Community support Archives - Destination Chesterfield

With Christmas just around the corner, businesses and charitable organisations are doing their bit to help out across our area this festive season.

From toy appeals, donations to local foodbanks and support for local charities, the town is coming together in a number of ways to support those in need.

Find out how you can get involved with some of the great charity and community initiatives below, and don’t forget to find out more about the great range of festive events, activities and shopping guides at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/christmas/

Chester’s Christmas Toy Appeal at Chesterfield FC

Chester’s Christmas Toy Appeal is now underway at Chesterfield Football Club. Any new, unwrapped toys, for children aged 0-18 years, are welcome.

Sponsored by Brett Martin, the initiative provides toys at Christmas for children’s charities and families who have experienced hardship.

To make a donation to the appeal, please call in at the Technique Stadium – main reception or the HUB – from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The following business have also agreed to be a drop-off point for the appeal:

Ideal Flooring – behind Morrisons on Chatsworth Road.
World Choice Holidays inside Tesco.
Chester’s Den.
Rosewood Wealth Management Ltd, 388 Brimington Road, Chesterfield, S41 OTF.

Applications are now being invited from charities and families for toys donated to the appeal. Find out more here.

Bridge Help’s foodbank appeal

Amid the cost-of-living crisis, Bridge Help is urging local businesses to dig deep and donate to its annual Christmas collection for Chesterfield Foodbank.

Launched in 2020, Bridge Help’s annual fundraising appeal has enabled the commercial finance company to donate more than £5,500 of food and toiletries to Chesterfield Foodbank.

Bridge Help is inviting people to donate either money or non-perishable food and toiletries. All monetary donations will be used to buy much-needed items and donated to Chesterfield Foodbank.

The annual appeal is organised by Phoebe Sellars, who is a Business Development Manager at Bridge Help as well as a trustee of Chesterfield Citizens Advice in her spare time.

Phoebe said: “As a volunteer for Chesterfield Citizens Advice I am hearing first-hand how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting people in the community. Some of the stories are heartbreaking. Rather than sit and wait until December we decided to bring our appeal forward. This will hopefully enable us to collect as much as possible and make a very real difference to local people who will be forced to use this vital service over winter.”

Donations to the Bridge Help Chesterfield Foodbank Appeal can be made until Friday 16 December.

You can drop off donations at Bridge Help’s offices on Old Brick Works Lane, off Sheffield Road. Just simply call ahead to arrange a drop off time. If you would like to make a donation, please call Phoebe on 0333 303 4681.

City Taxis supports Cash for Kids Mission Christmas Appeal

City Taxis is supporting the biggest Christmas gift appeal in the UK, Cash for Kids Mission Christmas!

Mission Christmas aims to make Christmas Day different for children and young people living in poverty across the UK.

Christmas is a luxury that some families cannot afford, but by collecting and distributing gifts and cash donations, Mission Christmas can make sure that disadvantaged children have something to open on Christmas morning.

The charity identifies children and provides support through community organisations, social workers, schools, and the emergency services to ensure that help is given to those who need it most at this crucial time of year.

City Taxis, City Grab, and City Connect are proud to be supporting such a fantastic campaign, particularly with the current cost of living crisis affecting many families and their ability to enjoy a stress-free Christmas.

Gifts can be dropped off at the locations listed below:

Chesterfield

Pizza Pi – Vicar Lane Shopping Centre (City Grab outlet)
City Chesterfield Office – Holywell Street (City Grab outlet)

Paul Gosney, Business Development Director of City Taxis, said: “Having supported Cash for Kids Mission Christmas campaign in previous years, we are so pleased we are able to be involved again, particularly during these difficult times.

“The Mission Christmas campaign is not just about giving gifts – it’s about supporting our communities, spreading the love, and taking care of each other.

“The Cash for Kids team do a fantastic job of putting smiles on children’s faces every Christmas, year on year, so let’s all come together and help make this happen for 2022!”

Volunteer for one of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice’s bucket collections

Fancy spreading some Christmas cheer at a bucket-collection? The fundraising team at Bluebell Wood have the perfect opportunity for you. Across November and December the charity has multiple opportunities where you would be lending a helping hand, in stores local to you, in aid of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice cares for children and young adults whose lives are sadly just too short, helping hundreds of families from across Chesterfield, North Derbyshire and beyond at the hospice and in their homes each year.

