A selection of local stories and events
£400,000 funding will help support Feeding Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Council has approved funding of nearly £400,000 to Rural Action Derbyshire to enable them to carry on supporting affordable food projects across the county.
Rural Action Derbyshire coordinates the Feeding Derbyshire Network and the funding will enable them to carry on this work.
The network has run since 2015 and offers help to people struggling with low incomes, debt and poor access to affordable, nutritious food.
As part of this, the Affordable Food Network was set up in 2020.
This aims to provide a longer term, more sustainable alternative to food banks with the creation of community pantries.
These differ from food banks as people pay a small yearly membership fee and also pay a small contribution toward the cost of the food they choose during their weekly visit to the shop.
The community pantry model has been piloted over the last two years and so far three pantries have opened in community venues and on the high street using empty properties. Another eight are currently in development.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Carol Hart said: “ Having access to healthy food is vital for people’s health, wellbeing and dignity and we are delighted to be able to fund Rural Action Derbyshire to carry out this work.”
Since 2018 Public Health have supported Feeding Derbyshire by grant funding Rural Action Derbyshire to co-ordinate the programme.
Following consultation, this grant funding is moving to a commissioned service from April 2024.
The two-year contract will start in April 2024 with an option to extend it for a further three years.
Beverley Parker, Chief Executive of Rural Action Derbyshire, said: “Rural Action Derbyshire is extremely proud to be given the opportunity to lead Feeding Derbyshire for another five years. This will give crucial stability and sustainability to a sector that has faced so many recent challenges. Foodbanks and affordable food providers have had to navigate their way through Covid and a Cost-of-Living Crisis and we have supported them every step of the way and celebrated their resilience.
“We would like to thank the County Council for recognising the work we have already achieved with Feeding Derbyshire and enabling this to continue.”
The expected outcomes of the new service include:
• A co-ordinated programme of interventions (that are part of the Feeding Derbyshire Network) that support communities through the redistribution of surplus food
• Full coverage of affordable food pantries across all areas of Derbyshire to meet the needs of Derbyshire residents.
• Increased access to affordable and healthy food for children/families on low incomes and vulnerable adults.
• Reduced dependency on food banks for people receiving support from food projects
• Reduced food supply issues across the food network
• Increased financial and digital skills and resilience, in people receiving support from food projects
• Increased confidence to make better choices around healthy eating for people receiving support from food projects
• Increased confidence and skills to equip food projects to raise their own funds
• Increase in food projects raising their own funds
• Increase in food projects being fully supported and sustainable without reliance on grant aid within two years.
The baseline cost to the Council is 0.199m per annum and this will be funded from the Public Health Grant.
The total cost for the contract if all extensions are taken is 0.996m over a 5-year period.
Internet Safety - what we all need to know
The capacity audience that filled the Medway Centre on Friday 10th November proved conclusively that there is a crying need in the Bakewell area for more information about how we can all protect ourselves against internet fraudsters. The meeting was organised by Bakewell u3a, a society of small groups of like-minded people who – alongside sharing many other active and life enhancing interests – help each other to share and expand essential knowledge and information.
The event was the brainchild of committee member Sam Lewis. Sam recognised that many people were nervous about making full use of the internet and in the spirit of u3a he saw that, if he didn't have all the answers, he knew someone who did. So help was enlisted from Derbyshire Police and Samantha Hancock, their Cyber Protect Officer, came from Derby to give a comprehensive picture of the tricks the scammers get up to and the often simple things we can all do to foil them.
The essential (but rather sad) message from the meeting is a simple ABC – Accept nothing, Believe no one, Challenge/ Confirm everything.
A stimulating Question Time followed with vital questions well answered by Samantha and Bakewell u3a's in-house cyber expert, Steve Clarke and Bakewell u3a will now be setting up small self-help groups to tackle individual internet problems and worries.
