In February 2019, Derbyshire County Council decided to undertake a comprehensive review of all of the grant funding that they provide, and set out their ambitions to develop a council-wide approach to the allocation of funding in the future.

The review has considered all of the grant funding they currently provide and has identified 62 specific grants which are awarded on a recurring annual basis to a range of Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) organisations. These ‘recurring grants’ have not been subject to review, despite having been made over many years.

Proposals could lead to changes which impact a number of (VCS) organisations operating across the county.

Derbyshire  County Council would therefore like to hear from as many organisations, stakeholders and members of the public on proposals as possible.

A report to Cabinet on 6 December 2021,agenda item 5a,  sets out further information in relation to the proposals. You should read the report before responding to this consultation.

Derbyshire  County Council would be grateful to receive your views to help shape the next stage of the review process.

In the meantime, should you have any queries or require additional information or you need any clarification of the proposals before submitting your response, please do not hesitate to contact the Policy and Research team email policy@derbyshire.gov.uk

You can share your views by completing the online questionnaire https://wh1.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=163698856793

The deadline for responses is 23 March 2022. 

If you need a paper copy or information in a different format please contact Call Derbyshire tel: 01629 533190.

Twenty charities across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire have joined together to form the Anti Racist Alliance being launched today.

Led by Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service (BCVS), Community Action Derby (CAD) and Voluntary Action Doncaster (VAD) the Anti Racist Alliance, made of Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure organisations, will support it’s wider membership of over 6000 organisations to go beyond a zero tolerance approach to racism and to commit to positive action to become and remain a proactive anti-racist organisation.

Infrastructure organisations work across the country to support other charities to develop as new groups, support groups to grow through funding or governance advice and training, provide volunteer brokerage services and provide a voice for groups into policy decisions.

BCVS, CAD and VAD have been active members of the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action (NAVCA) national Anti-Racist Working group which has developed a set of Anti Racist principles and call to action also being launched today.

BCVS, CAD and VAD along with the wider infrastructure alliance members are able to provide support for voluntary and community sector organisations to develop their capacity to adopt and most critically to implement anti-racist principles. This will include diagnostics, action planning, training and referral to specialist support as needed.

Andria Birch, CEO of BCVS today said “We would love to live in a world where racism doesn’t exist, however there is still much work to be done. BCVS is actively committed to anti-racism and is pleased to be able to join forces with like-minded charities to learn, develop our practice and share our learning and resources with our wider membership to create a better world for everyone. You can find this here – www.bcvs.org/ukantiracism

We are always stronger working together and look forward to this next stage in the journey to become and remain anti-racist in all that we do.

Kim Harper, CEO of CAD added “We have been active for many years and are proud to have a diverse board which actively champions anti-racist practice.The voluntary and community sector has a key role to play in supporting our workforce and wider membership to remain or become anti-racist and we look forward to supporting our networks to develop their practice further”.

Cath Witherington, COI of VAD, also said, “We are keen to raise the profile of this important campaign across South Yorkshire and have been working with the Black Leadership Group to connect and learn across sectors to bring this added dimension and experience into the campaign”.

Infrastructure organisations signed up to the Anti-Racist Alliance to date in alphabetical order:

Amber Valley CVS
Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service (BCVS) and Bolsover Together
Community Action Derby (CAD)
Community Accounts Plus
Connex
Derbyshire Dales CVS
Derbyshire Voluntary Action (DVA)
Erewash Voluntary Action
High Peak CVS
Links: The Chesterfield and NE Derbyshire Council for Voluntary Service and Action (LinksCVS)
Mansfield Community and Voluntary Service (MCVS)
Multi Faith Centre (Derby)
Newark and Sherwood CVS
Nottingham Community and Voluntary Service (NCVS)
Rurual Action Derbyshire (RAD)
Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire (RCAN)
South Derbyshire Community and Voluntary Service (SDCVS)
The Church of England (Derbyshire)
The Volunteer Centre Chesterfield and NE Derbyshire
Voluntary Action Doncaster (VAD)

You can find out more about the future plans of the alliance, support available and how to pledge your support by visiting www.bcvs.org.uk/antiracism and www.navca.org.uk/anti-racism-work

There is a new Derbyshire County Council Grant Scheme for community projects and groups that support people across Derbyshire

There are five main priorities for the funding:
– helping residents to feel safe
– supporting young people
– encouraging residents to be more active
– being ‘greener’ and more sustainable
– encouraging people to get more involved in their communities to help them thrive

Organisations and charities that help toward the council’s ambitions will be able to apply for grants from the £1.5 million pot.

Grants are divided into four main types:
– small Grants – supporting activity or projects under £1,000
– medium Grants – supporting activity or projects between £1,001 – £20,000
– large Grants – supporting projects and programmes between £20,001 – £50,000
– exceptional Grants – supporting projects which are over £50,001

Small grants are an open application process with no deadlines so you can apply at any time. All the other grant categories will be subject to application rounds with the first deadline for receipt of applications being 30 April 2022

Find out more – https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/community/lottery-funding/derbyshire-grants/derbyshire-grants.aspx

Have you completed Mental Health First Aid Training and live/work in Derbyshire or Derby City? Why not come and join our new Mental Health First Aid Network. This is the opportunity to have a safe space to discuss challenges, problem solving and share best practice.

As a Mental Health First Aider, you get to use your skills to support your community, but we want to give you a space for peer support around being your role as a Mental Health First Aider.

The network uses the platform Microsoft Teams, that offers different topics of conversation, depending on your area of work. If you need some assistance using Microsoft Teams or creating an account, then please get in touch and we can support you to do this.

As well as quarterly virtual meetings, you have the space to use the chat any time of the day to speak to other members of the network and get support if you need it. There will also be a variety of information shared including important signposting, resources and additional training information for you to use within your workplace, organisation or group.

The first virtual meeting will be held on the 3^rd March 2022 at 11am.

If you are interested in joining the Mental Health First Aid Network then please contact Ellie Scott at ellie@erewashcvs.org.uk

Clay Cross Community Book Club is looking for a few new members to join their group. This book club is a little bit different to traditional book clubs as they meet more frequently, discus the books in sections and there is more of an emphasis on social time. Conversations are light, although the group do take on some quite challenging reads. Current members have said that the group has encouraged them to read books they wouldn’t have otherwise chosen.

They are a very friendly group and currently meet online on Monday evenings to discuss the books. Support can be provided to help new members access the sessions online. The group are considering transitioning to a day time meet up in person group (within Clay Cross). For the next book though, they will be continuing online.

Anytime over the next couple of weeks would be a good time for any potential new members to try out or join the group as the group are just about to start reading their next chosen book “Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier”. The group also have a community meet up planned on Friday the 4^th March which anybody interested in the group would be welcome to join in with if they would like to meet the group in person before participating online.

Please contact Debbie Saint, Walking Into Communities Officer for more information on this (07773 201 033 or Deborah.Saint@ne-derbyshire.gov.uk)