Derbyshire County Council – Supported Employment Services

Are you looking for work? Or to build your confidence through volunteering or training? Or do you need support to stay in work?

Employers -would you like to further support your employees, make reasonable adjustments, or receive training on disabilities in work?

The Derbyshire County Council Supported Employment Service helps Derbyshire residents overcome barriers to employment and achieve work goals.

Visit Derbyshire Supported Employment Service – Derbyshire County Council

Call 01629 538 381 or email supported.employment@derbyshire.gov.uk

Preparing for Winter 2026
Individuals, families and community groups can take steps now to prepare for Winter 2026.

Derbyshire County Council has produced a document, detailing key risks and practical actions people can take to stay safe, healthy and connected. Please download the PDF here.

The ADHD Village Derbyshire

New group launching in Matlock – The ADHD Village Derbyshire.  First Saturday of every month, Church in the Peak, Matlock, 7pm till 9pm.

For more information on how to access the group, access one of the 3 links below…Email: nick.baker@the-adhd-village-derbyshire.co.uk
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2126278808313651
Website: https://the-adhd-village-derbyshire.co.uk/

Peak Pantry Fundraiser at the Pump Room in Buxton, Wednesday, 14^th October 7-9pm, Tickets cost £15

Buxton Soroptimists invite you to meet the High Sheriff of Derbyshire, Mr Syed Iftikhar (known as Ifti) at a fundraising event for Peak Pantry – Zink, bringing affordable food to Harpur Hill, Fairfield and Castleton.

Take the opportunity to hear Ifti speak about his wonderful work for the community both here and in Pakistan. There will be a finger food buffet, a table quiz and a raffle with many prizes.

For ticket enquiries please contact: Elizabeth 07342 213729, Gabby  07899 792511 or Margaret  07753 534938.

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DDCVS Member, Go Beyond is looking for Residential Break Volunteers to support children aged 8–13 who are facing serious challenges in their lives.

Our volunteers spend 4 nights and 5 days supporting children on residential breaks, helping them build confidence, make friends and enjoy new experiences.

No specialist experience is required — just enthusiasm, kindness and a willingness to make a difference.

📍 Daleside Centre, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
📍 Coastal Centre, Par, Cornwall
📍 Cardfields Centre, Hatfield Peverel, Essex

We provide accommodation, meals, training and support throughout the break.

Whether you’re a student, professional, retired, changing career or simply looking to give something back, we’d love to hear from you.

Find out more and register:
Become a Volunteer at our Centres and Shops – Go Beyond

Short promotional video:
Watch our short volunteer video

Read about our volunteers’ experiences:

The Times – My uplifting volunteering break

The Telegraph – Go Beyond volunteering experience

For anyone interested in finding out more, please contact Natalia Ozioro, Volunteer Coordinator at Go Beyond: volunteer@gobeyond.org.uk, or register using the link above.

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Derbyshire Communities Lottery: Easy online fundraising for good causes – Derbyshire Communities Lottery

Derbyshire Communities Lottery, is proving popular and showing success for people and groups in Derbyshire . Over 50 organisations are currently taking part  with a predicted £5,500 and rising predicted to be raised in the year. There have already been 4 prizewinners, including a super prize winner who said “I  was delighted to be told I had won tickets to the Summer Solstice on Sunday.   Only my first week of supporting the Derbyshire Communities Lottery,  so how great.  Seeing Jools Holland and his band in Duffield was just a great experience.  It was such an inclusive and friendly festival that I will definitely support again.  I would encourage anyone to support this fabulous lottery that gives back so much to good causes in Derbyshire.  A chance to win up to £25k as well is a great bonus. I never win anything,  so this just made my weekend”

At only £1 per ticket anyone can show support for causes close to your heart and that are part of your community.

Changes to the NHS App – the Digital Support Derbyshire Digital Health Toolkit and training resources can help support with your Digital inclusion work. The toolkit is a free, downloadable resource.  The free toolkit can be accessed via The Bureau Website: The Digital Healthcare Support Service – The Bureau

Specific Funding Opportunities for Community Interest Companies from GrantNest!

• A free monthly grant pack with a small number of verified funding opportunities suitable for CICs and grassroots organisations.
• GrantNest Premium, which is £5/month as a subscription.
The Premium Pack includes:
• 10+ verified grants that CICs can actually apply for
• UK-wide opportunities
• Funding notes and eligibility guidance
• Deadlines and priority picks
• Grants filtered to reduce time wasted on poor fit applications
The aim is to save small organisations time by reducing the need to search multiple funding websites and helping them focus on opportunities that are realistically relevant.

