April 2020

Tideswell Theatre Watch All The Lonely People

WATCH OUR PLAY DURING LOCKDOWN!


All The Lonely People now available to view online! Written by Sue Hawkins and directed by Gerard Rogers, this comedy was performed in 2017 and starred Claire McKenzie, Tim Dudley, Simon White, Sue Hawkins, Suzanne Elvidge, Kathryn Black and Pete Hawkins. With music by The Reel Deal (Jane and Bob Diehl and Robin Bower). Script copyright Sue Hawkins. Contact Tideswell Community Players for more information. 

Uploaded in the 90th year of TCP performances.

25 years in harmony for Hayfield Singers

Hayfield Singers will celebrate their 25th anniversary with a performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’,  the greatest piece of choral music in the English language, according to the choir’s musical director Simon Mercer.

The performance will take place at St Matthews Church, Hayfield on Sunday 29th April at 7.30pm.

Donate to the Dronfield Rotary Walk


With us now enjoying warmer weather and lighter evenings, now is as good a time as any to get outdoors and explore Dronfield’s many walking routes, including the Dronfield Rotary Walk - which is maintained by a team of volunteers at the Barn.

Old Coin Found at Dronfield Barn. Can You Help?


Our Buildings Manager, Pete, recently picked up an old coin which was left by our gardeners shed. We think this has probably been unearthed by the drainage works the gardens team have been working on over the past couple of months (pictured above). 

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE'S 200th BIRTHDAY

ONLINE THEATRE TO CELEBRATE WITH A NEW PLAY “FLORENCE : SCENES FROM A LIFE”

On 12th May 2020, the world should be celebrating Florence Nightingale's 200th birthday. The coronavirus crisis has resulted in events being cancelled but the team behind a new play are determined to give people the opportunity to celebrate one of the most remarkable people in history.

Four artists' films about work. Made with workers.

Dryden Goodwin | Jenny Holt
Esther Johnson | Adam Lewis-Jacob

We are pleased to announce that we're launching WORK - four new artists’ films that explore contemporary working lives in the middle of England - online on International Workers’ Day, 1 May 2020. 

Midlands Communications and Print Company plays Key role in saving 90,000 lives during COVID-19 Pandemic

Derbyshire company, BLACKFISH GROUP, have been working around the clock to produce thousands of technical labels which will be applied to ventilators.  These ventilators are estimated to save 90,000 + lives in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blackfish Group are one of a number of organisations in the UK who have been given clearance to access the Government’s emergency supply chain partners, to ensure they can obtain raw materials from anywhere in the world, whenever they are needed.

Guess the weight of Gary Baaaarlow and help raise money for NHS charities

Popular Derbyshire farm shop Croots is raising money for Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity with a competition to guess the weight of one of its recently born lambs, nicknamed Gary Baaaarlow.

The Duffield farm shop would ordinarily have run a similar competition as part of its annual Lambing Sunday event, which was cancelled this year due to coronavirus.

Instead, the fundraising event has gone online – with the farm shop keen to support frontline NHS services in southern Derbyshire and south east Staffordshire.

Charity Ambassador Appeals For Vigilance

BAFTA award winning actress Molly Windsor has made an online appeal for families to be vigilant about young people’s online activity in her capacity as ambassador for Derbyshire charity Safe and Sound.

Molly, who lives in Derbyshire, won a BAFTA for her role in television drama ‘Three Girls’ about the Rochdale child sexual exploitation prosecutions.

Local Charity Welcomes Government Support

Specialist child exploitation charity Safe and Sound has welcomed news that the Government has pledged further support for frontline charities during the pandemic.

Chancellor Rishi Sunack announced yesterday (Wednesday April 8) that charities across the UK will receive a £750 million package of support to ensure they can continue their vital work during the coronavirus outbreak.

Derby BIDS Support #RaiseTheBar

Derby’s Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have joined a national campaign calling on the Government to help more businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors survive the lockdown and secure local jobs.

The national #RaiseTheBar campaign has been backed by industry representation bodies and BIDs across the UK in asking the Government to raise the rateable value threshold for grant assistance from £51,000 to £150,000 for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.

Ashgate Hospice Help by Derbyshire Artist

I am an award winning and published author, and I am offering my services to paint local business windows for free. My idea is to bring comfort with visual stories and something beautiful to look at. 

Capital Works Planned Ahead of T-Level Launch

Derby College Group (DCG) is forging ahead with adapting work spaces for the first students who will join the new T Level programmes this September.

Various facilities are being upgraded in line with the T Level focus on work experience under DCG’s £1.2 million capital programme which has been part-funded by the Skills Funding Agency.

New Employer Academy Designed To Give Students A Head Start

Construction students at Derby College Group (DCG) in Derby and Ilkeston now have the opportunity to gain industry-accredited training to boost their chances of securing a job in the industry.

