January 2017

GRANTS TO HELP BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY GROUPS IN RURAL AREAS

Could your business benefit from a grant of up to £35,000 from Derbyshire County Council?

Derbyshire County Council is working with Derbyshire Economic Partnership to help distribute a £1.7m funding pot from the European Union to support rural businesses in parts of Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

Recruitment Company Grows Business Through Apprentice Appointment

A Derby recruitment consultancy has grown his business with the appointment of a digital marketing apprentice – further strengthening its working links with Derby College.

Sky Recruitment Solutions, based at Riverside Chambers in the Cathedral Quarter, has appointed Max Pitt (18) from Duffield through the College’s apprenticeship recruitment and training programme.

Little Mix to headline Donington Park, 1st July 2017

Donington Park and Music Plus Sport are excited to announce that LITTLE MIX will be bring their Summer Shout Out show to Donington Park on Saturday 1st July 2017.

Little Mix will perform their signature hits, including ‘Shout Out to My Ex’, ‘Black Magic’, 'Hair' and 'Wings', alongside tracks from their new album 'Glory Days'.

Derby Theatre Studio highlights during January and February

Derby Theatre is thrilled to play host to some incredibly  exciting and innovative theatre companies and productions in their Studio theatre over the next two months.  

The Studio at Derby Theatre has long been a popular arts and  performance venue in the city, in its own right and as a key  part of Derby Theatre, and is a space for innovation, emerging  artists and contemporary work – and Studio highlights for  January and February include: 

Creative Residents Earn Prize For Care Home

Family-owned funeral directors G Wathall & Son have presented a Spondon care home with a microphone and speaker system as a thank you to residents for their creativity.

Wathall’s invited residents at Willowcroft, a 60-bed care home run by older person’s charity MHA in Nottingham Road, to design a Christmas card for the firm.

The residents promptly set about creating their designs as part of regular arts and craft activity sessions.

Calling all musicians in Year 13

Do you want the chance for your music to earn you £400?

Then you might want to know that on Saturday 18th. March 2017.  a music competition will be held at The Strutts Centre, in Belper.

There will be a prize of £400 for the winning student, a prize of £150 for the student in second place, and a third prize of £75.

The competition is sponsored by the Dalesmen Male Voice Choir.

Competition details

New Creative Project Brings Education, Music and Industry Together

Derby-based regional orchestra Sinfonia Viva has teamed up with world-leading power systems company Rolls-Royce plc, Derbyshire Music Education Hub and Derby Museums to launch a creative project that focuses on bringing science, technology and maths to life through music.

The project, entitled ‘Mechanical Advantage’ has been inspired by the gears, levers and pulleys aspects of the key stage two national curriculum following feedback from school teachers about the need to tackle the subject in a more creative way.

Memorial Service Donations Presented To Local Charity

Derby and Ashbourne family-owned funeral directors G Wathall & Son Ltd have presented a cheque for £1,322 to The Laura Centre Derby who help local families when a child dies or is bereaved.

The money was raised through donations made by those who attended a special Service of Thanksgiving and Hope at Derby Cathedral, organised by Wathall’s.

Wathall’s have supported The Laura Centre for the past three years – raising more than £30,000 to help the charity move into premises in Vernon Street where they provide counselling and bereavement services for local families.

Derby Company Expands With Cambridgeshire Acquisition

Derby-based Clean Slate, one of the Midlands’s largest independent commercial cleaning companies, has expanded with the acquisition of Trojan Commercial Cleaning East Anglia.

Clean Slate has been operating in the region for 60 years and has more than 230 staff working at a range of customer sites across the region from GP surgeries and schools to offices and factories.

Croots Farm Shop & Café a finalist in Family Business United Awards 2017

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has been named a finalist for the Midlands Family Business of the Year Award 2017.

The farm shop and café near Duffield, run by husband and wife team Steve and Kay Croot, is one of 12 family firms shortlisted for the accolade.

“We are delighted to learn that we’ve been chosen as a finalist in this award. It’s great news for Croots Farm Shop and all the wonderful, hard-working staff we have on our team,” said Kay Croot. “The farm shop was launched at my parents’ farm in 2008, and has gone from strength to strength.

Déda Creative Arts Academy Focuses on Employability Skills

Derby College has teamed up with regional dance house Déda in the city’s Cathedral Quarter to broaden students’ employability skills and career opportunities across the creative arts industry.

