the council’s planned regeneration of the market grounds, with extra investment now centred on key public spaces and the connections between them – including Burlington Street, Corporation Street, Rykneld Square, Spire Walk, Market Square and New Square.

It is proposed that new paving, seating, lighting, and street furniture will combine with more greenery, to create better-looking and better-connected spaces which people can enjoy and socialise in.

The Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield project will complement work to regenerate the Northern Gateway and – at the other side of town – will connect with plans to transform the area around Chesterfield Station.

Key areas of focus are:

  • Corporation Street – a tree-lined boulevard with improved paving and lighting will transform this key gateway to the town centre and provide a welcoming environment for visitors to the refurbished theatre and museum.
  • Spire Walk – the council will work in partnership with the Church of St Mary and All Saints to create a more welcoming and attractive space in which to enjoy our iconic Crooked Spire.
  • Rykneld Square – the proposals seek to make better use of this open public space – providing a better connection with the Crooked Spire, improving the feel and flow of this area.
  • Burlington Street – proposed upgrades to paving, planting and lighting will create a more attractive main route – better connecting the Market Place and High Street through to Rykneld Square and Spire Walk.
  • New Square and Market Place – a multi-million pound investment will revitalise Chesterfield’s historic market. The plans will create a modern, vibrant town centre experience with additional space alongside our traditional markets to host outdoor events and speciality markets. The council has worked with local traders to develop a revised market stall and layout design for the main market, and to consider how New Square could be used to complement the town centre offer in future.
  • Packers Row – under existing plans, in place before the successful bid for levelling up funding, this area will also undergo improvement, following the completion of similar public realm works at the nearby Elder Way. Plans include improved lighting and paving, with an overhead light canopy to add character.

Respondents to the public consultation will be entered into a prize draw to win £50 worth of Love2Shop vouchers.

The work will be carried out in phases and is due for completion in 2025.

 

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , ,

Chesterfield event technology firm shortlisted for two prestigious awards

Chesterfield-based engagement specialist Noonah has been announced as a finalist in two upcoming awards ceremonies.

The company is shortlisted at both this year’s Campaign Tech Awards 2022 ‘Tech as part of a Campaign: Retail’ and Conference & Events Awards 2022 ‘Best Event Technology’ for its work with Hasbro.

The entry highlights the work Noonah carried out in giving two of Hasbro’s most famous names, Cluedo and Monopoly, relevance in an ever-competitive retail landscape.

To maximise reach and accessibility, the firm staged a two-part campaign, taking the ‘Cluedo Family Edition‘ on a tour visiting Smyths Toys’ most popular Superstores, and basing the ‘Monopoly by You‘ pop-up in London’s prestigious Selfridges department store.

Central to both activations was Noonah’s powerful Personalize product personalisation technology, combining market-leading customisation software with state-of-the-art live-printing tech, all housed in eye-catching installations to maximise visibility and brand engagement.

Alice Morton, Account Manager at Noonah commented: “We are incredibly proud of our work with Hasbro and the team involved with this project. A huge congrats and good luck to all others nominated!”

The campaign incentivised customers, old and new, to engage with these classic titles, and strengthened the emotional connections with their brands, achieving immense reach and significant brand exposure on the run-up to Christmas.

With retail suffering from the impact of COVID-19 and losing ever more sales to e-commerce, this campaign was a powerful reminder of what the high street can be if it embraces the latest and best experiential tech.

The Campaign Tech Awards celebrates the companies that represent the industry’s trailblazing thinkers, imaginative clients, and cutting-edge technology. Championing the collaboration between agencies, brands, and the technology communities, recognising the outstanding work produced together to drive the creative industries forward. Noonah’s entry has been shortlisted in the highly competitive category and will go up against agencies from the likes of MediaCom’s campaign with Ellesse and UNIT9’s work with Southampton F.C.

The awards ceremony will take place on 8th June 2022 in London. The lunch will showcase some of the most outstanding achievements of the industry over the past 18 months and truly display how the industry stood resilient and pushed through during a very difficult time.

