Community news

Weightron Bilanciai continues partnership with world’s first football club

Chesterfield manufacturer, Weightron Bilanciai has continued it’s partnership with the world’s oldest football club, Sheffield FC.

The agreement which began in 2020 has enabled the football club to continue its engagement in the local community, enabling people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy playing football.

Established back in 1857, Sheffield FC’s vision is to become a worldwide iconic grass-roots football club based on the club’s founding values of Integrity, Respect and Community.

Using the power of sport to encourage social interaction, the club hopes to spread its message locally, nationally and internationally, through diversity programmes in disadvantaged communities under the banner of The Sheffield FC Community.

Weightron Bilanciai have already helped ‘The Worlds First’ make a positive impact in making football accessible for all. Since then, the firm’s work in the local community has grown positively impacting a wide demographic delivering aged friendly sessions, alongside delivering healthy activity and food camps in partnership with Sheffield Council and North East Derbyshire District Council for under-privileged families.

For the upcoming season, The partnership will provide new home & away kit for 190 players across more than a dozen teams, which will feature Weightron Bilanciai front of shirt branding on all home and away shirts.

Graham Abercrombie, Head of Community at Sheffield FC said: “I am delighted that Weightron are continuing to support Sheffield FC.  The wonderful partnership will enable the community and disability departments in particular, to continue to grow and have a bigger positive impact than ever before, whilst creating lifelong memorable experiences for all involved.”

Nick Catt, Managing Director at Weightron Bilanciai Ltd. commented: “The level of involvement Weightron is providing to support our local community forms part of our business strategy and is an integral part in our long term plans.”

In addition to this Weightron are also involved with:

  • Aged Friendly sessions: Bringing together 20 vulnerable elderly local community members before home games for a social meet, food, drinks, transport, and free entry to the home games.
  • FA Wildcats: A non-competitive football for girls who want to give it a go for the very first time or want to play with other girls their own age from 5 to 11.
  • HAF camps: Holiday activities and food programme has provided support to children in receipt of free school meals through holiday period with over 450 local children supported.
  • Disability sessions.
  • CPD Workshops.
  • Weight Management Programs.

Richard Sheldon, General Manager of Sheffield FC added: “I am delighted to announce that Weightron Bilanciai will continue as principal community partner to Sheffield Football Club for the 2022-2023 season. The positive impact for our community teams, players and volunteers has truly been overwhelming since Weightron Bilanciai partnered with The World’s First in 2020. Their continued support the new season will provide invaluable opportunities for our grassroot clubs and community department to grow and flourish.”

Weightron Bilanciai 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, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure, Love Chesterfield, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , ,

Chesterfield FC Community Trust agrees partnership to enhance education offer

A partnership has been agreed between Chesterfield FC Community Trust and TEAM Education Trust to greatly enhance the Community Trust’s alternative provision offering.

Led by Matt Morris, who is the education & inclusion manager at TEAM Education Trust, the two organisations will develop a pathway to Ofsted accreditation, with the aim of achieving that within two years.

Commenting on the link-up, Morris said: “There’s a real magic here at Chesterfield Football Club. They’re offering something special and that’s why we at TEAM Education Trust really want to be involved.”

Sarah Baker, the CEO of TEAM Education Trust, added: “This is an exciting partnership which will offer lots of opportunities for our students and staff. It will also support those coming to the club from other schools from across Derbyshire and the young people who are working within Chesterfield FC Community Trust as part of their alternative provision.

“For us, it’s about quality, inclusive education. Between us both, we’re going to be supporting some amazing learning for young people and developing activities designed to motivate and inspire our students.

“We’ll be working with the Community Trust to help them to ensure their provision is of an excellent standard and to secure better outcomes for the young people across this area.”

Martin Thacker, director and trustee of the Community Trust, believes it is a fantastic opportunity for the organisation to move forward with its alternative provision.

He said: “Over a period of time, we’ve done some excellent work with young people who aren’t in schools, for whatever reason.

“This club has become their oasis – a place for them to come to and feel secure and safe and enjoy what they’re doing while they’re not in school.

“This development will mean that there’s an increase in the quality of water in that oasis. It’s so exciting and we’re really glad to be doing this.”

Chesterfield FC Community Trust 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, Development, Home, UncategorisedTagged in , , , , , , ,

Derbyshire Voluntary Action celebrates opening of new community hub

Friends of Derbyshire Voluntary Action (DVA) gathered at a new community hub recently to celebrate ‘Feeling Connected Week’.

