Did you know more people in Derbyshire are diagnosed with cancer than the England average?

Building on the Be Cancer SAFE North Derbyshire campaign, Derbyshire Voluntary Action are working to raise awareness of bowel cancer signs and symptoms and the importance of screening amongst men in areas where uptake is traditionally low. Bowel cancer is the 4th most common cancer in the UK and affects 1 in every 15 males. The disease is treatable and curable, especially if diagnosed early.

The project employs a community approach to improving cancer survival creating a network of cancer champions who help to remove barriers and normalise conversations about cancer. This in turn can lead to more people attending their screening or contacting their GP if there are concerns.

You can find out more and make a pledge to be a cancer champion by visiting www.becancersafe-nd.org and simply start having health conversations wherever and whenever you get the opportunity.

Our message is simple:
• Screening – Participate in screening when invited
• Awareness – Be aware of any changes in your body
• Fast – If you notice changes, act fast. Contact your GP
• Early – Early detection saves lives. Recognise the symptoms and act promptly

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. This annual event helps raise the profile of bowel cancer and its symptoms such as persistent blood in your poo, a persistent change in your bowel habits and raises awareness of screening.

The ‘In a Word’ Campaign is the result of conversations with with people during Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and how they sum up their experience of bowel cancer.

To find out more please email Rich Colgrave at becancersafe@dva.org.uk

Join us on social media @BeCancerSafe_ND, Facebook Be Cancer Safe North Derbyshire and Instagram BeCancerSafeND

Re-opening your hall safely – what you need to know, what you need to do! 

The aim of this session is to provide a ‘re-cap’ of the latest ACRE guidelines for the safe re-opening of village and community halls post COVID-19 closures in response to the new ‘4 Step Roadmap to recovery.’ 

This session falls between Step 2 – which will start on 12th April and Step 3 – which is scheduled to start on 17th May. By then, most halls will be open for those activities permitted by the ‘roadmap’ whilst taking the necessary measures to open halls up to bookings by groups, clubs and the wider community at Step 3.

Delegates will have the opportunity to ask questions, discuss specific issues of concern and share their experience of managing the gradual re-opening and easing of restrictions.

You can book a place on the Rural Action Derbyshire website HERE

Derbyshire Voluntary Action (DVA), which has created a network of more than 300 organisations with the aim of making the voluntary sector stronger and more joined up with each other, has reached the milestone after forming in 1991.

DVA, which is based at Chesterfield Market Hall, specialises in supporting voluntary and community sector organisations in the health and well-being sector – from tiny volunteer-led self-help groups through to local and regional charities delivering projects to the benefit of large numbers of Derbyshire residents.

Back, Debbie Fennell, Jacqui Willis, Heather Fawbert
Front, Julia Cook and Charlotte Repton

Charlotte Repton, project manager at DVA, said: “If you were going to sum up what DVA does, I think the simplest version is that we are a charity which supports other charities – but there is much more to it than that.

“Healthy communities really are the key to why we do what we do.

“The voluntary sector is vital to delivering specialised, responsive support in the community, enhancing what is offered by public services such as the council and NHS.

“I think the pandemic has made that more clear than ever.”

Charlotte said DVA had done ‘so much’ to help people over the last year, including putting together a comprehensive online directory of organisations which can offer support.

The charity has also set up a response hub which includes volunteers who make phone calls each week to people who are in need of someone to speak to.

DVA supports the voluntary sector in many ways, including holding regular forum meetings where members can meet, share updates and any issues, and find out about local and national news.

Over the last year, the charity has also offered high-quality online training to more than 100 different groups.

Jacqui Willis, chief executive of DVA, said: “When DVA was formed in 1991 it was a very small operation, but the ambition was always there to provide a voice for the voluntary and community organisations and to look for innovative ways to strengthen the sector, and our local area as a whole. You could say that the forum is where it all started.

“But now we do so much more. On top of communicating through our weekly bulletins and the quarterly Network magazine, I attend lots of meetings, committees and boards with statutory partners where I am able to be the voice for the voluntary sector.

“Campaigning for and championing the voluntary sector is one of the most impactful things we do.”

DVA is funded by the local council and NHS clinical commissioning group, and then distributes grants to groups, allowing them to continue the great work they do.

Charlotte added: “I think we’re quite an innovative charity – and during our 30th anniversary year, we’ll be looking to raise some income by linking with businesses.”

Businesses interested in helping can visit www.dva.org.uk/dva-at-30 for more details.

Jacqui added: “We are going to be using our birthday to celebrate the voluntary sector and we hope that we can encourage people to show some appreciation for local charities and groups which make a big difference.”

For more information about DVA, visit www.dva.org.uk.

Article taken from Derbyshire Times website

Dates are as follows;

26th April 12.30 to 4.30pm
6th May 9am to 1pm
10th May 12.30 to 4.30
24th May 12.30 to 4.30

This course is currently being delivered online, Relate are able to offer some funded places some may incur a charge.

For more information email admin@relatechesterfield.org.uk

Free 6-week BSL program for Derbyshire staff and volunteers, delivered virtually, through Zoom  A NEW initiative to encourage more members of the public to take up sign language as an extra language and skill, is now available to residents of Derbyshire. The Signs4Life scheme is to help people to communicate and engage with children and adults who may be hard of hearing. 

