Hello everyone and welcome to the SDCVS Health and Wellbeing Bulletin. This bulletin is compiled as part of our Community Connector Initiative. Community Connectors has a simple aim – to make sure important information gets to where it is most needed in our communities. LEARN MORE                         SIGN UPOn Thursday 18th January at 10:30am we will be hosting a Community Connectors meeting about Health and Wellbeing Coaches in South Derbyshire.Everyone is welcome! Please book your place and we will send you a Microsoft teams invite.BOOK YOUR PLACE HEREOther events: Bid Writing Skills Workshop Community Connectors: Beyond Barriers and Green Doctor Projects Funding Workshop with Seven Trent Community Fund Being a Trustee/Committee Member Energy Audit Workshop Performance Management in a Day Getting Started with ChatGPTTAKE THE SURVEYEligible Groups Urged to Get Vaccinated Against Flu And COVID-19  All eligible adults are urged to book their flu and COVID-19 vaccines online via the NHS website, by downloading the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free if they can’t get online, to give themselves the best protection against severe illness and hospitalisation. Book, cancel or change a COVID-19 vaccination appointment – NHS (www.nhs.uk) Follow this link to find a vaccination site near you:  Covid-19 vaccination clinics list » Joined Up Care Derbyshire For more information: Get Winter Strong: revisiting respiratory infection guidance for a safer season – UK  Think Which Service to Use If you or a member of your family gets ill this winter, the NHS is encouraging you to “think which service” is right for your needs as the cold season starts to bite. Winter puts extra pressure on the health and care system as seasonal illnesses and ailments circulate and the cold weather worsens some health conditions.  The ‘Think’ campaign from NHS Derby and Derbyshire is reminding you there are lots of places where you can get help with health problems, including: Pharmacies – for coughs, colds, flu, aches, pains, rashes, ear and eye care, stomach ache and urinary tract infections among other ailments. NHS 111 Online – if you or someone you’re with has a medical problem that isn’t life-threatening but requires immediate help. Or call NHS 111. GPs – if you have persistent, recurring problems that are not improving with self care. Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) – for urgent, but not life-threatening conditions such as sprains and strains, suspected broken bones, high temperatures in children and adults and mental health concerns. There are five across Derbyshire and Derby Hospital Emergency Dept – for serious or life-threatening injuries and illnesses such as signs of a heart attack or stroke, severe difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, seizure or sudden confusion. For more information click here: Think which service » Joined Up Care Derbyshire   Gritting This Winter Do you know which roads are gritted? There’s lots of info on Gritting – Derbyshire County Council and a map which tells you when a road was last gritted. Derbyshire County Council grit around half of the roads in the county, with our gritting routes split into primary, secondary and tertiary routes. Primary routes are treated during the day and night, and we will ‘pre-treat’ before bad weather hits. Gritting continues 24 hours a day, if necessary, as previously. They cover around 1,000 miles of road. Secondary routes cover around 550 miles of road and are generally only treated in the day with the first run being completed by mid-morning. This helps overcome problems of parked cars getting in the way of gritter vehicles doing their job on residential roads at night.   Drive Safer for Longer If you’re a Derbyshire resident aged over 50, we’re offering you free driving safer for longer information sessions. The sessions offer attendees a chance to update their driving knowledge, and covers: hazard perception vehicle adaptations eyesight and hearing smart motorways drink and drug driving seatbelts and children’s car seats information about giving up driving. There are two sessions in January: Monday 8th January 2024 online using Microsoft Teams from 5pm to 6.30pm Saturday 13th January 2024 at County Hall, Matlock 10am to 11.30am. For more information click here: Older drivers – Derbyshire County Council    Dad’s, Bats and Chats Launch Starting 15th January 2024 at Midway Community Centre is a new group for Dads in South Derbyshire where you can play Cricket and have a chat with other Dads in a safe space. For more information email Lucy Miller on lucy.miller@dcfcricket.com  Ready to Quit for Good In 2024? Is your New Year’s resolution to stop smoking? If so free, local support is available. Did you know that you are three times more likely to quit for good with professional help? Call 0800 085 2299 or visit www.livelifebetterderbyshire.org.uk to find out more and make 2024 the year you quit!   Going Dry this January? Dry January means going alcohol-free for the whole month and 31 days without alcohol has a lot of benefits: Lowers blood pressure Reduces diabetes risk Lowers cholesterol Reduces levels of cancer-related proteins in the blood. Find out more here. Why do Dry January? | Alcohol Change UK You can also download our FREE Lower My Drinking app from the Orcha apps library here  Derbyshire County Council (orchahealth.com) – Just search for the app in the search bar   Get Health and Wellbeing Apps There are thousands of digital health and wellbeing apps online – but how do you know which are safe, useful and healthcare approved?  Derbyshire County Council are working with Orcha to provide you with the very best in digital health apps. Whether you want help to stop smoking, lose weight or even get a better night’s sleep, you’ll find an app to help on the Orcha apps library. Search and download apps from Orcha here. Derbyshire County Council (orchahealth.com)   Energy Efficient Home Campaign  The Government has recently launched a new public campaign. The campaign provides trusted information on heat pumps, including how to apply for a £7,500 grant for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and promotes three energy efficiency measures – cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and solar panels.  