Derbyshire Voluntary Action is to publish a book 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

• Do you have interesting photos of bad haircuts, VE Day celebrations, volunteer’s delivering food parcels, deserted streets and queues outside supermarkets?
• Have you kept a diary during this time or have you expressed yourself in a short story or poem?
• Have you or your children created rainbows for your windows or a scarecrow in your garden?
• Maybe you now feel inspired to create something?

Submissions will be welcomed from amateur and professional artists, poets, photographers, creative writers, crafters, whether you are the young, the elderly, volunteers, survivors of Covid-19 or the bereaved…everyone has their own unique story that deserves to be told and preserved for future generations. This book aims to unite us through a common goal, celebrating how we rose to an unprecedented challenge and showed that community spirit is alive and kicking.

Allow your creativity to record your experience and consider the ways you’ve dealt with the changes, the ups and the downs, the feelings of isolation and loneliness and let’s not forget the heart-warming stories, the acts of kindness towards strangers and elements of lockdown we may not want to lose!

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. 

Could you 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 to this Dropbox account: https://www.dropbox.com/request/kzwkGaIHNMBCvTZjSRlI

Please email your submissions to charlotte@dva.org.uk or by post to Charlotte Higgins, Derbyshire Voluntary Action, Offices 2a – 2c, The Market Hall, Chesterfield S40 1AR

Community Chesterfield have LOTS of WONDERFUL FREE training courses (for Chesterfield’s Voluntary & Community Sector) to sign up for and complete virtually.

5S The secret to productivity and efficiency – June 3rd

Corporate Partnerships for Social Change – June 10th

Mental Health Toolkit – Wellbeing & Work – June 16th

Developing your ‘Case for Support’ Toolkit – June 23rd

Funding Strategy and Income Diversification – 14^th July

To find out more and book a place visit www.communitychesterfield.org.uk

Derbyshire County Council are still awarding Action Grants to support community groups, clubs and charities but the final round closes 31 May.

For some groups the money could help them to get back on their feet when the coronavirus pandemic is over.

The grants are mostly up to £500 but there are a small number of £5,000 and £10,000 grants also available in the final round as well. There are four categories to apply to – community safety, youth activity, physical activity and sport and community activity. Please note that there are no £500 grants left in the community activity category.

Where grants have been awarded in previous rounds for activities that were due to take place this year but have had to be cancelled, the money can be carried over until 2021.

Find out more

Derventio is sharing a free distraction pack filled with activities, tips and ideas to stay healthy and busy during the lockdown period.

The 16-page booklet includes puzzles and activities including Sudoku, wordsearch and a stay at home bingo game. It has tips on enjoying the outdoors and looking after your wellbeing. There are also lots of links to advice and online resources for more games, activities and free content. Derventio hope it will inspire people to find ways to spend their time doing something fun, creative or relaxing.

The booklet is available for individuals, groups and organisations to download and use. This resource is free to access. If you find it helpful, please consider making a donation to support their work with people facing homelessness and other challenges.

Here is a link to an online version of the Living Well with Dementia Programme: https://surveys.derbyshcft.nhs.uk/s/LivingWellWithDementia/    
 It has been developed by Derbyshire Community Health Services & Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust who are currently unable to provide their face to face Living Well with Dementia groups due to COVID-19.
 
This resource could be helpful to people with mild dementia and their carers & families. It has some useful links to activity ideas & resources towards the end of the course.

Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week takes place from 18 to 24 May 2020, and the theme this year is ‘kindness’.

The Mental Health Foundation have produced a Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 Supporter Pack which includes lots of acts of kindness ideas to inspire you including keeping connected with family and friends and ideas for acts of kindness at home, in the community and at work.

FREE COUNSELLING

Are you aged 70+ or do you have an underlying health condition? If so and you live in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, then thanks to funding from National Lottery Awards for All, Relate Chesterfield & North Derbyshire can offer free counselling via telephone or webcam from today.

FREE SUPPORT SESSIONS

Thanks to funding from the Connect Bolsover Small Grants Scheme 2020, Relate Chesterfield & North Derbyshire can now offer 2 free 30 minute support sessions by telephone or webcam to people aged 70 or over or people with underlying health conditions living in the Bolsover area.

Thanks to other funding and national contracts, Relate Chesterfield & North Derbyshire can also provide free/subsidised counselling to:

• Young people aged 11-18 years old
• Individuals with anxiety or depression
• Couples where one person has anxiety or depression
• Individual/Couples aged 70+
• Individual/Couples with underlying health conditions
• Civil Servants, Chartered Accountants, Bank employees (and family members)
• Air Force, Royal Navy, Royal Marines (serving or veterans and family members)

Please e-mail admin@relatechesterfield.org.uk or call 07384762877 or 07401343817. Relate can currently book you an appointment within 24/48 hours of you contacting them.

www.relatechesterfield.org.uk

Mental health support is now available to Derbyshire residents of all ages through a new Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust mental health support line.

The mental health support line is for Derbyshire people of all ages who are experiencing increased mental health needs during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Call 0300 790 0596 between the hours of 9am and midnight, seven days a week.

www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk

Telephone Befriending at Derbyshire Carers Association (DCA) is a regular friendly call from a fully trained volunteer to help alleviate isolation and provide some company and light conversation to adult Carers (over 18) within Derbyshire (not Derby City). DCA phone volunteers give support, reassurance, a listening ear.

The DCA Telephone Befriending service is continuing to run in the usual manner throughout the COVID-19 period. DCA established Volunteer callers are continuing to make their calls from home, as usual, to Carers they have previously been matched with, as well as any new Carers needing a chat. DCA Peer Support staff are also helping to provide befriending calls to isolated Carers during this time of increased need.

During the COVID19 period DCA are able to continue to offer support from their Telephone Befriending service to those Carers who are, or have become, more isolated or who are extremely vulnerable. Support and signposting can also be provided during the calls, where the Carer is in need of other information and local support.  If you feel you as a Carer would benefit from telephone support, or wish to discuss the Telephone Befriending, please contact DCA on: 01773 833833