Tabassum, Signs4Life partnerships officer, explains “There are more than nine million hard of hearing people registered in the UK. We have already worked with social workers, housing staff, teachers, the local NHS, and Royal Mail. We wanted to open our programs to the general public, who might also have an interest in learning sign language, especially now that many people have been stuck at home during a third lockdown. We are offering a free 6-week BSL program, which you can enjoy and access from the comfort of your homes, delivered through Zoom”. Signs4Life is leading efforts towards a society in which people with disabilities have full access and are working to raise the public and political awareness of disability provision. 

For more details on the free community program for Derbyshire, starting in June, please book via our website for “The Hotpots” group, starting on Friday 11th June 2021 https://signs4life.org/in-the-community/

Now that lockdown restrictions have started to ease you might be meeting up with family and friends, it’s important to remember to meet outside and not indoors. Watch the short video below to find out more.

Derbyshire Voluntary Action (DVA), an organisation which supports the work of the health and wellbeing charities and volunteer organisations in the North Derbyshire area, is celebrating its 30^th anniversary.

DVA, which has created a network of more than 300 organisations with the aim of making the voluntary sector stronger and more joined up with each other, has reached the milestone after forming in 1991.  

The organisation specialises in supporting health and wellbeing related voluntary and community sector organisations – from tiny volunteer-led self-help groups through to local and regional charities delivering projects to the benefit of large numbers of Derbyshire residents.

Charlotte Repton, Project Manager at DVA, said: “If you were going to sum up what DVA does, I think the simplest version is that we are a charity which supports other charities – but there is much more to it than that!

“Healthy communities really are the key to why we do what we do. The voluntary sector is vital to delivering specialised, responsive support in the community, enhancing what is offered by public services such as the Council and NHS. I think the pandemic has made that more clear than ever.”

DVA supports the voluntary sector in a range of ways including regular forum meetings where members can meet, share updates and find out about local and national news.

Jacqui Willis, Chief Executive of DVA, said: “When DVA was formed in 1991 it was a very small operation, but the ambition was always there to provide a voice for the voluntary and community organisations and to look for innovative ways to strengthen the sector, and our local area as a whole. You could say that the forum is where it all started.

“But now we do so much more. On top of communicating through our weekly bulletins and the quarterly Network magazine, I attend lots of meetings, committees and boards with statutory partners where I am able to be the voice for the voluntary sector. Campaigning for and championing the voluntary sector is one of the most impactful things we do.”

DVA also leads on a specialist Mental Health Liaison Service, which creates a network and hosts forums for mental health support organisations across the county.

The charity also has a history of delivering ‘social prescribing’ where, rather than medication, individuals are prescribed services and activities in the community to help them improve their health.

As with all essential services, funding is key to the work of DVA. The organisation distributes grants to groups, allowing them to continue the great work they do.

As well as giving out funds, as a charity DVA applies for national funding, bringing money and resource into the local area and allowing the organisation to run innovative projects. Two examples of projects currently running are Community Chesterfield, a partnership with University of Derby, and the ConnectTo… project which promotes social connectedness.

Jacqui added: “We are going to be using our birthday to celebrate the voluntary sector and we hope that we can encourage people to show some appreciation for local charities and groups which make a big difference.”

THE CALM MODEL: CONNECT WITH ME.

Led by Sarah Markham, founder of Calm in a Box, all about “finding a calmer, happier and healthier life for work/life brilliance”. The four short separate sessions will follow Sarah’s CALM model:

C – Connect with me through supportive conversations
A –  All of me matters
L – Let me have time for rest and recovery
M – Motivate and inspire me to take care of others

“Calm In A Box brings together my personal interest in wellbeing with my professional experience and aims to promote a calmer lifestyle at home and at work at a time when we are often overwhelmed with busyness, stress and anxiety which can lead to both mental and physical health issues”

Each of the four sessions are at 9.15am for 45minutes and are bookable separately on Eventbrite (Book HERE). They can be done as a series or dip-in as a one off individual session. The sessions are for Community & Voluntary Third Sector organisations or groups in Chesterfield and immediate surrounding areas AND staff /students of the University of Derby.

Each session will include:
– Key themes, research, insights, and storytelling
– How to shift your mind-set
– Positive behaviours
– A Practical exercise
– Key takeaways
– Q&A

Plus at each session someone will win a “Calm Box” – our treat and a little reminder to create some calm time just for you.

21st April: C – Connect with me through supportive conversations
•             Your Why
•             Who you are and what’s important to you
•             Spiritual energy
•             How to connect with yourself
•             How to connect with others
•             Values and purpose

28th April: A –  All of me matters
•             Your What
•             Who you are vs who you think you should be
•             Emotional energy
•             Self awareness
•             Emotional Intelligence
•             Compassion and kindness to yourself

5th May: L – Let me have time for rest and recovery
•             Your What
•             How you look after yourself
•             Intellectual energy
•             Mindset
•             Managing stress and avoiding burnout
•             Balancing your energy

12th May: M – Motivate and inspire me to take care of others
•             Your How
•             How you put things into practice
•             Your wellbeing plan
•             Sustaining behaviour change – tiny habits
•             Overcoming barriers
•             Resilience

Website:  calminabox.co.uk