Find out more here: Energy Efficient Home – Invest To Save On Your Energy Bills (energy-efficient-home.campaign.gov.uk)   Staying Warm and Well in Winter The winter weather can cause problems for older and more vulnerable people which is why Derbyshire County Council have lots of advice and information about how to stay warm and well. Have you heard about the priority services register? It is a free support service to help people in vulnerable situations. The scheme is offered by your energy supplier and you can Priority services register – Derbyshire County Council Find out more about staying warm in winter here Keep warm in winter – Derbyshire County Council   Derbyshire Time SwapTime Swapping (or Time Banking) is a fantastic initiative which allows members of the community to ‘swap’ their time to help somebody else. This support can range from assistance with gardening, to teaching I.T skills, or giving cookery lessons – the sky is the limit! In return for this, a member of the community earns back time which they can spend doing something they want to – like learning a new skill or receiving help from another member. Members can even donate time they have accrued to other members if they wish. Time is the only currency used. Needless to say, Time Banking presents tremendous benefits across the entire community. For more information visit www.derbyshiretimeswap.org.ukHelp with Loan Sharks – Illegal Money Lending If you can answer yes to one or more of these questions you might be borrowing from a loan shark: •    Did they offer you a cash loan? •    Did they not give you paperwork? •    Did they add huge amounts of interest or APR to your loan? •    Have they threatened you? •    Are you scared of people finding out? •    Have they taken your bank card, benefit card, passport, watch or other valuables from you? You are not in trouble if you have borrowed cash or have been paying back a loan from an illegal money lender, the loan shark is at fault. They are the people committing a crime, not you.  For advice and support, please call 0300 555 2222 or CLICK HERE.Derbyshire Discretionary Fund The Derbyshire Discretionary Fund can provide grants or emergency cash payments if you are in urgent need of financial help following a crisis or disaster and support you to continue to live independently or cope with exceptional pressure when you have no other source of funding. The fund may support you to resolve your immediate difficulties and put you in touch with other support and services so it’s less likely to happen again. You can apply for the grant by telephone on 01620 533399 For more information visit Derbyshire Discretionary Fund – Derbyshire County Council Household Support FundThe household support fund (HSF) is available to help Derbyshire residents facing financial hardship over the coming months by providing grants and other financial support. Find out more here: Household support fund – Derbyshire County Council Age UK Derby and Derbyshire:Age UK Derby and Derbyshire offer a free, confidential, and independent information and advice service to older people and their relatives, friends and carers.Telephone: 01773 768 240 (confidential answer-machine in busy periods/out of hours) Fax: 01773 766 924Email: iateam@ageukdd.org.uk   Citizens AdviceCitizens Advice Bureau have trained advisers who can advise on;·      energy switching to save money·      applications for warm home discount and other grants·      signing up to priority service registers·      money-saving tips·      reducing your water bill and·      a variety of other things designed to save you money.The Citizen’s Advice Service can also help you look at ways to maximise your household’s income, including checking whether you are eligible for any benefits and grants.The CAB have a partnership with Western Power Distribution through the ‘Power Up’ projects to ensure that people in the Midlands, South West and Wales receive free, independent, confidential and impartial advice on energy, benefits, and health related issues.For more information, and to book an appointment call this free advice line number: 0808 278 7954.For web-based information and support on the following issues, the national Citizen’s Advice Bureau has a comprehensive website.  Call DerbyshireCold weather is especially dangerous for young children, older people or people with serious illnesses. If you are concerned about anyone you can Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190.Call Derbyshire is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and from 9.30am to 4pm Saturdays.   Community Groups in South Derbyshire There are a number of community groups in South Derbyshire running a wide range of activities and services. If you would like to join a group then get in touch with South Derbyshire CVS on 01283 219761 or email development@sdcvs.org.uk. You can also check out our website.   Looking to start or join a group? If you have an idea for a new group, or are looking for a group to join one, then contact us at South Derbyshire CVS and we can get you the information you need. We also support existing groups. 01283 219761 development@sdcvs.org.uk   Donations If you want to help local people in need, please consider donating to us. Learn more and donate at the link: https://www.sdcvs.org.uk/donateSouth Derbyshire CVS have a proud history of delivering high quality training across the community.We’re delighted to announce that we are now expanding our training offer across the East Midlands. We have a deep understanding of the challenges within the third sector, the needs of the private sector and the importance of supporting everyone to realise their potential. With courses spanning from Mental Health Resilience, Equality & Diversity and Conflict Management to Marketing, First Aid and GDPR – Hive Training is your turn to partner for all things Training & Development in the region.You can also contact Hive Training if you have other training needs for your organisation!LEARN MORE