Read more https://grantnest.uk/

The Charity Commission has published updated fundraising guidance for charities, bringing together key legal requirements, trustee responsibilities and good practice. The guidance is designed to help charities ensure their fundraising is effective, transparent and compliant, while maintaining public trust and confidence. https://www.nottinghamcvs.co.uk/news-and-events/news-articles/what-charities-know-new-fundraising-guidance

Ukactive has published new defibrillator guidance to help fitness and leisure operators provide life-saving support when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. Developed with the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the guidance aims to help gyms, swimming pools, leisure centres, and other fitness facilities strengthen safety standards and emergency response plans.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates in the UK remain low, with fewer than one in ten people surviving. However, rapid access to a defibrillator in the first few minutes can significantly increase a person’s chance of survival. https://ukactive.com/news/ukactive-publishes-defibrillator-guidance/

The guidance gives operators practical advice on how to:

• Install and position defibrillators effectively.
• Register devices with national systems.
• Maintain equipment so it remains reliable.
• Train staff to respond confidently in an emergency.

For more information – click here

Update from the Derbyshire County Council Health Protection team

‘Are you heat aware’ checklist for organisations.

The Health Protection team are more than happy to answer questions or to talk to organisations who would like some help with this please just contact them on ASCH.Health.Protection@derbyshire.gov.uk

Sign up to the Heat health alerts: Weather-Health Alerting system registration form

See also the link below from the Met Office – Tips for Keeping Cool

Whatever your fundraising target is, the team at easyfundraising can help you get there.

This month, they are offering 250 exclusive fundraising packs to organisations in our area.
To get your complimentary pack, register for free funding with easyfundraising (it’s free) and when prompted, schedule a call with a member of the easyfundraising team who will send you your pack and explain how easyfundraising can help your organisation with funding. easyfundraising is a free, easy, and accessible way for your network of volunteers, staff and trustees to raise funds for you. They simply shop online with their favourite retailers, including ebay, Booking.com, Tesco, Trainline, Argos, M&S, and 8,000 others via the easyfundraising website or app and the retailer they shop with sends your organisation monetary donations.  Find out more www.easyfundraising.org.uk/derbyshire-dales

Positive Experiences for All
Online session 28th July 2026

This workshop focuses on enhancing participant experiences by exploring what makes an activity truly engaging and fulfilling.

Learners will review their current offerings, reflect on how well they meet the needs of their club or organisation, and identify actionable steps to create a more inclusive and enjoyable environment.

Through discussion and practical exercises, learners will consider ways to measure engagement, amplify voices within their organisation, and design strategies to foster meaningful and positive experiences for all.https://ukcoaching-buddle.sabacloud.com/Saba/Web_spf/EU5P1PRD049/guestapp/ledetail/cours000000000005885

Free Pro Bono Support for Charities from Cranfield Trust 

Cranfield Trust offers charities free management consultancy, mentoring, specialist telephone advice, training webinars and ready-to-use resources covering strategy, finance, HR and performance. Volunteer business experts help small and medium charities tackle challenges and build capacity across the UK.  Their services are open to registered charities and CICs that have published accounts. Use their quick online eligibility checker to get started, however, your primary purpose must be addressing
the welfare needs of people, including poverty, disability or social exclusion.

Pro bono services and free resources for charities | Cranfield Trust

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Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service is offering a free, accredited Volunteer Passport course that can be completed online or at venues across Derbyshire.
The Volunteer Passport is a free, 10 hour accredited course delivered by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service (DACES). Topics include:
o    Equality, diversity, and inclusion
o    Keeping yourself and others safe
o    Responding to incidents
o    Teamwork and customer care

Participants gain a National Open College Network accredited certificate. The course is open to anyone, no prior qualifications needed and is ideal for both new and experienced volunteers. Everyone who completes the course receives a National Open College Network accredited certificate.
👉Find upcoming courses: https://courses.dacesderbyshire.org.uk/CourseKeySearch.asp?KEY=volunteer

For more information or to register interest: Email: cs.dacesvolunteerpassport@derbyshire.gov.uk  Telephone: 01629 531241

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Community Mental Health & Wellbeing Support Map information from Rethink Mental Illness:

Over the last few months, the map has continued to grow, with more support services, community groups, events, workshops, courses and wellbeing opportunities being added from across Derby, Derbyshire and, where relevant, nationally. To help people navigate the map more easily, we have recently introduced a few new features and updated the way some sections are organised.

