It’s time for the Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team (DAST) biennial poetry competition. This year, they’re giving you two themes to work with:
 
-Trees
The DAST logo is a tree, representing lungs. Throughout our organisation’s history we have planted memorial trees for asbestos victims, and we are currently investigating the possibility of carrying out a fundraising drive to dedicate an acre of woodland. Trees are known to be good for us – as well as cleaning the air, a walk in the woods can do wonders for your sense of wellbeing. So, we are looking for positive poetry about trees. Do you have a favourite tree? Do you have any childhood memories connected to climbing or swinging from trees? Do you have one in your garden that you planted yourself – what does it mean to you?
 
-Journey
We are keen to hear your life stories, or about experiences from your younger days. Tell us about your journey through life.  How did you get to where you are today?
You can enter as many poems as you like, there are no rules on the format of the poem or on how many words you use – they just have to stick to one of the two subjects listed above.  We ask that those entering read the rules first and then send their entry in with an official entry form. In order to obtain these you can email sarah.walters@asbestossupport.co.uk or telephone 01246 380415. There is an entry fee of £3 per poem – this money will help to fund our Action Mesothelioma Day activities. The closing date is Wednesday 30 June 2021 and there will be a small prize for the winner of each category.

Spring Wellbeing Activity Packs and Supported Volunteering Opportunities at The Wild Thyme Garden, Matlock.  Both of these form part of the wider Connecting Communities Project, funded via the Derbyshire Dales Social Connectedness Fund, therefore all activities/opportunities within the Connecting Communities Project are free for people living in the Derbyshire Dales.
 
If you know of anyone who may benefit, just make contact or ask the individual to make direct contact with The Connection Space CIC on theconnectionspacecic@gmail.com or 07450195051
 
Download the Spring Wellbeing Activity Pack flyer
Download the Wild Thyme Garden flyer

The volunteering opportunities at The Wild Thyme Garden are dependent on current COVID 19 Government Guidance and may be subject to change.  The Connection Space CIC are however tentatively planning their first session mid April.  The garden is on the corner of Wellington Street and Cavendish Rd, Matlock.

If you are experiencing mental ill-health and need support to maintain your home or to find a more suitable place to live, we can help.

• We have properties becoming available soon in Supported Housing in Amber Valley and High Peak; please see the website for eligibility.
• We have a short waiting list for Community Based support in Amber Valley and High Peak

Our service focuses on people’s housing needs, delivering personalised support to enable people with mental ill-health to maintain their home and be in control of their housing needs. 

We offer a choice-led approach to support people’s wellbeing whilst enabling them to maintain their tenancy, working with people to rebuild confidence in a number of areas – such as budgeting, improving daily living skills, developing supportive local networks and accessing specialist services – to ensure they are able to stay independent within their home.

Our service aims to keep the person receiving support in control, making them an active participant in all the plans made and any actions taken, so they receive the right level of support and can just get on with life.

The Derbyshire Independent Living Service offers support across Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, High Peak, and South Derbyshire.

For more information or to make an online referral please visit Derbyshire Independent Living Service – P3 (p3charity.org)

The Elm Foundation are offering FREE training sessions around Domestic Abuse:
 
 An Introduction to Domestic Abuse -Thurs 1^st April 9.30 -10.30am

Hidden Victims of Domestic Abuse – Men, Older Victims, LGBT+, and BAME – Tues 20^th April 9.30 -11.30am

Domestic abuse and technology – Learn about how technology is used to perpetrate abuse -Thurs 29^th April 9.30 -10.30am
 
These sessions are all delivered live online through Zoom. You can book via: https://www.theelmfoundation.org.uk/training-courses

https://www.facebook.com/derbyshirecancerbuddies/

It will soon be time for the latest issue of our Network newsletter, and we would really like to include lots of news about your activities and services.

If you have a success story, a new project or some exciting news, then please share it with us.

You can look at previous issues of our newsletter for ideas HERE.

Please send any articles (with photos/logos if possible) to rachel@dva.org.uk by Friday 26th March 2021.