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.Savings proposals announcedNext steps for County HallAre you a carer?Library of thingsThink which service – winter campaignElvaston Castle temporary closureMend, donate, sell or recycleViolence against women surveySavings proposals announcedWe’ve announced a number of proposals which, if agreed, could save the council millions of pounds and support the setting of a balanced budget.In common with authorities across the country, we are facing budgetary pressures far greater than experienced before, due to factors beyond our control. These include dealing with higher than anticipated inflation and higher prices for fuel, energy and materials, meeting the cost of the national pay award set nationally but met locally, and the continued unprecedented increase in demand for vital adults’ and children’s social care services.As well as a current forecast overspend for 2023-24 of £33m, there’s a predicted shortfall of £39.5m in our budget for the year ahead (2024-25) which has resulted in the savings proposals being put forward.The announcement earlier this week and accompanying report which will be considered by our Cabinet on 11 January, sets out how we intend to make savings and set a balanced budget for 2024-25. The report includes proposals that will be subject to our Scrutiny process, and the proposals will be considered by the Improvement and Scrutiny Committee – Resources, later this month (22 Jan 2024) before being considered further by Cabinet.Announcing the report, County Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis and Deputy Leader Councillor Simon Spencer said they had been left with no choice but to put forward the raft of multi-million-pound savings proposals which, if agreed, would affect many services used by thousands of Derbyshire residents.All the proposals will be subject to close scrutiny and no decisions have yet been made. Any proposal which could potentially affect residents will be subject to public engagement and or full public consultation where appropriate.Next steps for County HallWe’re considering redeveloping our headquarters at County Hall in Matlock.After successfully engaging with developers and hotel operators, and working with specialist architects HLM Architects and Realestateworks over the past year, a preferred option for the whole County Hall complex has been developed, which includes:turning the south block of County Hall and the Winter Gardens into a hotel and events venuecreating new homes in the north block and the south west car parkbuilding a new, low carbon office on the site to accommodate up to 500 council employees.During the summer of 2023 expressions of interest were sought from developers, hotel operators and others for their ideas on options for the future of the historic complex of buildings, and the information gained has been used to develop an outline business case, which our Cabinet is set to consider on 11 January.Our overriding objective is to deliver the best outcome for the long-term use of the complex so that it contributes to the vitality of the town of Matlock and makes a significant ongoing contribution to the economy of the area. If the proposals are approved work will continue over the coming months and years to develop the project.Are you a carer?Do you care for someone who couldn’t cope without your help? If so, we have a range of carer support services to help you with your caring role.A carer is anyone including children and adults who provide unpaid support with day to day living tasks or personal care to a family member, partner or friend.The person they care for could be ill, frail, suffers from a physical or mental health condition or impairment, is autistic, living with dementia, drug, or alcohol dependent.Our carers support service – which is delivered by Derbyshire Carers Association (DCA) on our behalf – includes:information, advice, and guidanceindividual support, including face to face, home visits and telephone supportcarers’ assessments and support planning, which may include a carers’ personal budgetsupport with emergency planningtraining and learningcarers’ support groups and events around the countyadvice on taking a break from caringfree legal advice for carers in association with Ashton Bond Giggvolunteering opportunities.Click ‘find out more’ below for help, advice, and support or call DCA on 01773 833 833. Follow DCA on Facebook and X for news, updates, and events. Library of thingsEver needed a tool or piece of equipment to do a job around the house or garden but don’t want to buy something you’ll never use again?Our library in Buxton is lending a helping hand to Transition Buxton by hosting a ‘Library of Things’ which will be officially launched at 11am on Tuesday 30 January.There are more than 70 Library of Things across the country and the idea is that you borrow things that you only need occasionally rather than buying them. Items like carpet cleaners, hedge trimmers, drills, tents, pressure washers etc. It’s a great way to save money and resources. Transition Buxton has been busy gathering items and recruiting volunteers. Items so far collected include electric jigsaws and drills, garden equipment, a projector, cat carrying box and a work bench. Maybe you have something to donate, you want to volunteer to help or you’d like to come along to the launch and see what’s on offer? You’d be welcome to get involved.There will be a charge of £5 for membership to the Library of Things, £2.50 for the unwaged. Donations to borrow items will be welcomeThink which service – winter campaignOur colleagues in health are encouraging everyone to “think which service” is right for their needs as the winter season starts to bite.Winter puts extra pressure on the health and care system as seasonal illnesses and ailments circulate and the cold weather worsens some health conditions.By launching the ‘Think’ campaign, NHS Derby and Derbyshire is reminding residents there are lots of places where you can get help with health problems, including:Pharmacies – for coughs, colds, flu, aches, pains, rashes, ear and eye care, stomach ache and urinary tract infections among other ailments.NHS 111 Online – if you or someone you’re with has a medical problem that isn’t life-threatening but requires immediate help. Or call NHS 111.GPs – if you have persistent, recurring problems that are not improving with self care.Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) – for urgent, but not life-threatening conditions such as sprains and strains, suspected broken bones, high temperatures in children and adults and mental health concerns. There are five across Derbyshire and DerbyHospital Emergency Dept – for serious or life-threatening injuries and illnesses such as signs of a heart attack or stroke, severe difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, seizure or sudden confusionElvaston Castle temporary closureIf you were planning on visiting Elvaston Castle, we’re sorry but it remains closed until further notice, including the café, shop and car park, due to the risk of falling trees and branches following recent high winds.Flooding after heavy rain, including Storm Henk, continues to affect the park and surrounding villages.Our specialist tree teams are working as quickly as possible in difficult weather conditions to deal with the damage and clear debris and we’re asking people to avoid the area for their own safety.We’d like to thank everyone for staying away while this crucial work is carried out to make the country park safe for visitors and apologise for any inconvenience.You can follow Elvaston Castle Country Park on Facebook for updates.Mend, donate, sell or recycleDecluttering after Christmas and new year? Here are some good homes for your stuff!If broken, can it be mended free of charge at one of the 18 Repair Cafes in Derbyshire?do you have local What’s App and Facebook groups where items can be sold, exchanged or given away? These are often good for rehoming toys, which can also be donated to charity shops, or put in a toy bank at one of our Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) (all sites except Waterswallows in Buxton).Recycle at one of our HWRCs or in your kerbside collectionPlease pre-sort your waste before visiting any of the sites.Broken electricals. Remove any batteries as these can be a fire hazard and there’s a special container for them onsite, next to the skip for the electricals. Large retailers like supermarkets who sell batteries, will also have containers for recycling used batteriesand other places local to you that recycle electricals and take used batteries can be found herepesky polystyrene – it can’t be recycled yet. Please remove it from cardboard boxes before recycling themonly put paper and card that is clean and dry in your recycling bin. Anything containing food residue or food stains can’t be recycled.Violence against women surveyDerbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is asking for your help to shape and develop the Derbyshire Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy by filling in and sharing its latest survey.The Violence Against Women and Girls Survey is open until February 2024 and is designed to help assess the progress made so far and to realign the strategy which was launched last year.

If you are inconvenienced by possible illegal parking, please report it to Derbyshire County Council Civil Parking Enforcement by email: contact.centre@derbyshire.gov.uk or telephone: 01629 533190

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.Supporting residents this winterHelp shape our budget£1.50 bus fares for young peopleWin tickets to Shine A LightPrimary school applications openTurning down the HEAT and cutting carbonSupporting residents this winterIf you belong to a voluntary, community or charity organisation, we want you to apply for one of our grants to open a warm and welcoming space this winter.We helped to fund more than 150 spaces supporting Derbyshire residents during the colder months last year.Between them, they provided 17,000 hours of warmth and company for almost 11,000 Derbyshire residents feeling lonely or struggling to heat their homes or feed themselves.Organisations can now apply for up to £1,000 towards the cost of opening up new community venues or to extend their opening hours as the weather gets colder.The money can be used towards things like providing meals or light refreshments, the cost of energy bills or paying running costs to stay open for longer.Help shape our budgetWe want you to help shape our budget for 2024 to 2025 and have your say on a range of questions about where you live and the services you use.Our annual residents’ survey, Your Council Your Voice, has launched this week and will run for six weeks until Sunday 17 December.Please complete the survey, which has 16 main questions, including an opportunity for you to make suggestions.The questions include where you think we should prioritise our spending, how satisfied you are with our services and which ones are most important to you, least important to you, and why.You’ll also be asked for views and ideas as to how we could save money or raise additional revenue.£1.50 bus fares for young peopleDo you know any young people aged 11 to 19 years old?From 1 November we’ve introduced £1.50 single bus fares for young people across Derbyshire and Derby.Young people, aged 11 to 19, will need a b_line card to be able to get the discounted fare. The cards are free and available through either our or the city council’s websites.The b_line card is a cut-price travel discount and library card for those aged 11 to 19. It is for young people in school, college, on a training course or in an apprenticeship.Initially the £1.50 fare is available with bus operators that currently accept b_line cards, and will include travel on direct services into neighbouring local authority areas. Win tickets to Shine A LightWould you like to win tickets to a stunning show of light and sound at one of Derbyshire’s historic venues this December?See the history of Elvaston Castle come to brilliant life in a spectacular experience to remember, created by internationally-renowned Derbyshire-born video projection artists Illuminos.You can watch the projection as many times as you like, and you’ll notice something new each time.  