Community Spirit Rekindled at Elton Jubilee Playing Fields

In early 2024, the team at Elton Jubilee Playing Fields began exploring ways to bring their small rural community together following the long pause of activities due to COVID-19. Many traditional events hadn’t restarted, and there was a growing desire to reintroduce opportunities for the community to connect and socialise.  After consulting with residents, there was overwhelming support for the creation of a community boules pitch—a new focal point where people of all ages could gather, socialise, and play.

With helpful guidance from DDCVS on funding options, the group applied to the Better Derbyshire Dales Fund and Foundation Derbyshire. After refining their application with support from the DDCVS team, they were thrilled to receive £1,900 from the Better Derbyshire Dales Fund and £2,324 from Foundation Derbyshire—plus an impressive £526 raised by the community itself.

Now the work began to build the pitch, buy some boules and engage the community.   Experienced players have volunteered to give lessons to newcomers, and there’s even been talk of forming a team to enter a local league!

Elton Jubilee Playing Fields said  ‘We contacted DDCVS in April 2024 to apply for a grant from the Better Derbyshire Dales Fund and cannot speak too highly of the advice and support we received from them.  They were always there at the end of the telephone to answer queries and over the time we established an excellent working relationship with them.  The dream of a boules pitch has now become reality, and we have this amazing new facility’.

The pitch was officially opened on 23^rd August 2025.

Carsington Sailability

In May 2025, we supported with an A4A application, advising on changes to the draft.  They were awarded £19,000 from the Lottery. Their goal is to purchase a Hawk 20 boat, which will allow them to take 5–6 people out on the water at a time. The vessel is fully accessible, ensuring inclusive participation. Their current boat is no longer safe or fit for purpose, making replacement essential.

When we met in December 2025, they had already raised £24,000 towards the total cost, estimated between £32,000 and £40,000.

We shared details of potential funders, including BDDF, Foundation, Leek Building Society, Bernard Sunley, and the Clothworkers Foundation.

The group applied to the Better Derbyshire Dales Fund in Jan 2026 and have been awarded a capital grant towards the new boat.