Isobel Wells, Regional Fundraiser for Chesterfield and Derbyshire said: “With only fifteen per cent of its funding coming from government sources Bluebell Wood is reliant on its fantastic supporters, without you the charity couldn’t reach as many people who need is as possible”

If you would like to know more, please contact Isobel.wells@bluebellwood.org

Junction Arts hosts ‘The Big Give Christmas Challenge’

Between 12 noon on Tuesday 29th November – 12 noon on Tuesday 6th December, Junction Arts is attempting to raise £2000 in online donations. Donations made through the charity’s Big Give page will be doubled enabling it to providemore engaging opportunities for young people across Chesterfield, Bolsover district and NE Derbyshire.

For more details go to: https://junctionarts.org/the-big-give-2022/

Junction Arts also has charity Christmas cards for sale. Working with artist Ella Bramwell-Hopkins and the Arty Ladies group in Creswell, the design has been based upon stories and artwork created during a session reminiscing previous Christmases. Cards can be bought through Etsy. Find out more.

Hannah Bowdler, Relationship Fundraiser at Junction Arts commented: “Our annual Christmas campaign is Community Christmas because that’s exactly where the money goes, back to supporting the neighbours, friends and families of those who are giving.

“Through our projects, we promote the importance of people coming together creating supportive and caring communities. This is also promoted through fundraising for us through fun activities which create funny memories and great moments to share with others.”

Local businesses sponsor a snowflake for The Childrens Hospital Charity

The Children’s Hospital Charity’s much-loved display, established in 2004, brings people together with a shared goal to build a better future for the staff, patients and the families at Sheffield Children’s.

In return for pledging to raise funds, each sponsor sees their snowflake sparkle on one of our sites, with an attached name tag recognising their contribution for all to see.

The snowflake appeal has now raised more than £1m for Sheffield Children’s Hospital since its inception. The money raised will support the fundraising for a new on-site helipad and a redeveloped Emergency Department at Sheffield Children’s.

As well as the Homes-by-Holmes building on Saltergate in Chesterfield (pictured above), snowflakes supporting Sheffield Children’s can also be found on the hospital and various locations across North Derbyshire and South Yorkshire.

Chloë Brunton-Dunn, Corporate Partnerships Officer at The Children’s Hospital Charity said: “It has been brilliant to see our snowflakes light up Chesterfield for the second year this Christmas, and we’re so grateful to James Holmes for his continued, amazing support of Sheffield Children’s.

“We’d like to say thank you to every individual, family, business, community group, school, street and suburb that has come together to support our snowflake appeal. We’d also like to say a special thank you to Elev8 Access Platforms Ltd for all their help installing the snowflakes on the Homes-by-Holmes building in Chesterfield.

“The money raised will help Sheffield Children’s where it is needed most, including by building a new on-site helipad. We’re now over two thirds of the way to our target and we hope construction can start in the new year, so the snowflakes will leave a life-saving legacy long after Christmas.”

Rosewood Wealth Management supports Action for Children with family hampers

At Rosewood Wealth, the team is this year supporting Action for Children, a not-for-profit charity, by collecting donations that will build hampers for families that are financially struggling.

These hampers will help provide food for the festive period so families can enjoy Christmas and celebrate without the worry of putting food on the table.

If you can help, please drop any donations to Rosewood’s offices at 388 Brimington Road, Chesterfield , S41 0TF before Monday the 6th of December.

Recycle your Christmas Tree with Ashgate Hospice and Bluebell Wood

If you’ve got a real Christmas tree but don’t want the hassle of trying to dispose of it after the festive season, why not donate to a local charity and get their team of volunteers to collect it for you?

Both Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice and Ashgate Hospice are running the initiative in January 2023, but you can register your collection now on their websites!

Ashgate Hospice: https://ashgatehospice.org.uk/treecycle/

Bluebell Wood: https://www.bluebellwood.org/recycle-your-christmas-tree

Poignant lantern-lit procession to raise funds for Ashgate Hospice

Hundreds of families are set to celebrate their loved ones at a poignant sell-out lantern-lit procession and remembrance ceremony in December – and others are being invited join in from home.

Ashgate Hospice’s new-look Light Up a Life event has launched and the charity is giving the community a way to remember their loved ones during what can be a difficult time for many.
The 1.2-mile procession, which takes place on Sunday 4^th December, will see 350 supporters light up the streets of Chesterfield with special lanterns personalised in tribute to family and friends.

It will bring walkers to the hospice’s site at Old Brampton, where they will be joined by a further 200 supporters coming just to the ceremony.

Whilst the event is now full, Ashgate is encouraging people to support the hospice’s appeal by donating for a unique lantern to personalise and keep at home.