The castle shop and Wyatt’s café will be open for hot drinks and there will be hot food vendors and a licensed bar in the castle courtyard. There’ll be Christmas carols between each show, Christmas craft activities for children, a festive grotto, and craft and gift stalls.Tickets are now on sale for the event taking place on 8, 9 and 10 December, priced £10 for adults and £6 per child (aged four to 12 inclusive, free for children aged three and under). Family tickets are priced at £28 (two adults and up to three children). Booking fees apply. Find more information Win! Two adult tickets are up for grabs for the Shine A Light show at Elvaston. The closing date is midnight on Thursday 30 November. Good luck!Primary school applications openYou can now apply to us for your child’s primary, infant or junior school place for September 2024.Applications for children who were born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020 will close at midnight on Monday 15 January 2024.You 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 quick and easy and allows you to make changes to your application at any point up to the closing date. You’ll receive an email to confirm your application has been received.Turning down the HEAT and cutting carbonDo you want to build your knowledge and confidence about the costs and potential savings of improving the energy efficiency of your home? Is your home particularly hard to heat?If your answer is ‘yes’, then free support and impartial advice are available to homeowners in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire as part of a new pilot project we are supporting – the HEAT Hub.A Home Energy Advice Team, part of the HEAT Hub, will be giving in-depth help to 360 homes and supporting hundreds more over the next two years. The project will be led by two charities Marches Energy Agency and Nottingham Energy PartnershipWe’re backing projects like these as a key aim in our Climate Change Strategy  is to reduce carbon emissions from the housing sector. Funding for the project has come from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero.

Whilst we appreciate it might be a little early to be talking about Christmas (apologies!), today we are just sharing a small update about our Food Bank and it’s opening hours over Christmas.

Our Food Bank makes an enormous difference all year round, but at a time of year associated with celebration for many, its impact is clear to see. A special thank you goes to all of our Food Bank staff and volunteers who continue to go the extra mile to tackle food poverty in our community. You can read about the impact of all of our services below.

READ MORE ABOUT OUR IMPACT

Hello everyone and welcome to the SDCVS Health and Wellbeing Bulletin. This bulletin is compiled as part of our Community Connector Initiative. Community Connectors has a simple aim – to make sure important information gets to where it is most needed in our communities. LEARN MORE                         SIGN UPOn Thursday 16th November at 10:30am we will be hosting a Community Connectors meeting featuring a presentation from the Mental Health Suicide Prevention ProjectEveryone is welcome! Please book your place and we will send you a Microsoft teams invite.BOOK YOUR PLACE HEREOther events: Funding Workshop with Foundation Derbyshire Emergency First Aid at Work TrainingVIEW ALL UPCOMING EVENTS HERESouth Derbyshire CVS have a proud history of delivering high quality training across the community.We’re delighted to announce that we are now expanding our training offer across the East Midlands. We have a deep understanding of the challenges within the third sector, the needs of the private sector and the importance of supporting everyone to realise their potential. With courses spanning from Mental Health Resilience, Equality & Diversity and Conflict Management to Marketing, First Aid and GDPR – Hive Training is your turn to partner for all things Training & Development in the region.You can also contact Hive Training if you have other training needs for your organisation!LEARN MORECovid and Flu Vaccinations All eligible adults are urged to book their flu and COVID-19 vaccines online via the NHS website, by downloading the NHS App, or by calling 119 for free if they can’t get online, to give themselves the best protection against severe illness and hospitalisation. Book, cancel or change a COVID-19 vaccination appointment – NHS (www.nhs.uk) Follow this link to find a vaccination site near you:  Covid-19 vaccination clinics list » Joined Up Care Derbyshire For more information: Get Winter Strong: revisiting respiratory infection guidance for a safer season – UK Health Security Agency (blog.gov.uk)   My Quit Route App If you’re trying to quit smoking this Stoptober then why not download Derbyshire County Council’s FREE My Quit Route app? It’s designed to help you kick the habit for good. Find out more, and download the app, online here.   Bowel Cancer Screening NHS bowel cancer screening checks if you could have bowel cancer. It’s available to everyone aged 60 to 74 years.Everyone aged 60 to 74 years who is registered with a GP and lives in England is automatically sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit every 2 years.The NHS bowel cancer screening kit can save your life. Just a tiny sample detects signs of cancer before you notice anything wrong.You collect a small sample of poo on a small plastic stick and put it into the sample bottle and post it to a lab for testing.If you’re sent a kit, put it by the loo. Don’t put it off.Find out more about bowel cancer screening here.    Free Blood Pressure Check-Ups Return Across Derbyshire Do you know your blood pressure numbers? One in three adults in the UK have high blood pressure. The council’s free inhouse healthy lifestyles service Live Life Better Derbyshire will be delivering blood pressure checks over the coming months. It’s also a great opportunity to find out more about Live Life Better Derbyshire’s free healthy lifestyle services. These include support to help you stop smoking, help with weight management and information about how to get more active. Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Communities, Councillor Carol Hart said: “Getting your blood pressure checked is really important. “High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, doesn’t often have noticeable symptoms. “But if it is left untreated can increase your risk of serious health problems such as heart attacks and strokes. “Having this quick test is the only way to find out what your blood pressure is – and it could save your life.” For more information on blood pressure checks, visit www.nhs.uk/bloodpressure There will be free blood pressure check-ups held in South Derbyshire on the follow dates:Wednesday 22nd November from 9am to midday at South Derbyshire Job Centre workplace event.If you’re over 40 you can get your blood pressure checked for free with an NHS Health Check at your GP, at most pharmacies and in some workplaces too. If you need any support with your mental health and wellbeing following the recent flooding in Derbyshire, there is support there for you.You might find it helpful to talk to family and friends about things.You can also call the Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline and Support Service free 24/7 on: 0800 028 0077.Or visit https://derbyandderbyshireemotionalhealthandwellbeing.uk/ to find out about available local support such as free counselling.If you need further help with your mental health, you can speak to your GP.   Flood Recovery Grants If your home or business has been flooded, you may be eligible for support from the Government’s flood recovery fund. Government has announced that money will be made available for residents and businesses in England that have been affected by recent flooding. At the moment we do not have all of the details, but as soon as we do we’ll work with our district and borough council colleagues to get the arrangements set up as soon as possible. We realise that the money the Government is making available is urgently needed by those who have been flooded and once we have the details we will work as quickly as possible to provide information about how to apply. For more information click here: Government announces support for flood-hit areas – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)  Supporting Residents This WinterApplications are now open for voluntary, community and charity organisations to apply for a grant from us to open a Warm and Welcoming Space this winter.It follows the success of a scheme launched by Derbyshire County Council last year which helped to fund more than 150 spaces supporting Derbyshire residents during the colder months.Between them, they provided 17,000 hours of warmth and company for almost 11,000 Derbyshire residents feeling lonely or struggling to heat their homes or feed themselves.Organisations can now apply for up to £1,000 towards the cost of opening up new community venues or to extend their opening hours as the weather gets colder.The money can be used towards things like providing meals or light refreshments, the cost of energy bills or paying running costs to stay open for longer.To qualify for a grant, organisations must pledge to offer a heated space during the winter months, provide seating, may offer refreshments such as a warm drink and a biscuit and be free of charge.People visiting warm spaces will also be offered information to help them with cost of living support, as well as advice on looking after their mental health and well-being.For more information click here: Warm and welcoming spaces – Derbyshire County Council Cost of Living Payments 2023/24 From 31st October, millions of households across the UK will receive a Cost-of-Living Payment worth £300.This is the second of three new payments totalling £900 in 2023/24, providing a financial boost to support the most vulnerable in society.Find out more online here: Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)   Welfare Benefits Check UpThousands of people in Derbyshire are missing out on benefits that are theirs by right. Sometimes the benefits system doesn’t make it easy for you to understand the rules about benefits or how to claim the benefits you are entitled to. Derbyshire County Council can help you find out about the benefits you’re entitled to and how to claim.Find out more here: Welfare benefits – Derbyshire County Council  £1.50 Single Bus Fares for Young People Do you have a young person aged 11 to 19 in your family? From 1st November young people in Derbyshire will be able to travel for only £1.50 for a single fare across Derbyshire and Derby. The £1.50 fares are for all buses in the county and city and include travel on direct services into neighbouring local authority areas. Young people, aged 11 to 19, will need a b_line card to be able to get the discounted fare. The cards are free and available through either the county council or city council websites. Sign up for a b_line card. The b_line card is a cut-price travel discount and library card for those aged 11 to 19. It is for young people in school, college, on a training course or in an apprenticeship.  Scam Letter Warning If you receive a letter offering compensation to you if you’ve been a victim of scams, please don’t fill in any forms with your personal and financial information. Derbyshire County Council’s trading standards team is warning you not to respond if you’ve had a letter with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) logo – it’s a scam. Derbyshire residents have been in touch about the nationwide scam, which often targets previous scam victims. The bogus letter tells people to fill in a ‘creditors debt form’, as part of a compensation scheme, but it’s a way of fraudsters getting personal/bank details. If you receive one contact National Consumer Advice helpline on 0808 223 1133.Lower Cost Broadband Social tariffs are discounted broadband and mobile deals for people on Universal Credit and other benefits. These tariffs are delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price. Amid rising living costs, we’ve been encouraging more broadband and mobile companies to offer social tariffs to help customers on low incomes. Find out more about Social Tariffs online here.   Help for Households There is help for millions of households with the cost of living. With over 40 schemes to help with the cost of living, discover what support is available for you at gov.uk/helpforhouseholds    Priority Services Register The priority services register is a free support service to help people in vulnerable situations. The scheme is offered by your energy supplier.  