Local Connections Fund will be open to charities and interest groups that reduce social isolation.

Book clubs, walking groups and other community projects will be able to apply for a £4 million fund designed to help reduce loneliness in the coming months.

The Local Connections Fund – made up of £2 million from the Government and £2 million from The National Lottery Community Fund – will be used for hundreds of small grants worth between £300 and £2,500.

These investments are designed to help local organisations bring people and communities together as the country recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Local Connections Fund will be split into two rounds of funding – each with its own application window, one in January 2021 and one in the summer 2021.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/community-groups-tackling-loneliness-to-benefit-from-4m-fund

Here’s the booking link for all these funded courses: http://ow.ly/1GN550CFTeu

An online advent calendar has been launched, by Joined Up Care Derbyshire, containing winter top tips for Derbyshire residents, and health and social care staff.

The calendar will feature 24 top tips on social media platforms, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook during December. The campaign aims to encourage residents and colleagues to take an active role in staying safe and well this winter against a backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This has been an unprecedented year and we want the people of Derbyshire to be fighting fit this winter, observe the government’s hands, face, space messages and seek help when they need it from the most appropriate NHS service, whether it’s pharmacy, GP, Urgent Treatment Centre, NHS 111 or the Emergency Department (ED).

Residents and health and social colleagues are being encouraged to share the calendar with their friends and family to ‘spread the word in Derbyshire’ and to share their story and tell us how they’re staying safe and well this winter.

Joined Up Care Derbyshire is a partnership of health and social care organisations in Derbyshire working together to improve care and services for Derbyshire residents.

Follow Joined Up Care Derbyshire online at:

www.twitter.com/JoinedUpCare

www.instagram.com/joinedupcarederbyshire

www.facebook.com/joinedupcarederbyshire

Web: www.joinedupcarederbyshire.co.uk

The CRU is there to help if you have no family, friends or neighbours who can support you.

Visit: https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/social-health/health-and-wellbeing/health-protection/disease-control/coronavirus/community-response-unit/if-you-need-help/if-you-need-help.aspx

Or call: 01629 535091

The opening hours of the Derbyshire County Council Community Response (CRU) Unit over the 2020 Christmas period are:

Derbyshire Recovery and Peer Support Service are launching their new ‘Tech Buddies’ project!

The project aims to pair those who are too anxious or maybe unable to use technology and as a result are becoming digitally excluded from staying connected with friends / family / support network with a dedicated volunteer who can provide support to learn these skills.

They are rolling the scheme out in 2 phases. Phase 1 is to recruit volunteers who are confident using technology (zoom/facebook/teams etc.) so that they have a bank of individuals trained and ready to pair up when they roll out Phase 2, which will be when they start receiving referrals into this scheme.  

If you know of someone who may be interested in BECOMING a volunteer for this project please get in touch with ellie.scott@rethink.org

Joined Up Care Derbyshire / DCHS Charitable Trust
NHS Charities Together Community Partnership Grant

Call to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Organisations in Derby & Derbyshire

Derby & Derbyshire has been allocated grant funding of £445k from NHS Charities Together. This is for partnership working to support communities impacted by COVID 19. This funding will be co-ordinated by DCHS Charitable Trust.

4 key priority areas have been identified for Derby & Derbyshire:

• Community Resilience and how we intervene early
• Support for Carers especially in rural areas and BAME communities
• Mental Health and Wellbeing for those affected by COVID 19
• Digital connections and tackling the digital divide.

Are you interested in being part of this initiative?
We are seeking expressions of interest from Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations – of any size and from any part of Derby & Derbyshire – who have ideas about how we should tackle these priorities and/or who  want to be part of delivering the work.

We want this to be a real example of partnership working. So the next stage will be to bring different potential partners together, and work collaboratively to shape our plans. Working together to make sure we make best use of this funding opportunity, and make a real difference to our community at this challenging time.

Whether you want to lead one of the themes, be a delivery partner or just want your ideas and insight to shape our delivery plan, we want to hear from you. Just complete the form and return it to cath.benfield1@nhs.net

Deadline for expressions of interest: Friday 18^th December 2020 5pm

Junction Arts is the driving force behind annual local events such as the Tapton Lock Festival and the Bolsover Lantern Parade. Their events give people the opportunity to come together, to support one another and celebrate their communities. In a year of increased isolation and loneliness, Junction Arts has worked throughout with schools, care homes and community groups to bring the opportunity of conversation and friendship when people have needed it most.

“Now more than ever the arts have a crucial role to play in helping people’s health and wellbeing. Taking part in the arts activities with others is an opportunity to be social, escape reality, be creative, learn new skills, make new friends, feel part of a community.” Jane, Junction Arts Project Coordinator

Starting on #GivingTuesday, from 12noon on 1^st December 2020, we are asking you to help Junction Arts raise £4000 through their Big Give Christmas Challenge. For one week only your donations could be doubled increasing your impact on those left most vulnerable this year.

Donations must be made using the website: https://bit.ly/2K11mLI during the week from 12noon Tuesday 1^st December until 12noon Tuesday 8^th December to have the donation doubled. This money will be invested back into our communities to bring hope and new opportunities into 2021.

Some examples of what your donations could mean:

• £10 pays for an at home family arts activity pack
• £50 pays for a remembrance session at a care home who have not seen their family
• £200 pays for an artist led online workshop and materials to a community group of isolating people

If you would like a reminder of when you can give, sign up here: https://junctionarts.org/the-big-give-2020/