The Hub @ Low Pavement is DVA’s new pop-up community venue in Chesterfield’s town centre and will serve to promote better social connectedness and improved mental health and wellbeing for people in the local area.

The Hub will host activities, exhibitions and social get-togethers, as well as providing information about the local voluntary and community sector.

Chief Executive of DVA, Jacqui Willis, explains: “We’ve wanted to create an inclusive, welcoming and friendly place for members of the public and for volunteer-led community groups to come together and forge new connections for some time.  To have the opportunity to do this at accessible premises in the heart of Chesterfield is fantastic.”

The Hub will also be an important asset for DVA’s Feeling Connected project, which supports local people and groups to combat loneliness. During ‘Feeling Connected Week’ the project shone a spotlight on some of the great volunteer-led initiatives that bring people together week-in week-out in North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield.

The aim of Feeling Connected Week was to inspire people to talk about what they have done to make themselves or others feel more connected, as well as encouraging people to come together and reconnect as group, whether it be with colleagues, friends or a social or special interest group.

Derbyshire Voluntary Action (DVA) is an innovative independent charity, which strategically represents and champions the work of the health and wellbeing related voluntary and community sector in Derbyshire. It provides vital support to a diverse range of local charities and community groups, and connects people and resources to projects and ideas.

For more information about The Hub @ Low Pavement and the Feeling Connected project, contact Derbyshire Voluntary Action: info@dva.org.uk / 01246 555908.

Derbyshire Voluntary Action supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 190 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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

Vital funding confirmed for community groups in Chesterfield

Community groups in Chesterfield are set to benefit from more than £30,000 of funding that has been provided through the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhoods Fund.

The Chesterfield Borough Council funding is being provided to a wide range of community groups for a variety of different projects, all of which have important benefits to local communities and support the objectives outlined in the Council Plan.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “This funding ensures that much needed projects for our community can be supported and delivered for the benefit our residents. This funding is a result of new developments in the borough and demonstrates how we can leverage new developments to ensure they can help meet the needs of our residents in as many ways as possible.

“In the last few months, we have provided well over £100,000 to community groups through this fund. We have further application deadlines coming up, and I would encourage all eligible community groups that are in need of funding in Chesterfield to apply through this scheme.”

This latest round of funding has been provided to six different projects including money for the Cosy Hub to purchase laptops and provide support to residents when creating CVs and for children to complete their homework on. It has also provided funds for the Friends of Hasland Community Hub to improve facilities in the Working Men’s Club to allow several groups to meet at the same time.

The Friends of Stand Road Park has received funding to help provide further improvements to the park and ensure it has excellent facilities for local residents.

Graham King, Chair of Friends of Stand Road Park, said: “The group is delighted to have been awarded the CIL funding for our project. Our community consultation, for which we undertook an extensive opinions survey, has shown that the community’s next priority for improving the park is to install a network of paths with benches at appropriate intervals. The CIL award will allow us to put in eight park benches. We shall site them at locations to suit the route of the future paths. We aim to put in the paths later once we have raised the required funding”.

Another group that received funding are Derbyshire LGBT+ which works to support Chesterfield’s LGBT+ community. The money will help ensure they can continue to provide their services to local residents.

Ian Robson, Chief Executive Officer of Derbyshire LGBT+, said: “Derbyshire LGBT+ is very grateful to Chesterfield Borough Council for supporting us with a grant from the Community Infrastructure Levy fund. This money will allow us to continue operating our Chesterfield community centre, supporting Chesterfield’s LGBT+ communities of all ages in dealing with issues of general health, mental health, sexual health, loneliness and isolation. Our centre provides many support groups and drop-in sessions each week.”

The Community Infrastructure Levy is a charge that councils can place on new developments in their area through the planning process. It is used primarily to fund infrastructure around the new developments, it can include but is not limited to roads, schools, parks and flood defences. Chesterfield is the only borough in Derbyshire currently using the levy to fund infrastructure and projects.

Funding for community groups comes from the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund. Of the total funding 15% is provided to the neighbourhoods fund. In Brimington and Staveley this money is given directly to the respective town and parish councils to allocate, and Chesterfield Borough Council is responsible for this funding in the rest of the borough.

Find out more about how to apply for the next round of funding on the council’s website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/cil-funding

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

Chesterfield Champions get into the festive spirit

A number of Chesterfield Champions have been getting into the Christmas spirit this season, whether it’s been through charitable donations, donning those festive jumpers or embellishing their businesses with dazzling decorations..

We’ve been so impressed to see the community spirit well and truly alive here in Chesterfield, despite the challenges posed by covid-19. So we’re showcasing some of our favourite festive stories and photos from our fabulous local businesses!

