Feedback from Members May 2026

• DDCVS has supported our Community Hub at Rowsley Village Hall right from the start in 2022. This support has been through grants, advice and get-together meetings with other organisations such as ours to share our challenges, success, ideas and how we do things. We could not have kept our Hub going without the help of DDCVS.
• Our hall is now just over 100 years old and is in need of renovation and some alteration. Funding will be vital to ensuring the hall can meet the demands of the residents of our villages and the wider community into the future. DDCVS is really helping us to find possibilities.
• We get assistance with funding and funding applications. In addition there are excellent training opportunities and occasions where we meet and share experiences with other voluntary groups. And staff are always available for sound advice.
• The idea of a table tennis group would have remained an idea without the help of funding to start up and then additional funds to grow. We are now self-funding, evolving and growing but that initial help was crucial.
• Without doubt the CVS support for the Medway and for the many groups that use us is vital.   From funding advice to photocopying, legislation and training, many of our groups would not be able to pay corporate rates for these services.
• DDCVS has provided funds to partially fund a new dayboat to replace our previous one that was past its useful life. ~ DDCVS has helped with the maintenance of all Sailability boats; some refurbishment, new sails etc. ~ DDCVS have given support and direction to achieving funding from a number of sources.
• Most recently, DDCVS provided valuable advice and guidance as we made the transition from an Unincorporated Association to a Community Interest Company.
• DDCVS has given us incredible support. From simple administration support (for example printing) to complex and detailed advice on grants and funding that could be available. Because of their advice we have been able to maintain and develop our historical building and provide valuable  space for the community.
• Our biggest challenge, like many organisations is funding. Keeping our Derbyshire Fridays going is really difficult and it feels like an enormous responsibility. People rely on it so much. We refer to it as ‘cocktail funding’ a bit of this and a bit of that! DDCVs newsletter, funding advice and friendly, accessible support are invaluable.

Comments received from the October 2025 survey.

In preparation for work on our strategy and as part of an ongoing commitment to use our members’ feedback to inform our activities, we surveyed our members last October.

• Your approach is excellent in that you work with us and not just for us. Long may it continue.
• Great help with signposting to relevant grant.
• The CVS has been very helpful over the years however, age and health related issues together with increasing rules and regulations from the Charity Commission have made it impossible to carry on.
• Our group has benefitted from the services of CVS in terms of shaping the group.
• The services provided by the DDCVS is invaluable by helping new groups setting up and offering help and advice to groups needing grants for projects.
• Thank you for your information and support in the past year.
• You gave us very helpful advice on funding and we will get back to you sometime about it.
• Always very supportive and available for advice and help. Much appreciated!
• DDCVS have always been a very positive and supportive.
• Polly has been our support and she has been so helpful and very positive, Thank you
• I am confident DDCVS will evolve from the current excellent people and approach to something even more useful to local community organisations and charities in the future.
• The printing service has been useful, thanks.
• Thank you for all your hard work and positivity.
• I really value the work that you do. I find your newsletter very informative and always take something from it. Thank you for all that you do.
• The incredible support in obtaining funding for our projects is much appreciated.
• Teams meetings or face to face contact Thank you for everything you already do.
• The service from the DDCVS is fantastic. Just keep fighting the good fight.