10th October 2020 is World Mental Health Day. Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year, but 10th October is a great day to show your support for better mental health and start looking after your own wellbeing.

Below are a few ways in which you can get involved this World Mental Health Day.

Time to Change have resources for resources for employers, universities and the general public to help you change attitudes this World Mental Health Day.

Mind are running their ‘Do One Thing’ campaign to bring everyone together to mark the day by each doing one thing for better mental health.

Rethink Mental Illness are giving a voice to people with lived experience and looking ahead to what they want for a better world, post pandemic.

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust has opened nominations for elections to fill 12 public posts on its governing body, as well as six vacancies for staff governors.

Nominations are invited from residents across Derbyshire who would like to join the Trust’s 32-strong governing body to get more involved in local healthcare. People have until 19 October to nominate themselves and the results will be announced on 27 November after voting by the trust’s 12,000-strong membership.

NHS governors are representatives of the local community and help provide a local voice and advise the Trust about how best to meet the needs of patients, families and carers.

The election process will fill vacancies, across Derbyshire and in Derby city, arising as current post-holders come to the end of their terms-of-office on the governing body, usually running for two or three years.

All the details of how to submit a nomination, including the official nomination form to download, are available on the Trust’s website: http://www.dchs.nhs.uk/home/become_a_member/governor-elections-2020

The constituencies with vacancies are: Amber Valley, Erewash and South Derbyshire (four vacancies), Bolsover, Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire (four vacancies), Derbyshire Dales and High Peak (two vacancies) and Derby City (one vacancy). There is also a vacancy for someone living outside the local area, known as “the rest of England” vacancy.

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust employs around 4,300 staff, caring for patients in 11 community hospitals and more than 30 health centres, as well as in clinics, GP practices, schools, care homes and, increasingly, in people’s own homes.

How has the pandemic affected your life?

The coronavirus pandemic is still affecting many aspects of our lives here in Derbyshire. Along with other public sector partners we want to find out what the pandemic has meant for you and your community.

We’ve set up an online survey so that you can tell us how you are feeling and what more we could do to help. Information given by you will help us understand more about the things we can do to support Derbyshire through the challenges of coronavirus.

The survey will take around 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and you can find it here. The survey closes on 6 November.

This questionnaire may also be available in other formats by emailing haveyoursay@derbyshire.gov.uk

Thanks so much for your help in completing the survey.

Chesterfield Borough Council has opened applications for up to £15,000 of neighbourhood funding through the Community Infrastructure Levy.

The funding can be used by local charities and community groups to support projects across Chesterfield. Funding can be used for one off projects, such as developing a new community hub, or a sustainable project such as community tree planting, but it can also be used to fund maintenance and repairs or to support existing local services. Organisations are able to submit multiple applications for funding.

The Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund is open to projects in non-parished areas of Chesterfield Borough. Neighbourhood funding in parished areas of the Borough is managed separately by Staveley Town Council and Brimington Parish Council for their respective areas.

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “The community infrastructure levy is a key source of funding for a variety of projects that support our local communities. We want to fund community led approaches which help address local needs and aspirations and we hope that this money can be used to maximise match funding opportunities from other funding.

“I urge charities and local community or voluntary groups to assess their needs and submit applications as soon as possible. There have been some incredible initiatives from community groups in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and I hope that groups will use this funding to support these projects.”

The funding will be awarded to facilitate projects, services and activities that improve the overall quality of life and wellbeing of residents in Chesterfield Borough, in line with the priorities of the Council Plan: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/media/1030535/council-plan-2019-2023-updated-2020.pdf. 

Councillor Terry Gilby, cabinet member for economic development, said: “The Community Infrastructure Levy is a planning charge that is applied to new developments. It allows the council to ensure the developer is committed to the community and also helps ensure that any negative effects created by the new development are limited.”

Applying for funding through this scheme is different depending on how much money each project requires.

For projects that will cost up to £1,000, applicants will need to complete a short application form. The form and further details are available on the council’s website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/community-infrastructure-levy-funding

The closing date for the first round of applications to this fund is Friday 30 October 2020. If your bid is successful you will be notified within one month of the closing date.

There are further opportunities to apply for this funding, for the details of further funding rounds and closing dates for applications please visit: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/community-infrastructure-levy-funding

Any organisation wishing to apply for funding to the value of £1,000 and £5,000 will need to speak to a variety of local stakeholders and provide more detailed information. More details on the application process are available on our website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/community-infrastructure-levy-funding

For funding applications valued between £5,000 and £15,000 applicants must submit an expression of interest form and if this is approved to proceed to the next stage a council officer will help guide through the process to submit a formal bid. More details on the application process are available on our website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/community-infrastructure-levy-funding

The Community Infrastructure Levy is a planning charge that local authorities in England and Wales can require of certain types of new development in their area in order to pay for the infrastructure needed to support development. Community Infrastructure Levy charges are based on the size, type and location of the proposed new development.