The unique remembrance service will be led by local celebrant Jonathan Reeve and will feature gentle live music from local singer Ariarna Joy, in the beautifully-lit gardens from 6pm.

Supporters of the hospice’s Light Up a Life event will receive a lantern in the post which can be personalised with a photo of their loved one and a special message in return for a suggested £20 donation. They will also be sent an electric light to place inside their lantern.

Click here and find out more about how to register for Ashgate Hospice’s Light Up a Life event this winter.

Fortem Solutions Supports Local Foodbank

Fortem’s Chesterfield team recently posted on social media how the company is supporting residents in need by linking up with Chesterfield foodbank!

Sparky Ink Studio produces charity Christmas cards

The team at Chesterfield’s Sparky Ink Studio has been busy getting into the festive spirit, by hosting a charity Christmas card competition!

In October we had a #ChristmasCardcompetition, and Jackson and Nathan have become joint winners! Well done guys!

We will be selling these cards and others which have been designed for charity.@madederbyshire @DesChes pic.twitter.com/pkVg1tKSJJ

— Sparky Ink Studio – 🎄🎮🕹🎨🎥📸💻🎬💡 (@Sparky_inK) November 24, 2022

Mortgage 1st collects donations for Chesterfield Foodbank

Staff at Mortgage 1st have this year decided to forgo their secret Santa in order to provide essential food and items for Chesterfield foodbank:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mortgage 1st (@mortgage1st)

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

Funding from a project aiming to break down the barriers around ‘social connectedness’ to stop people from feeling lonely and isolated is helping a number of organisations across Derbyshire.

Derbyshire Voluntary Action (DVA) recently launched the Feeling Connected Fund, which funds work in the community across North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield to help people stop feeling disconnected from others.

The aims of the project are to raise the profile of the benefits of being socially connected, raise awareness of existing services that support social connectedness and identify interventions, initiatives, and activities to assist people to feel socially connected.

One organisation to receive Feeling Connected funding is the Derbyshire Education Business Partnership (DEBP), which specialises in supporting the aspirational decision making of young people to shape their future, helping them to fulfil their potential.

DEBP, which works with vulnerable young adults and young people up to the age of 19 – or 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), received more than £4,000 from the Feeling Connected Fund.

Thanks to the funding, the ‘Let’s Get Creative’ project was set up to support young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. It provides the opportunity to link up with businesses and organisations in the creative sector, giving them an insight into what it’s like to work in that environment and meet other young people with shared interests.

The group of learners have undertaken a range of activities to learn about a variety of aspects within the creative sector. They have been able to spend time at Chesterfield College which is hoped will help them transition into further education – a move that can be very challenging. The group are utilising their skills in developing an interactive app and this includes the creation of soundscapes.

Clare Talati, director of DEBP, said: “During the pandemic, we saw a huge increase in young people with additional needs feeling isolated because they are often not catered for by mainstream provision. Most of their peer network and social interaction is at school, so when the schools closed last year it had a huge impact.

“We recognised an opportunity to provide young people with the chance to utilise, develop and showcase their skills, allowing them to progress positively and enhance their experiences – people with SEND are often an unrecognised talent pool. Thanks to the funding from the Feeling Connected project, we have been able to collaborate with Kakou, a local organisation specialising in inclusive technologies and Chesterfield College’s Digital, Media and Graphics department, to deliver ‘Let’s Get Creative’, which is achieving just that.

“It’s been such a fantastic experience for the young people involved and what is clear is that participants are getting a huge level of satisfaction from this initiative. It is enabling each of the young people to create a bigger peer network and giving them the opportunity to interact with new people in different ways, which is proving extremely beneficial.

“Without the funding this project wouldn’t have been possible, so a huge thank you to DVA for all their support, as well as all the other partner organisations we’ve worked with who have supported us in delivering it.”

Delivery of the project also coincides with the Marmalade Trust’s Loneliness Awareness Week, which is taking place from 14 – 21 June. The week aims to get people talking about loneliness and reduce the stigma around it, accepting that is does exist but looking at ways to help.
A total of six organisations have benefitted from the support of the Feeling Connected Fund, including Ashgate Hospice, EMH Care and Support and St Thomas Church, Brampton.

The Feeling Connected project is a multi-agency Health and Wellbeing Partnership project, led by DVA.

DVA, which has created a network of more than 300 organisations with the aim of making the voluntary sector stronger and more joined up, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year after forming in 1991.

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

Destination Chesterfield

Community support

How Chesterfield’s business community is supporting local people this Christmas