The good news continues as Noonah’s work has also been shortlisted for Conference & Events Awards 2022. This awards ceremony is GCN Events’ longest-standing and flagship event and is the pinnacle of event industry recognition. After an outstanding virtual event in 2020, Conference & Events Awards 2022 sees an eagerly awaited return on 1st July, attracting an audience of over 600 conference and venue professionals.

To find out more about Noonah, go to: https://noonah.com/

Noonah supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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East Midlands Chamber named one of the best places to work in the region

Bringing separate teams together on a weekly basis and empowering staff to organise internal social events has helped East Midlands Chamber to be recognised as one of the top organisations to work for in the region.

The chamber of commerce for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire features in three categories of the Best Companies to Work For lists for Q2 2022.

It ranked 76th in the East Midlands’ 100 Best Companies to Work For, 15th in the national Business Services’ 25 Best Companies to Work For and 34th in the 50 Best Mid-Sized Company to Work for list.

The achievement follows in-depth staff surveys by the industry-leading employee engagement specialist, which asks questions about their wellbeing, pay and benefits, personal growth, team, the leadership and other aspects.

Judges commended the Chamber for ensuring “staff understand how the organisation works and how they fit in”, highlighting how a different area of the business leads a weekly internal meeting to explain what its team does and how it contributes to the business plan objectives.

A social committee that organises events for staff across the organisation to get together informally – one of several internal working groups, with others designed for mental wellbeing, as well as equality, diversity and inclusion – was also praised.

East Midlands Chamber director of resources and HR lead Lucy Robinson said: “The experiences of the past couple of years have really emphasised the importance of looking after our people, who are the most important resource for any business.

“We have done a lot of work to ensure we can be a great employer by creating the conditions and environment that empowers our people to come to work as their best possible selves. A thriving workforce enables us to drive our organisation forward and provide the best services for our 4,000-plus members.

“As well as offering flexibility via a hybrid remote-office working model to our staff and a wide range of benefits such as two days’ additional annual leave for volunteering, we have sought to improve our transparency by holding weekly all-staff meetings to give everyone a detailed insight into the business and allow the various teams within it to share success stories, as well as the ability to ask questions.

“Continuous personal development is rapidly rising up the agenda and we are always keen to offer training and growth opportunities to people across all levels, with the latest initiative being a Future Leaders Academy that seeks to give a small cohort of people the chance to learn key skills and knowledge to take the next step in their career journey.

“For our business, it contributes towards our succession planning as we are developing our own talent for future leader roles while it helps with staff retention – a crucial consideration for employers given we are in the midst of one of the most challenging recruitment crises in memory.”

East Midlands Chamber employs about 180 people across offices in Chesterfield, Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Glossop and Mansfield.

Find out more about working in Chesterfield at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/about-chesterfield/working/

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Accountancy firm announces relocation to North Derbyshire

An accountancy firm originally based in Sheffield has announced its relocation to to larger 1250 sq. ft premises on Rotherside Road in Eckington to meet the continued demand for its services.

Number Crunchers Ltd. specialises in providing accountancy services to small to medium sized businesses (SME’s) in the local region. The company has also hired two new team members that will specialise in cloud bookkeeping and payroll creating local jobs in the area.

Founded by Isabella Callaghan in 1996 and with Chris Pheasey BA (Hons) MAAT ACMA CGMA joining in 2006, Number Crunchers has been successfully supporting SME’s including sole traders, start-ups and Limited companies in the local region for over 26 years.

The company offers a range of services including accounting, cloud accounting using Sage, Xero, FreeAgent, Quickbooks etc., bookkeeping, self assessment, payroll and business advice.

Number Crunchers is currently preparing and educating businesses on Making Tax Digital, which will come into place in April 2024. From 6th April 2024 all self-employed businesses and landlords with an annual business or property income above £10,000 will need to follow the rules for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.

HMRC will require that a return is submitted quarterly, and that businesses will need to use Making Tax Digital compatible software to keep digital records.

Isabella Callaghan, Managing Director of Number Crunchers says: “We are very excited to be moving to larger premises in Eckington and taking on new staff to strengthen our team. The new offices are an important step in the company’s future growth. I started Number Crunchers in 1996 as a Sole Trader and I still get a thrill about what we do today.