For further information on applying for funding from the Community Infrastructure Levy, please contact Wendy Blunt, Health and Wellbeing Officer, wendy.blunt@chesterfield.gov.uk  or 01246 959657.

Derbyshire Voluntary Action are working on an exciting project to publish a book ‘Life in Lockdown’, documenting the Covid-19 Pandemic as seen through the eyes of Chesterfield and surrounding areas residents…but we really need your help in doing this.

As an organisation Derbyshire Voluntary Action proudly supports hundreds of voluntary sector organisations and community groups. We are passionate about championing the work of the community and its volunteers. We are incredibly proud of our strong working relationship with Public Health, NHS, local businesses, and our funders. With this in mind we feel truly able to make a powerful book that represents how our community has responded to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Charlotte Higgins, who is leading the project said “The young, the elderly, volunteers, health care workers, survivors of Covid-19 and the bereaved… everyone has their own unique story that deserves to be told and preserved for future generations. Volunteers can put in to words why they felt compelled to give their time, how attitudes have changed towards the community they live in and what next? How small businesses have adapted and been hugely resourceful in order to survive but in many cases became a crucial life line for local people. Photographs capturing special moments of hand clapping, rainbows in the windows, VE day celebrations on the drive, emotional reunions and exhausted masked care workers. The first-hand accounts of Covid-19 survivors and the agony of relatives unable to bring comfort to loved ones.”

“It’s our way of giving back to the community whilst singing the praises of those unsung heroes”

Submissions are welcome from amateur and professional artists, poets, photographers, creative writers, crafters and song writers. Allow your creativity to record your experience, the ups and the downs, the feelings of isolation and let’s not forget the heart-warming stories, the acts of kindness and elements of lockdown we may not want to lose! This book aims to celebrate how we rose to an unprecedented challenge and showed that community spirit is alive and kicking.

The ‘Life in Lockdown’ book will be for sale to the public with the proceeds going towards supporting local charities or the community.

If you have any questions, or would like further information about the ‘Life in Lockdown’ book project please contact Charlotte Higgins on 07907 484835 or charlotte@dva.org.uk

How to submit your work
With your permission the work you submit may be featured in the Covid-19 book, our Network magazine, Derbyshire Voluntary Action website’s COVID 19 page, social media platforms and when it is safe to do so, an event for us all to meet and view the array of submissions.

By submitting your contribution you are agreeing to its publication and distribution, space will be limited in the book and therefore Derbyshire Voluntary Action reserve the right to edit that submission. 

If you would like to submit an image please ensure images are taken in a good light, in focus and not taken from social media but sent directly from your phone/camera/computer and send them to this Dropbox account: https://www.dropbox.com/request/kzwkGaIHNMBCvTZjSRlI

If you submit images to Dropbox could you also email charlotte@dva.org.uk so that we know who you are.

Any other submissions can be emailed to charlotte@dva.org.uk or posted to Charlotte Higgins, Derbyshire Voluntary Action, Offices 2a – 2c, The Market Hall, Chesterfield S40 1AR

Action for Happiness create monthly calendars packed with actions you can take to help create a happier and kinder world. This month’s theme is Optimistic October.

Life is far from perfect, but there are lots of reasons for optimism.  Setting positive goals for the future gives our lives a sense of direction and purpose. And although we face many challenges there are also lots of reasons to stay hopeful. By consciously choosing our priorities we can overcome issues, make progress and focus on what really matters.

You can download the Optimistic October Calendar HERE.

You can sign up to receive monthly calendars and there are also other language versions available too: https://www.actionforhappiness.org/optimistic-october

Autism Information and Advice offer an introductory awareness raising course that aims to develop a basic understanding of Autism Spectrum Condition and the diverse ways in which those living with ASC experience their condition. Find out more HERE

Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group have engaged the services of the Innovation Unit to help develop ‘Living Well’ a new model to deliver more accessible and responsive support for people’s mental health and wellbeing.  

In Derbyshire, the project will start with High Peak and North Dales, and then move to Derby City North.  

The first meeting of the ‘Collaborative’ (the team responsible for delivering the project) has now taken place and work has begun to gather the stories of people who know what it’s like to need mental health support in the High Peak and North Dales area. 

Could you help? Would you like to share your story or do you know someone with a story to tell?

Click HERE to open a flyer with more information and please get in touch with Mental Health Together if you are interested: enquiries@mentalhealtogether.org.uk