The Déda Creative Arts Employer Academy is the latest in the Derby College initiative to match students with local businesses and organisations – providing them with work experience, special projects, masterclasses and mentoring.

First Staunton Harold Triathlon Announced by HUUB Events

Derby-based HUUB Events has teamed up with the Staunton Harold Estate to organise the first ever triathlon event there this summer.

The 2000 acre family-owned estate will host the triathlon on Sunday June 11 with competitors having the choice of two different distances.

The Super sprint will start with a 400m swim in the lake and then a 14km bike ride and 4km run through the estate. The Sprint distance course will be a 750m swim, 28km bike and 8km run. A junior event with shorter distances is also being planned.

Ashley Family Foundation Grants Programme re-opens (England & Wales)

The Ashley Family Foundation, which supports projects that protect rural communities and encourage participation in the arts, particularly textiles, has announced that the next funding round will open for applications in February 2017. Priority will be given to small scale arts projects in England and Wales. The Foundation also welcomes proposals from small scale community textile museums/organisations. No minimum or maximum funding levels are given but potential applicants should call to discuss their ideas before applying.
 
Previous projects that have been funded include:

Belper North Mill Trust seeks Craft Project Co-ordinator

This page will tell you what you need to know if you are interested in applying for the job of Craft Project Co-ordinator at Strutt’s North Mill.  It includes the following:

1.Overview – brief details of the post.

2.Strutt’s North Mill – a brief description of the museum/visitor centre.

3.The 2017 Craft Project – a detailed summary of what the current Project is about.

Sinfonia Viva Anniversary Year – Touching More People’s Live

Sinfonia Viva, the East Midlands’ only professional orchestra, will mark its 35th anniversary this year by enabling more people than ever to experience creative music making.

As well as a packed concert programme across the region and beyond, Viva is aiming to work directly with 3,500 people over the next 12 months through a series of education and community creative projects. 

These will include young people aged one to 21, older people with dementia, carers, hospitals and hospices as well as young people and adults with learning difficulties.

Veolia Environmental Trust Grants (UK)

The Veolia Environmental Trust, has announced that the next closing date for stage 1 applications is the 24th February 2017. Constituted, not-for-profit groups within the vicinity of a qualifying Veolia site, can apply for grants for projects that support the natural, social and built environment. The type of activities that can be supported include:

Arts Council England - Capital: Small Grants (England)

The Arts Council England supports activities across the arts, museums and libraries and has announced that the Capital Small Grants Programme will re-open for applications on the 12th January 2017. A total of £32.5million is being made available to support organisations to be more resilient by ensuring that they have the right buildings and equipment to deliver their work.

Lloyds Bank Foundation new funding round for its “Invest” Programme (England & Wales)

The Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales, which provides funding to charities for projects to help people break their cycle of disadvantage, has announced that its "Invest" grants programme will re-open for applications on the 3rd May 2017 and will close on the 16th June 2017. “Invest" is a flexible, long term core funding programme for charities helping disadvantaged people. “Invest” grants are from £10,000 up to maximum of £25,000 per year for two or three years, with the opportunity for continuation funding for a further period - up to six years in total.

Awards for Young Musicians opens for 2017 applications (UK)

The Awards for Young Musicians programme has been running for 18 years and during that time has provided support to more than 1,000 exceptional young musicians. The 2017 awards programme is now accepting applications and can provide funding of up to £2,000 per year (the average award is £500) to young musicians between the ages of 5 and 17 who are learning a musical instrument and are in financial need. Support is available for:

Beyond Borders Music Programme re-opens for applications (UK)

The Performing Rights Society (PRS) for Music Foundation, the UK's leading funder of new music across all genres, has announced that its Beyond Borders fund has re-opened for applications. The Beyond Borders Fund provides funding of up to £15,000 to stimulate collaborations between organisations in England, Northern lreland, Scotland, Wales and Southern Ireland. The scheme enables music creators to produce exceptional new music to be performed in at least two UK countries.

The Finnis Scott Foundation (UK)

The Finnis Scott Foundation has announced that the next closing date for applications is the 24th March 2017. Grants are available of between £500 and £10,000 to UK charities or individuals in the areas of horticulture and plant sciences, as well as fine art and art history.
 