“My ethos has always been to treat each client’s business as if it were my own and to take the fear and mystic out of accountancy. As we enter a new digital age in accountancy, we are fully committed to supporting our clients as they make the transition to Making Tax Digital.”

 

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Residents and visitors invited to ‘meet George Stephenson’ in Chesterfield

People are invited to meet ‘George Stephenson’ and learn about his life, his famous inventions, his mining connections and his link with Chesterfield at an event in the town.

Chesterfield Museum and Holy Trinity Church have partnered together to deliver this free event with a George Stephenson reenactor on Saturday 11 June from 10am to 4pm. As Chesterfield Museum is currently closed for refurbishment the event will be held at Holy Trinity Church on Newbold Road.

Holy Trinity Church is George Stephenson’s final resting place and people will be able to see the stunning stained-glass window commissioned by his son, Robert. There will be fun for all the family with talks, children’s activities and the chance to handle objects such as a model of the famous `Stephenson’s rocket` and a replica cucumber straightener!

Refreshments will be available, and there will be outdoor stalls offering crafts, cakes and a tombola.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “Whilst Chesterfield Museum is closed it is fantastic that we can partner with organisations like Holy Trinity Church to ensure everyone can still learn about our heritage. We’re planning more events like this over the next few years whilst Stephenson Memorial Hall undergoes a multimillion-pound refurbishment.”

Reverend Jill Hancock of Holy Trinity Church said: “It’s great to be working with Chesterfield Museum to help local people connect with our town’s heritage. This is a wonderful opportunity to talk about George Stephenson and show both his final resting place and the incredible stained-glass window that was commissioned in his honour. I hope lots of people come along because there will be activities for the whole family to enjoy.”

Stephenson Memorial Hall is being transformed with a multi-million pound renovation project to create a modern visitor experience in the heart of our town centre.

The refurbishment of Stephenson Memorial Hall is projected to cost around £17 million with £11 million of funding being secured via the Government’s Levelling Up Fund and a further £695,00 from the Arts Council. Chesterfield Borough Council has received almost £20 million through this Government fund, the other £8 million will be used to support and enhance the Revitalising the Heart of Chesterfield Project.

Under the proposals the refurbished hall will bring together an extended Pomegranate Theatre, a reconfigured and modern museum, alongside new gallery space, a café bar, education and community facilities.

The event is free to enter with donations being given to Hope House Homeless Centre.

George Stephenson Statue

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Central Technology announces latest recruits

The team at Chesterfield’s Central Technology has continued to expand, after the company introduced the latest cohort of new starters.

Central Technology offers customers a fast, fresh and simple approach to Managed Services, Cloud Solutions, Telecoms and Cyber Security that will help companies across all sectors stay one step ahead of the competition.

The company has recently taken on Jack Thompson as Project Engineer, Nicola Goodwin as Sales Support Administator, Bradley Morell and Alex Willerton as Technical Support Specialists, and Lewis Renshaw as an Account Manager.

Jack Thompson, who has joined CT’s Implementation Team as a Project Engineer commented: “I have joined CT as a Project Engineer where I will be both implementing and upgrading a variety of systems to a wide portfolio of customers. I have worked in both Internal and MSP IT sectors for around 7 years, providing support to thousands of customers over a wide range of industries ranging from construction to retail and transport.”

Lewis Renshaw, Account Manager in CT’s Sales Team commented: “I recently joined CT to work alongside our valued customers to help grow their businesses through the use of IT. I enjoy working alongside businesses to take an idea from initial conversation through to delivery.”

Alex Willerton, Technical Support Specialist on the CT Service Desk said: “I’m part of the 1st line support team so I’m the first line of contact for most users when they need support with any of their systems. I previously worked for an insurance company which was my first official IT role, but prior to that I completed my degree in Computer Science at Sheffield Hallam.”

