What we do

What we do

“Working with Derbyshire Voluntary Action is always a positive experience. What truly sets DVA apart is their ability to connect and collaborate, bringing together diverse stakeholders and creating an environment of trust and cooperation. This collaborative spirit allows us to achieve our goals more effectively and create lasting positive change together. Their compassionate team is committed to addressing health inequalities, profoundly impacting the lives of individuals and families. I’ve seen firsthand how their innovative approaches make a real difference in the community.” – Jacqui, CEO Derbyshire Voluntary Action

Our Projects

Creating connections and delivering community-led projects that strengthen Derbyshire’s health, wellbeing, and voluntary sector.
Hands all together helping

Feeling Connected

The Feeling Connected Project celebrates and supports local action to reduce loneliness and isolation across Chesterfield Borough and NE Derbyshire District.

People comforting an individual

Mental Health Liaison Service

A project supporting collaboration, strategic representation, and creative advocacy to strengthen mental health support across Derby and Derbyshire.

Friends talking with coffee

The Hub

Volunteer-led centre for community activities in the middle of Chesterfield. It is a home for Feeling Connected, and inspiring venue for any VCSE group.

DVA CEO Jacqui Willis presenting

Voluntary Sector Forum

Quarterly forums uniting VCSE groups to share insight, influence change, build partnerships, and co-design solutions for stronger, more connected communities.

Partnership work cogs

Partnership Work

DVA works in close partnership with the NHS, Public Health, local authorities, Active Partners Trust, Arts Derbyshire, and many more to co-design community-focused solutions. Rooted in lived experience, our collaborative approach ensures services are shaped by real needs and make best use of shared insight, expertise, and resources.

Strategic representation image

Strategic Representation

Representing Derbyshire’s voluntary sector at strategic levels, ensuring community need and voices influence policy, funding decisions, and system change across health and wellbeing in the county.

Training

Training

Bitesize online sessions shaped by the needs of Derbyshire’s VCSE sector, with themes chosen to build skills, spark new ideas and conversations, and connect communities and organisations working towards shared goals.

Future Work

Future Projects

We have some exciting new projects we are working on! We would love to hear from you if you would like to be involved or feel you can help shape our proposals to ensure they have the best outcomes for our Derbyshire communities.

Our Mission

Derbyshire Voluntary Action has launched a new brand and website. This change reflects not just how we’ve grown, but how we want to be seen: clear, connected, and committed to making a difference. With a stronger platform and a clearer voice, 

we’re ready to help people help their community.