If you are eligible and find it hard to deal with your energy supply, you could get extra help from your energy company. Find out more about the priority services register.   Community Banks At Christmas It can be an expensive time of year with many people feeling they have to borrow money to afford food, presents and celebrations over Christmas. If you struggle to access mainstream banking services this may mean you’ve thought about using payday loans or doorstep lenders, which have much higher interest rates and will cost you a lot more. However, did you know that community banks offer savings accounts as well as lower cost loan alternatives that might be a safer option? Find out more about what community banks are, and how they might be able to help, here.   Welfare Rights Podcast Staff from Derbyshire County Councils Welfare Rights and Affordable Credit teams have been on air talking about checking your eligibility for benefits, and how to safely borrow money if you really need to. Listen to the Helping Hands podcast on North Derbyshire Radio here.   Toy Libraries Borrowing toys means you can keep pace with your child’s ever changing interests without the expense of buying new toys.  Whether its board games, musical instruments or even full on party packs, the Derbyshire Toy Libraries charity can help with a range of educational and fun toys for hire. Find out more about Derbyshire Toy Libraries here.   Energy Efficiency Support More than 300,000 families are set to save hundreds of pounds on their bills thanks to new energy efficiency upgrades. The government has launched the Great British Insulation Scheme to help families to get free or cheaper insulation to reduce their home’s energy bills. Families in lower council tax bands with less energy-efficient homes will be offered vital upgrades – such as roof, loft or cavity wall insulation – which could cut their annual energy bill by an average of between £300 to £400.  You might be eligible to get support if your home:has an energy performance certificate (EPC) of D to G – check your EPCis in Council Tax bands A-D in England or A-E in Scotland or Wales – check your Council Tax bandFind out more about the Great British Insulation Scheme online here.   NHS Healthy Start Scheme If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years old, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk through the NHS Healthy Start SchemeIf you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops.Find out more about the NHS Healthy Start Scheme online here.   Citizens AdviceCitizens Advice Bureau have trained advisers who can advise on;·      energy switching to save money·      applications for warm home discount and other grants·      signing up to priority service registers·      money-saving tips·      reducing your water bill and·      a variety of other things designed to save you money.The Citizen’s Advice Service can also help you look at ways to maximise your household’s income, including checking whether you are eligible for any benefits and grants.The CAB have a partnership with Western Power Distribution through the ‘Power Up’ projects to ensure that people in the Midlands, South West and Wales receive free, independent, confidential and impartial advice on energy, benefits, and health related issues.For more information, and to book an appointment call this free advice line number: 0808 278 7954.For web-based information and support on the following issues, the national Citizen’s Advice Bureau has a comprehensive website.   Call DerbyshireCold weather is especially dangerous for young children, older people or people with serious illnesses. If you are concerned about anyone you can Call Derbyshire on 01629 533190.Call Derbyshire is open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday and from 9.30am to 4pm Saturdays.   Community Groups in South Derbyshire There are a number of community groups in South Derbyshire running a wide range of activities and services. If you would like to join a group then get in touch with South Derbyshire CVS on 01283 219761 or email development@sdcvs.org.uk. You can also check out our website.   Looking to start or join a group? If you have an idea for a new group, or are looking for a group to join one, then contact us at South Derbyshire CVS and we can get you the information you need. We also support existing groups. 01283 219761 development@sdcvs.org.uk

Community News from Derbyshire County Council – 3 November 2023 🔹 Library of things🔹Derbyshire Now magazine🔹Carers’ rights information event🔹 Blood pressure checks 🔹 East Midlands devolution🔹Flood recovery grants

Derbyshire County Council sent this bulletin at 03-11-2023 09:33 AM GMT

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.Latest news in this edition:Library lends a hand to green initiativeDerbyshire Now magazine is online nowSave the date – Carers’ Rights Day information eventFree blood pressure check-ups return across DerbyshireEast Midlands devolutionFlood recovery grantsUpdate to new information finder helps people lead their best lifeLibrary lends a hand to green initiativeOur library in Buxton is lending a helping hand to Transition Buxton and therefore supporting Derbyshire’s Journey to Net Zero .Transition Buxton is a not-for-profit group that runs lots of green and sustainability initiatives in the town. They are now setting up a ‘Library of Things’ which will be hosted in our library. One from another area is pictured here..There are more than 70 Library of Things across the country and the idea is that you borrow things that you only need occasionally rather than buying them. Items like carpet cleaners, hedge trimmers, drills, tents, pressure washers etc. It’s a great way to save money and resources. Transition Buxton is currently gathering items and recruiting volunteers with a plan to launch the library before the end of the year. There will be a charge of £5 for the library of things membership, £2.50 for the unwaged. Donations to borrow items will be welcome. Residents may want to be borrowers, or perhaps there’s something in their shed that they may want to share with others.Derbyshire Now magazine is online nowWe’ve lined up some great features in the 16-page magazine for residents, including some of the best places in Derbyshire to visit by bus – perfect if you’re looking for inspiration for an autumn day out.And there’s money off vouchers for local attractions too, as well as the chance to win one of five pairs of tickets for an open-top bus ride in the Peak District.Read inspiring stories from across the county, including our cover stars Jim, Carol and Dave. Turn to page 14 to find out how an amazing couple are helping change lives by opening their home to adults who need extra help to lead an ordinary life.We’re also celebrating the birthday of our Trusted Trader scheme – supporting residents to find trusted local traders and services for 15 years, like Martin Maguire of M&M Bodywork in Alfreton pictured here.There’s also lots of useful news, advice and information including our improved Family Information Service and Youth Employment Service as well as information about the support available during the continued cost of living rises and help for those leaving hospital.And don’t forget to get your tickets for the latest Shine-a-Light extravaganza at Elvaston Castle in early December. Encourage friends and family to sign up to our weekly enewsletter for a chance to win afternoon tea and bed and breakfast for two at historic Derbyshire hotel Makeney Hall. Turn to page 2 for details.Save the date – Carers’ Rights Day information eventDo you care for someone or know somebody who is an unpaid carer? Please help us spread the word about this year’s Carers’ Rights Day on Thursday 23 November.To mark the day, Derbyshire Carers Association is hosting an information event on Thursday 23 November 2023 from 10am to 1pm.The event will take place at the Post Mill Centre, Market Street, South Normanton, Derbyshire, DE55 2EJ.Carers will be able to find out more about their rights and speak to legal, financial and employment advisors.For more information and to book a place, residents can contact Katie Matkin on 07773 173416 or email katie.matkin@derbyshirecarers.co.ukDerbyshire Carers Association supports over 6,000 adult carers and 350 young carers and delivers a wide range of services on our behalf.Carers’ Rights Day is a national campaign which aims to make sure carers are aware of their rights, raise awareness of their needs as well as highlighting help and support available.Free blood pressure check-ups return across DerbyshireDo you know your blood pressure numbers? One in three adults in the UK have high blood pressure.The council’s inhouse healthy lifestyles service Live Life Better Derbyshire will be delivering free blood pressure checks across the county over the coming months.It’s also a great opportunity to find out more about Live Life Better Derbyshire’s free healthy lifestyle services.Find out more including the full list of check up dates and venues.East Midlands devolutionThe proposed East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) has moved one step closer to reality after key legislation was approved in Westminster.The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill has been granted Royal Assent after completing its passage through Parliament, paving the way for the creation of the EMCCA and the region’s very-first Mayoral elections next May.We will now decide along with Nottinghamshire County Council, Derby City Council and Nottingham City Council on whether to move forward with devolution plans, with decisions expected before the end of the year.The East Midlands devolution deal, agreed with Government ministers last summer, would see Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby and Nottingham benefit from £1.14 billion of funding to invest in local projects related to transport, education and skills, housing, the environment and economic development.Local councils, including Derbyshire County Council, would all continue to exist as part of the regional devolution plans and would still be responsible for most public services in the area with the proposed mayor and combined authority focusing on these wider issues.Flood recovery grantsIf your home or business has been flooded, you may be eligible for support from the Government’s flood recovery fund.The Government has announced that money will be made available for residents and businesses in England that have been affected by recent flooding.At the moment we do not have all of the details, but as soon as we do we’ll work with our district and borough council colleagues to get the arrangements set up as soon as possible.We realise that the money the Government is making available is urgently needed by those who have been flooded and once we have the details we will work as quickly as possible to provide information about how to apply.Update to new information finder helps people lead their best lifeA new, improved version of Derbyshire County Council’s online information finder is now available to help residents lead the lives they want to live.The online tool provides free, impartial information and guidance for anyone who might need a bit of extra support to remain living independently at home.By answering a few questions, anyone over 18 can get tailor-made information, advice and guidance on a range of services, activities and resources they can access themselves to make their lives easier.And for people who may need extra, practical support to help them remain independent there is now a new self-assessment tool available.Using the answers provided, people who could benefit will be asked to fill in a self-assessment which will then be reviewed by an adult social care professional to see if they have eligible care needs.The online information finder can be found at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/informationfinderHealthwatch volunteers and Derbyshire Carers Association have supported the development of both the online information finder and self-assessment tool, providing feedback on the structure, content, use of language and purpose including having early access to the system to provide feedback.Anyone who cannot use the internet, does not think the information provided is what they are looking for or would like to be assessed can email contact.centre@derbyshire.gov.uk or call 01629 533190 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

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