If you are interested in joining the Central Technology Team, find out more on the company’s vacancies page or email careers@ct.co.uk

Central Technology supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Robinson produce sustainable packaging for Holdsworth’s iconic limited edition Platinum Jubilee chocolates

In celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Holdsworth Chocolates and custom packaging supplier, Robinson, have collaborated to create a beautifully crafted limited edition Jubilee chocolate box.

This stunning box has been embellished with silver and gold foil blocking creating an intricate and unique design. Made from 100% recycled paperboard fibres and recyclable once used, this makes the perfect sustainable gift to take to any Jubilee party. Designed with usability in mind the box and sleeve store the chocolates safely and can be continually used until recycled.

David Sharples, Managing Director at Holdsworth Chocolates, said: “Holdsworth is a British owned family run business, we are proud to have produced an iconic box in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The box contains a selection of our exquisite assortment of creams, truffles, pralines and caramels packaged in high-quality sustainable packaging. We are proud to be working with another local British brand to produce this fantastic product.”

To complement the foil blocking the box has a deep royal purple colour, adding to the sophistication and on-shelf appeal. With Robinson being a strategically located supplier, it only took 3 weeks to produce from design to delivery.

Jon Walker, NPD Director at Robinson, said: “These beautiful boxes showcase the fantastic designs that can be created using foil blocking. Sometimes when you think of sustainability you think the design must be basic, but we pride ourselves on brands being able to still have the WOW factor and be kind to the environment at the same time. Holdsworth is a great example of a UK brand that is luxurious and sustainable.”

If you are interested in sustainable boxes for your brand, please email jonw@robinsonpackaging.com

Robinson supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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Exciting events programme revealed across Chesterfield for 2022

Chesterfield Borough Council is encouraging residents and visitors to ‘save the date’ as details of some of the key events happening in and around Chesterfield town centre this year are announced.

Designed to provide fun and unique experiences for our Chesterfield community, this year’s events programme will continue to support local businesses by encouraging people to spend more time in and around the town centre.

More details of each event will be published over the coming months, but key dates to note include:

  • 2-5 June – Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: A whole host of activities will be taking place across the borough to mark the Queen’s Jubilee – including during the celebratory bank holiday weekend which runs from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June. The town centre will be decked with Jubilee-themed decorations, with events and activities running at the council’s venues – people can check www.chesterfield.gov.uk/jubilee for the latest information.

 

  • 26 July – Medieval-themed Fun Day: The popular Medieval-themed fun day makes a return for the first time since the start of the pandemic, with families invited to kick start the summer holidays with a day on Tuesday 26 July. It’s a chance to step back into the Middle Ages and see Chesterfield’s history and heritage brought to life.

 

  • 27 October – 1940s Market: Fans of all things vintage will welcome news that the flagship 1940s Market is also confirmed for 2022 – with crowds expected to don period dress and flock to the town on Thursday 27 October. The event is a highlight in the national calendar for fans of this era and is held on a Thursday to tie in with Chesterfield’s much-loved Flea Market.

 

  • 20 November – Christmas Lights Switch On: Looking toward the festive season, the traditional Christmas Lights Switch on event will be held on Sunday 20 November in the town centre – and if people want to get their festive celebrations organised already, early-bird tickets for this year’s pantomime, Sleeping Beauty, are now on sale at www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk (the show runs from Tuesday 6 December to Tuesday 3 January 2023).

Chesterfield Borough Council’s events programme is part of the Love Chesterfield campaign – launched in partnership with Destination Chesterfield to celebrate everything that’s great about the town, while supporting the trading ambitions of local retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “As we all enjoy the return to a more normal way of living, it’s fantastic to see this line up of popular events which always bring Chesterfield to life – and create an opportunity for people to come out and show their support for our amazing local businesses.

“We are funding a range of flagship events which always prove immensely popular and create a chance for residents and visitors alike to create lasting memories in and around our historic town centre.”

Motor Fest, which last took place in August 2019, will not be supported by Chesterfield Borough Council. The event had become very popular, meaning the scale has become too large for the town centre and as a result poses a risk to public safety. In particular the significant number of vehicles, attendees and other activities within the pedestrianised town centre, could make it difficult for emergency services to gain suitable access. The council is committed to supporting the organisers to search for a more suitable venue.

