The new Derbyshire Befriending website has a modern, straightforward style making it easy for people to find out all about befriending, how to find services and what to expect as a volunteer befriender. There are also lots of case studies on there showing the impact of befriending from the point of view of both befriendees and befrienders.

Visit here: https://www.derbyshirebefriending.org.uk/

SV2, who support victims of sexual violence, are wanting your comments on their name and the way that they communicate ahead of their rebranding next year. They would like feedback so that they can make it clearer what they do e.g. what support and services they offer.
 
You can visit the SV2 website here https://www.sv2.org.uk/
 
Complete the short anonymous poll here https://bit.ly/3Sk5THd
 
You do not need to be an SV2 client, anyone can participate.

The University of Derby are opening their doors and offering a FREE friendly breastfeeding support group. The drop-in sessions will run from the 15^th of September on the first and third Thursday of the month, between 10:30am – 12:00pm at the Chesterfield St Helena campus.

Whether you are expecting a child, are new to parenting, or are further down your parenting journey- all are welcome! The group will be led by experienced breastfeeding supporters, who are trained and supervised by Breastfeeding Network Derbyshire. They will provide non-judgemental support and information for families attending the group.

“It’s great that the Community Chesterfield Project has enabled us to work with the University of Derby in this way.” Says Alexandra Dilkes from Breastfeeding Network Derbyshire. “It’s a wonderful venue, centrally located and easy to get to.”
 
Free refreshments will be provided, as well as a selection of toys to entertain the little ones! There is plenty of public parking available within a 2-minute walk of the venue but none on Campus.
 
“I am so glad that we were able to bring Breastfeeding Network Derbyshire back to the University of Derby in Chesterfield, they make such a big difference to parents – particularly in the early days of being a parent. It’s thanks to the University that we have been able to offer the group such a fantastic venue.” Says Jennifer Raschbauer from Community Chesterfield.
 
Over the last two years, local volunteers from Breastfeeding Network Derbyshire, known as Feeding Together Bolsover and Chesterfield, haven’t let the pandemic stop them supporting families! They have been providing remote support and running regular ‘Parent in the Park’ walks at Poolsbrook Country Park.
 
The organisation will also be running sessions at Staveley Healthy Living Centre and Bolsover Children’s Centre. To find out what exciting things they’ve got coming up, check out their Facebook pages (@Bolsoverbfgroup and @bfnderbyshire).

Mental Health Together (MHT) is an engagement service run by Healthwatch Derbyshire. MHT exist to give mental health service receivers and carers a greater say in the health and care services they access; ensuring they are listened to and that their experiences and ideas are at the heart of service design and delivery. MHT are at an exciting phase in their development as Healthwatch Derbyshire is also now the official engagement provider for the transformation of community mental health services across Derbyshire. This new model of service is called ‘Living Well’ and they are looking to strengthen their workforce with people who have a passion for the work they do.

The purpose of the Living Well engagement service is to:

• Grow and support the voice of lived experience within the transformation work, focusing on adults of working age and older adults and underrepresented voices and minority communities.
• Successful delivery of the community mental health transformation across Derbyshire.
• Support effective co-design and co-production of this new ‘Living Well’ model.

The following jobs are currently available:

Living Well Lead Engagement Officer

Salary: £27,125

Hours: 37 hours

Closing date: Monday 26^th September, 2022

Interview date: Monday 10^th or Tuesday 11^th October, 2022

Location: Hybrid working

Employment type: Fixed term until 30th April 2024

Living Well Engagement Officer

Salary: £25,788

Hours: 37 hours

Closing date: Monday 26^th September, 2022

Interview date: Monday 10^th or Tuesday 11^th October, 2022.

Location: Hybrid working

Employment type: Fixed term until 30th April 2024

Living Well Support Worker

Salary: £23,502 based on 37 hours (pro-rata for part time)    

Hours: 18.5 hours

Closing date: Monday 26^th September, 2022

Interview date: Monday 10^th or Tuesday 11^th October, 2022.

Location: Hybrid working

Employment type: Fixed term until 30th April 2024

The Public Health Mental Health Team have commissioned the Lions Barber Collective to deliver online training (via Zoom) for hairdressers, barbers and beauty professionals in Derbyshire County so that they can help to support their customers’ mental wellbeing. In relation to this, it is recognised that customers often open up to the above about their feelings when they might not want to confide to others. The next free four-hour training session for hair and beauty professionals based in Derbyshire County is due to take place on Monday 3 October 2022. Further course dates will be released in the future which will also be publicised.
 
Booking is via Eventbrite, regarding which interested individuals can use the weblink below to read more about the training and to register for a free place for the 3 October training session. Habia endorse the training, they are recognised by government as the standard setting body for the hair and beauty industry.
 
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/barbertalk-hairbeauty-talk-online-derbyshire-3rd-october-2022-tickets-414044898437

Zero Suicide Alliance’s free training will help you gain skills and confidence to help someone who may be considering suicide.

Anyone can learn how to have a potentially life-saving conversation.

Take the training online at https://bit.ly/3Qsn9sk

Here at Derbyshire Voluntary Action we are delighted to share the Summer 2022 edition of our Network newsletter. We hope you find it packed full of inspiring and useful information!

You can view our Network Summer 2022 newsletter HERE or download a copy HERE

For more information visit:
https://www.communitychesterfield.org.uk/training-and-tea

To book visit:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/community-chesterfield-30163085884

In support of World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September) The Georgia Bird Foundation and Derbyshire Mental Health Liaison Service are holding ‘The Last Photo’ exhibition to raise awareness and hold space for people to talk openly and compassionately about suicide and mental health. Read more about the exhibition here.

Organisers of ‘The Last Photo’ are asking for your artwork to display at the exhibition. This could be paintings, drawings, textile art, photographs, poetry or your story of mental health. The artwork can be about mental health, or how creativity has aided your recovery.
 
If you have something you would like to show at the exhibition you can drop it into Rachel who will be at the Hub @ Low Pavement on Tuesday 30^th August (10am-3pm) or Wednesday 31 August (10am-12pm).
 
Artwork can also be collected from the Chesterfield or North East Derbyshire area, please contact rachel@dva.org.uk or georgiabirdfoundation@gmail.com to arrange collection.
 
By sharing your artwork, it is hoped that it can highlight the power that art and creativity can have in mental health recovery and how the voluntary sector can support that.