Wishing all our champions, businesses and residents a Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Christmas Jumper Day 2020

A number of Chesterfield Champions sent us photos of their teams wearing some truly excellent knitwear on Christmas Jumper Day, which took place on Friday, 11th December in aid of Save the Children. Well done to all those who took part and donated!

Mortgage 1st

The team at Mortgage 1st raised a fabulous £140 for Save The Children by sporting their Christmas jumpers in the office and eating Christmas jumper day cakes!

Salute

Natalia and Daniela from Salute sent us this adorable photo of their little helper getting cosy in one of their jumpers… You can find out more about their Christmas hampers here.

 

Rosewood Wealth Management

Donna, Shannan and Abigail have at Rosewood have certainly been getting into the festive spirit this year! The team have been collecting toys for the Nightingale Ward at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, along with decorating the outside of their business with a fabulous reindeer model… Not forgetting those all-important Christmas jumpers!

Banner Jones Solicitors

We love this collage of Christmas jumpers put together by Banner Jones solicitors! A huge well done to all who got involved…

Charity Appeals and Donations

Many of our Champions have worked hard to ensure those who are less fortunate are able to enjoy Christmas this year. Whether it is collecting toys to help Santa deliver presents to Chesterfield children, or donating to local foodbanks so families are able to enjoy a proper Christmas dinner, Chesterfield’s businesses have shown true community spirit. Here’s a few examples:

Greatest Hits Radio’s toy appeal and festive jingle campaign

The team at Greatest Hits Radio North Derbyshire have been incredibly busy this year. Back in November they launched their Mission Christmas Toy appeal, which has provided gifts for underprivileged children across the region. But they certainly weren’t finished there! Now, the team have launched the Christmas Eve Jingle campaign to raise festive spirits, by asking people to gather on their doorsteps to ring a bell at 6pm for two minutes on Christmas Eve. Find out more here.

Chesterfield FC toy appeal

Chesterfield FC’s Community Trust have been keen to support local residents ever since they took over the ownership of the football club back in the summer. This Christmas has been no exception, with the Spireites collecting hundreds of toys for local children.

Bridge Help Foodbank Appeal

Chesterfield Champions and other local businesses have rallied around the Bridge Help appeal to support Chesterfield Foodbank this Christmas. The company matched all donations of luxury items with essential food, including cereal, long life milk and tinned goods.

Specsavers foodbank donation

The team at Specsavers Chesterfield generously donated supplies to Chesterfield Food Hut this Christmas, along with paying for all of the charity’s costs until February 2021. The money will be put towards covering costs and providing 250 hot meals per week to the most vulnerable in our area.

Central Technology and BRM Solicitors gift Smart TV’s and Netflix licenses to Ashgate Hospicecare

Chesterfield’s Central Technology and BRM Solicitors have generously gifted Ashgate Hospicecare a total of three smart TV’s to help the charity to help upgrade it’s patient rooms and enable patients to view films and TV shows on Netflix.

 

Spreading festive cheer in Chesterfield 

A number of Chesterfield Champions have come up with new and creative ways of bringing people across the town together this year, and there’s still time for you to get involved with some of them!

Spire Radio Christmas Carol singalong

With many Christmas Carol Concerts cancelled this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Middlecroft Community Group have teamed up with Spire Radio to hold a one-off special on Spire Radio on Friday 18th December from 6pm.

Make sure you join the on-air team for some festive fun!

Team spire

Crooked Spire festival of lights

With their regular Christmas schedule disrupted due to the pandemic, the team behind Chesterfield’s most famous landmark have still managed to put together a range of festive features and events this Christmas.

Carol singing will be taking place outside the Church from 1.00pm for 20 minutes each day from the 17th until the 24th December, along with a dazzling display of light being projected onto the spire from the 16th December until the 31st December.

Festive Brass

Dazzling Decorations on Chesterfield’s high-street

Make sure you head into Chesterfield Town Centre to take a look at the wonderful decorations in our local independent shops. And while you’re at it, you could enter the S40 Local Advent Town competition by spotting the numbers of the advent calendar in the windows of some stores!

Here are some of our favourites:

Adorn Jewellers

Fred’s Haberdashery

Shop Indie

Don’t forget you can find out more about local festive events, activities, gift ideas and shopping times over on our Christmas In Chesterfield pages.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Blog, Business, Christmas, Destination Chesterfield, Featured, Leisure, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stay informed

Keep up to date

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

Signup to our newsletter