More information about the Love Chesterfield events programme will be published on the council’s website at www.chesterfield.gov.uk/love-chesterfield and also on social media channels using the #LoveChesterfield hashtag.

Chesterfield 1940s Market

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Summer, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , ,

Council seeks to safeguard future of Tapton House

A new owner or tenant is being sought for Tapton House in a move designed to safeguard the long-term future of this historic Chesterfield site.

Backed by Chesterfield Civic Society, Chesterfield Borough Council has taken the decision to advertise Tapton House in Brimington for sale or rent – with a view to bringing the empty Grade II* listed building back into use.

Dating back to 1794, the building was built by local banking family, the Wilkinsons. It was then briefly occupied by railway pioneer George Stephenson (from 1838 to 1848) before becoming the home of the Markham family from 1873 to 1925.

It was subsequently given to the former Chesterfield Corporation by Charles Paxton Markham, who expressed the hope that it would be used for the benefit of the people of the town, leading to the creation of the former Tapton House Secondary School which occupied the site until 1991. Chesterfield College then took over the building as a base for its Higher Education provision before returning Tapton House to the council in 2018.

Councillor Dean Collins, Chesterfield Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said: “Tapton House and the surrounding area is a key heritage site in our borough, and we’re committed to finding a long-term solution that will safeguard and conserve its future.

“Since the college vacated the building three years ago, we have overseen its general repair and maintenance while looking for a suitable tenant – but are becoming increasingly concerned about incidents of vandalism and arson in the nearby Tapton Park.

“The council, just like the people of Chesterfield want the best for Tapton House, which is why we’re now keen to attract a new owner or tenant who is prepared to make the substantial investment needed to restore and refurbish the building to a standard fit for occupation.”

Philip Riden, Chairman of the Chesterfield Civic Society, said: “The Civic Society committee believes that the best chance of securing the future of Tapton House is for it to be sold by the Borough Council on a long lease with planning permission for change of use back to a private residence.

“If necessary, this could be coupled with the demolition of the school buildings of 1931, which are of no special merit. Public access to the grounds could, we believe, be maintained alongside the creation of a private garden attached to the mansion.”

The property will be available for sale on a long leasehold basis for a term of 999 years at a fixed peppercorn ground rent, or to let on a new lease on commercial terms.

A number of uses will be considered, subject to appropriate consents being in place – and any final decision on the sale of Tapton House will be taken by the council’s Cabinet.

Under the terms of any sale or rental agreement, there will be a small private outdoor area for the exclusive use of the new owner or tenant but plenty of parkland left for residents to walk around and enjoy views of Tapton House.

The building will be marketed by Knight Frank and all enquiries should be directed to Peter Whiteley at Knight Frank by emailing peter.whiteley@knightfrank.com, or calling 0114 272 9750.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Development, Home, Property and Construction, UncategorisedTagged in , , , ,

Funding to continue for innovative Community Chesterfield project

Community Chesterfield, an initiative which connects our local charity sector to the University of Derby, has announced that the groundbreaking project will continue to be funded in the future.

Last Thursday a celebration of 3 years of investment in Chesterfield’s communities was held at the University of Derby’s Chesterfield Campus. The Lottery funded venture, Community Chesterfield, has helped local charities connect to the University.  The Project has brought about skills sharing and enabled local people with lived experience to engage with future health and social care professionals.

The Community Chesterfield Showcase included an early announcement that Lottery funding for the University of Derby and Derbyshire Voluntary Action partnership would continue.

Jenny Raschbauer Community Chesterfield Manager said: “I’m so proud of the positive impact that our work has had on students and charities and after hearing how much the University and the community of Chesterfield value what we do I’m excited to be continuing this amazing community led project”

The opening speech at the event which was held on International Nurses Day was given by Dr Denise Baker, Dean of Health, Psychology, and Social Care at the University of Derby.