📅 Events, Courses & Opportunities
This is a brand-new layer bringing events, courses and opportunities together in one place, including:

🎟️ Events & Awareness Days
🎓 Courses & Programmes
📍 Workshops & Learning
🤝 Community Activities & Social Wellbeing

This helps people find opportunities they can get involved in, alongside the support and services already available through the map.

☎️ If You’re Struggling Right Now
The crisis and immediate support section remains at the heart of the map, helping people quickly access urgent support when they need it.

As always, the map continues to evolve through partnership working, shared local knowledge, and the contributions of organisations and communities across Derby and Derbyshire. If you have any updates, new listings, events, courses, workshops or support opportunities you would like included, please get in touch. View the map:
https://bit.ly/3MRbjvP

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Call Out to All Community Venues and Local Businesses: Join the Breastfeeding Welcome Here Award

Over 400 venues have already signed up across the county, helping to make Derbyshire a more supportive place for parents and babies.
Breastfeeding brings lifelong health benefits for both the breastfeeding parent and their child. By helping families feel confident and comfortable feeding while out and about, we can support them to reach their breastfeeding goals.

The Breastfeeding Welcome Here Award aims to:
· Help community venues show they actively welcome and support breastfeeding.
· Support new families to feel confident feeding in public.
· Improve public awareness of the lifelong health benefits of breastfeeding.
· Remove barriers that may prevent people from breastfeeding when out and about.
Benefits of Signing Up
· It’s completely free.
· Becoming more family-friendly encourages repeat custom and longer visits.
· Your venue will receive free positive publicity.
· You’ll be making a meaningful contribution to the health and wellbeing of families across the district and helping to improve health inequalities.

Complete the short application form here: www.derbyshire.gov.uk/breastfeeding-welcome

Any queries, please contact the Start Well Team: breastfeedingwelcomeaward@derbyshire.gov.uk

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Hurst Farm Heritage Trail is officially open

Derbyshire Dales District Council led the project in partnership with Community Benefit Society Hurst Farm Wild Works and the opening follows completion of the capital works led by regional contractor G F Tomlinson in October last year.

The project is part of a wider initiative formed by partner organisations to support the physical and mental wellbeing of its residents and making Hurst Farm a better place to live, work and visit. In 2017 Derbyshire Dales District Council alongside Derbyshire CVS, The Friends of Hurst Farm and Platform Housing joined forces to apply for funding.

Thanks to National Lottery players, a £1.26 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund was awarded for this five-year project ending in October 2026, to enhance the natural beauty of the woodland, while also improving accessibility and safety.

The trail provides improved links to community amenities as well as heritage sites, linking the Social Club, Milk Churn Cafe and Farmers’ Community Garden, the Wishing Stone, Bailey’s Tump and the Lumsdale Conservation Area viewing point.

This project is about more than footpath improvements. The Wild Works team run a varied programme of volunteering and activities aimed at getting people outdoors, increasing connection and wellbeing and learning new skills.

The Hurst Farm – Wild Works team can also be found at the Farmers’ Community Garden from 10-4 weekdays above the Farmers’ View on Hazel Grove, Matlock, DE4 3ED, where visitors are welcome to learn more or ask questions in person.

For more information follow the project on Facebook and Instagram @hurstfarmwildworks or book sessions via their website www.hurstfarm.co.uk  You can email the project team at info@hurstfarm.co.uk

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Community Asset Transfer Toolkit

Sport England has recently published a new toolkit designed to support clubs and community organisations who are planning to, or are in the process of, taking on their own facility through a Community Asset Transfer (CAT).

The tool outlines the key stages of the CAT process and is designed to help organisations:
• understand what a CAT is
• identify the key requirements needed to ensure they’re ready to take on a CAT
• prepare effectively for a CAT and understand when professional support may be required
• access guidance on how to effectively run and manage their facility after completing a CAT.

Community Asset Transfer Toolkit | Buddle

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Update to November 2025 update to the Code of Fundraising Practice

The Code of Fundraising Practice sets the standards that apply to charitable fundraising in the UK. Any fundraising carried out on behalf of your charitable organisation – whether by staff, volunteers or paid fundraisers – should meet the rules in the code to ensure it is legal, open, honest and respectful.

The Fundraising Regulator is responsible for setting, maintaining and promoting these rules. You can find out more about their role, including an animation that explains who they are and how we promote good practice, on the website, About us | Fundraising Regulator

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Using AI responsibly

Also on 9 December 2025, the Charity Commission produced new guidance to support charities in understanding and using AI responsibly. It includes practical steps on planning, piloting, user testing and data protection.  You can read about it here Guidance for using artificial intelligence in fundraising | Fundraising Regulator