More information about these groups (and Bu3a's many other activities) can be obtained from Bakewell u3a on internet.risk@bakewell u3a.org.uk. You can keep up to date on internet safety by following the Derbyshire Police Online Safety page on Facebook (https:// www.ncsc.gov.uk/ cyberaware/home) and by signing up for the free Derbyshire Police Community Messaging Service on www.derbyshirealert. co.uk
PRIMARY PLACE APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR DERBYSHIRE CHILDREN STARTING SCHOOL IN SEPTEMBER 2024
Parents can now apply to Derbyshire County Council for their child’s infant, junior or primary school place for September 2024.
Applications for children who were born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 opened on Monday (November 6) and will close at midnight on Monday 15 January 2024.
Parents can also apply during the same period for junior school places for children born between 1 September 2016 and 31 August 2017 who are currently in Year 2 at an infant school and will transfer on to other schools in September 2024.
Applying online is the easiest method and can be done in the school admissions section of the council’s website at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/admissions
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education Councillor Alex Dale said: “We’re now inviting parents to apply for their child’s infant, junior or primary school place for September 2024.
“We’re urging parents to consider their options and get their application in ahead of the festive period and in good time for the deadline in January to give them the best chance at getting one of their preferred options.
“Choosing the right school is a very important decision in a child’s life and parents who miss the deadline are less likely to get a place for their child at their preferred school which could mean having to travel further or their child not getting into the same school as their friends.
“I’d also like to encourage parents to include all three of their preferences on the application as just including one doesn’t increase the chance of your child being placed at that school and can instead result in you having less influence over the final placement offered.”
Applying online is quick and easy and allows parents to make changes to their application at any point up to the closing date. Anyone who applies online will receive an email to confirm their application has been received.
When completing the application form parents will be asked to list, in order of preference, the three schools they would most like their child to go to. Applying for only one school will not improve the chances of getting a place at that school, so parents are advised to list three preferences in order to have the most influence on the final outcome.
Parents unable to access the online application service should email the admissions and transport team at admissions.transport@derbyshire.gov.uk or call 01629 537479.
Primary school place offers will be made on 16 April 2024 and anyone unhappy with the decision can appeal at www. derbyshire.gov.uk/ admissions
Although parents have a legal right to express preferences they have no automatic right to a place at any particular school.
Applications submitted to the council after the deadline will not be considered until places have been allocated to those children whose parents did return their form on time.
Any parents who are a refused a place for their child have a right of appeal to an independent panel.
Remembrance Sunday November 12th, Hathersage
As a result of the efforts of a great many people, the Remembrance Sunday Parade set off from the Memorial Hall at 10.00 am and safely ,(thanks to the efficient work of the Marshalls), progressed up to St Michael & All Angels Church. Inside is the War Memorial.
The parade was led by the Hope Valley Drum Line, followed by members of the British Legion, and then by Hathersage Guides, Brownies , Scouts, Cubs, Beavers and Hathersage Firemen. There was also a strong contingent from Mount St Mary’s College, Army and Airforce cadets.
During the March-pasts, the Hathersage Band played in the ‘Heart for Hathersage’.
In addition to the Parade Members, people had already congregated in Church for the Service which was led poignantly by Bernard Madden. All 200+ seats were occupied.
A shuttle bus service was provided from Hathersage Business Centre prior to the Parade for all those requiring a ride up Church Bank.
The weather was benign during the parade to Church but a drizzle started for the return. It didn’t dampen spirits however and many adjourned to the Scotsman’s Pack after the Parade had finished.
There are so many people involved to ensure the smooth running of the Remembrance Sunday Service. To start to thank individuals would ensure leaving someone out. However, mentioned at the Service was Brian Ward who has organised the proceedings for many years. Deservedly but sadly, Brian is standing down as Chairman of the Hathersage branch of the British Legion. I’m sure he will still be called upon for advice and guidance in the future. We thank Brian for all his hard work over many years.
Hathersage Branch Royal British Legion
Comments