She said: “I was delighted to be able to support the showcase event for Community Chesterfield. The project has brought together many stakeholders who share an interest in health and well-being. The University has benefitted enormously from the project, especially building links between students and the voluntary sector. Both staff and students have gained from their experiences over the last 3 years and we look forward to what opportunities still lie ahead. The impact of this project is tangible and making a real difference to the health and social care arena in the region”

His Worship the Mayor of Chesterfield was also in attendance meaning this community gathering was his first engagement in office.

Project activities include offering training and shared learning opportunities, work placements, research projects, volunteering opportunities within Chesterfield’s community and other ways of creating meaningful connections.

Keep up to date with new activities on Facebook @ComChesterfield, Twitter @comchesterfield and Instagram @communitychesterfield

Community Chesterfield, Derbyshire Voluntary Action and University of Derby supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , ,

Chesterfield charity set to celebrate 30th anniversary

A Chesterfield charity which supports children with learning difficulties or disabilities and their families is set to celebrate 30 years of helping young people across the town.

Fairplay was set up in 1992 by a group of parents who wanted accessible activities for their disabled children. The group set up a club where their children could attend during school holidays.

The demand for the group was overwhelming and the group developed into an organisation with paid staff. The organisation has grown ever since, developing youth services as well as children’s and expanding into areas throughout North Derbyshire.

In 2009 Fairplay was successful in receiving funding to build its first centre in Chesterfield. The centre has been purpose built to ensure that all children and young people are able to access the facilities on offer. The centre was officially opened in July 2010 and features an activity hall, outdoor play area, sensory room, kitchen, and changing places toilet.

With the opening of the new centre Fairplay has been able to expand its services and now offers services to young people up to aged 30 as well as a new pre-school parent support group for parents with children under 5. Fairplay continues to grow and develop in response to the needs of local families and currently supports over 400 families across the area.

HR officer, Nikki Lowe commented: “We feel we have made an absolutely amazing achievement in reaching 30 years! The last couple of years have been tough due to the uncertainties faced because of the pandemic but we can say with pride that even through lockdown we have managed to remain open, meaning our much needed services have continued to run for those families in need.

“Fairplay would like to thank all of the individuals and business who, over the last 30 years, have fundraised for us. Every donation really does help make a difference, and allows us to continue with our much needed work and services for children & young people with additional needs or disabilities.

“We would also like to thank all our volunteers for their continued help and support, as we wouldn’t be able to run sessions without them.”

To mark the occasion, the charity will be taking on it’s biggest fundraising effort to date. CEO Heather Fawbert, and HR Officer Nikki Lowe will be taking on the challenge of walking ‘30k in a day’. The 18.5 mile sponsored walk will take place on Friday 19th August around the beautiful spot of Buttermere in the Lake District.

Although Heather and Nikki will be fortunate enough to take in some stunning scenery, this grueling walk will include hiking up and reaching the summit of 7 mountains! They will be tackling: Red Pike, White Pike, Pillar, Hay Stacks, Seat, High Crag and High Stile – they’ll reach a whopping 892metres (that’s 2,927 feet!) elevation at the highest point.

In addition, the team will be involving the young people who attend Fairplay by hosting a sponsored walk around Linacre at the end of June – with the aim of walking 30K in a day as a collective team. The charity is also campaigning to recruit 30 new volunteers and will be holding an information day on Wednesday 1st June. Anyone interested should contact Tom Boden.

Nikki added: “People can support us in many different ways, whether it is volunteering or by donating money. Any donation made for our 30th year fundraising events will be greatly appreciated and goes a long way in supporting our children & young people and continues our valued work in the community.

“If you are a business and would like to sponsor our walk we’d love to hear from you – or even better, we have limited availability to join us on our sponsored walk so why not get involved, put on your hiking boots and take in the views of Buttermere whilst raising money for our charity? All we ask for anyone wanting to join us is that you pledge to raise a minimum of £500 – accommodation is booked and travel to and from the venue can be sorted for you so it’s just a case of contacting us if you are interested.”

You can sponsor the Fairplay staff via the following links:
www.justgiving.com/Nikki-Lowe1
www.justgiving.com/Heather-Fawbert2

Fairplay supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , ,

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