Previous organisations who have received funding include:

Derbyshire Dales leisure centres seek four more sporty apprentices

Personal trainer Jess Guest is the latest young person to land her ideal job thanks to a sports and leisure apprenticeship with Derbyshire Dales District Council.

Jess, who is 18 and from Morton,  now works  full-time at Arc Leisure in Matlock after studying via Derby College while gaining valuable on-site work experience.  

Bongo Fury at Derby Cathedral

Internationally renowned musicians O Duo will bring their unique and energetic percussion performance to Derby Cathedral for the first time on Friday February 10 as part of the Twilights concert series.

Musicians Oliver Cox and Owen Gunnell will perform a special one-hour concert starting at 6pm entitled ‘Bongo Fury’.

Healthwatch Derbyshire Pilot Programme Launched

Health and social care patient watchdog Healthwatch Derbyshire has teamed up with a leading national charity, MacIntyre, to launch a pilot programme involving local people with learning disabilities taking part in unannounced visits to care homes across the county.

MacIntyre provides learning, support and care for more than 1,500 children, young people and adults who have a learning disability and/or autism, at more than 150 services across England and Wales. 

Local Artist Launches Year-Long Exhibition at Déda

A local artist, who has spent the past three years creating three pieces of artwork a day using recycled and reused materials, has launched the first of a series of exhibitions at regional dance house Déda in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter.

Del Coombs (70), is a University of Derby graduate where he has also worked for 20 years as a cleaner. and collects most of the materials used in his creations during his early morning shifts.

He will be staging 13 different four-week exhibitions at Déda over the coming year.

Derby College Event Supports Young People Into Apprenticeships

Derby College is holding two special sessions which are designed to support young people into apprenticeships and the world of work.

As part of information evenings at the Roundhouse campus in Pride Park – Apprenticeship Ready sessions will be held on January 26 and then March 14, both between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

Derby College Employer Academy Programme Expands Into Travel and Events

Derby College has teamed up with the UK’s leading specialist travel and event management company to introduce learners to the broader career opportunities available in the growing industry.

Capita Travel and Events, whose head office is in Wyvern Business Park, works with a wide range of business clients – handling their travel, accommodation and events’ requirements both in the UK and abroad.

Cyclists Gear Up For Sportive Challenge

Entries are now open for Derby’s Spring Classic Sportive event which has been confirmed for Sunday April 23, 2017.

Cyclists of all ages and abilities have the choice of three distances – 40k, 60k and 120k – starting and finishing at Markeaton Park with routes around South Derbyshire and East Staffordshire.

Early bird entrants will qualify for a discount if they sign up by December 31 with further discounts available for those who also sign up for the North Derbyshire Cycle Sportive on September 17, 2017.

The Sportive is being organised by Cycle Derby and HUUB Events

Local Lady Wins Prize Draw Bonus

A Derbyshire pensioner has won £300 of vouchers to spend in shops in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter after entering a prize draw.

The Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID), which was recently crowned the best city centre in the country at the Great British High Street awards, produced a leaflet showcasing the variety of entertainment and events taking place in the area and invited people to enter a prize draw for vouchers to spend in shops of their choice.

Great Northern Running Event - Sunday March 5th

The date for the next annual Great Northern Running Event has been confirmed as Sunday March 5, 2017 - organised again by Mickleover Cricket Club and Derby-based HUUB Events.

The event, which last year attracted nearly 500 runners of all ages, includes a half marathon (21k) a 10k run and a 2k family fun run. 

It is named after and takes part along part of the disused Great Northern railway line in Mickleover.

JWC Celebrates Achievements

The achievements of students at the Joseph Wright Campus at Derby College have been officially recognised with a celebration evening attended by more than 100 people.

Students who have either graduated from or are continuing their studies for A levels, vocational and Creative Arts programmes based at the Joseph Wright Campus were presented with subject prizes at the annual event.

Brownlee Brothers Face Off For HUUB Waterslide Challenge

Olympic Heroes Joined By HUUB Ambassadors Lucy Charles & Jack Burnell To Find Out Who Is HUUB’s Fastest Athlete - Down a water slide…

This week, multi award winning triathlon outfitters HUUB Design have put British Olympic heroes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee through tests of endurance, the likes of which they have never taken part in before, to find out once and for all, who is the quickest… down a waterslide.