Howarth Timber and Building Supplies, which has been established since 1840 and is the UK’s largest privately-owned timber company with 33 branches across the UK, has joined forces with DCG to set up an Employer Academy

New Foundation Degree Prepares Creatives For The Changing Workplace

Derby College Group (DCG) is launching a new higher education study programme in partnership with The Open University which is designed to better prepare creative practitioners for the world of work.

The Foundation Degree in Creative Practice will start in September 2020 based at DCG’s Joseph Wright Centre in the Cathedral Quarter.

Can you write about ‘Home’ in 50 word competition?

Derby Book Festival is challenging children and adults to write a story in up to fifty words on the subject of ‘Home for its 2020 Flash Fiction Writing Competition launched today (24 April).  The winning stories will be printed on a set of bookmarks this summer and will be distributed across Derby and Derbyshire to promote Derby Book Festival. 

Buxton International Festival Update

Although the office is closed, a few staff are still working on much reduced hours to keep the Festival alive and we have been overwhelmed by your support during this challenging time. Thank you to everyone who is so generously supporting our efforts to bring back the Festival in 2021. Your kind words and donations have lifted our spirits immensely.

Arty Workshops go online...

We are gradually moving over to online teaching from your own home. We are using Zoom to deliver our sessions remotely to you during these tricky times.

We are currently offering the following 1 hour long sessions all bookable individually online:

Get your art and culture fix online with FORMAT

The FORMAT20 Off Year exhibitions may be closed in the real world but we are delighted to bring you some of the amazing FORMAT festival exhibitions as digital exhibitions.

Visit our website and check out Sleight of Hand, an exhibition drawn from past FORMAT festivals and shown at the Lishui International Photography Festival last year and now available as a virtual tour.

Local Charity Promote Stress Relief

A local support group have launched a poetry competition, and are opening it out to non-members in a bid to help in these stressful times.

The Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Tinnitus Support Group have been using poetry workshops to act as a distraction from their health problems. Last year, the group published their own poetry book called “Distraction”, the proceeds going towards supporting the group’s activities.

Celebrate VE Day 75 at Home!

Due to the unfortunate events surrounding the Covid-19 outbreak, the Dronfield Arts Festival has been postponed. Originally due to take place next month, the Festival will now coincide with Victory in Japan (VJ) Day, which marks the end of WWII, over the weekend of 15th & 16th August.

Postponement of Derby Ram Trail

The Derby Ram Trail team has decided to delay delivery of this world-class art trail due to take place this summer. This difficult decision has been taken in response to the recent Covid-19 (Coronavirus) developments and the social distancing measures currently in place potentially being extended. We look forward to bringing this fantastic event to our city streets in the future, when it is safe to do so and we will share a new launch date in due course.

BAKER CONSULTANTS WELCOMES ON BOARD TWO NEW ASSISTANT ECOLOGISTS

At Baker Consultants we maintain very close contacts with a number of Universities, teaching on under graduate courses and keeping up to date and contributing to the latest research. These academic links also mean that we can offer opportunities to the brightest and the best of the newly qualified ecologists taking their first steps in their career ladder. Under the Covid-19 lockdown, although we have altered our processes when working in the field in line with DEFRA, Environmental Agency and CIEEM guidance, there is still the need to carry out plenty of surveying and other fieldwork. 

A Necklace of Stars

Older adults aged 65+ from across Derbyshire are being invited to take part in a new project ‘A Necklace of Stars’. During the Covid-19 crisis, instructions and support for making embroidery, poetry and lullabies will be provided via post, on-line and on the phone for those who are housebound. 

Oddsocks release  "Jane Eyre" online from Friday 17th April

Award winning Oddsocks is releasing "JANE EYRE" to watch online from Friday 17th April at 7pm.

Oddsocks is enjoying a growing online popularity as fans who are used to seeing them in the open air over the summer months are settling down regularly on a Friday night to enjoy each weekly offering instead. They are even sending pictures of their living room picnics to the company after the event.

Voices From The Peak

Voices From The Peak - a journey through the Peak District in word and sound. Featuring the atmospheres, wildlife and stories of this strange and beautiful land of contrasts. 

Donate to Hubbub Theatre!

In these challenging times, we are now more appreciative than ever of any donations towards our work, especially in making sure we reach learning disabled people who may feel very lonely at this time. We know that some people have real financial challenges right now, but if you haven't, and if you have a little you could spare to help us keep our Hubbub At Home programme running, we would be so grateful.

What's happening at Hubbub

While we all have to stay at home to keep safe and well, we wanted to get in touch and let you know what's happening at Hubbub. Even through challenging times we are still here to spread hope and kindness through some exciting new ways of working...

Derby Parks get behind #PerfectParks campaign

The team from Derby Parks are getting behind a social media campaign to celebrate the best of our public parks and open spaces without leaving our homes.

#PerfectParks has been started by the Green Flag Award, which honours the best kept parks in the UK every year. It asks people of all ages, and especially families with children, to create pictures showing the features that would make up their ideal park, and post them online.

Say 'Hello' to Art with John Sutcliffe!

Even though the Barn is not open, we've been working with our partners and volunteers to bring you activities to do at home. We would like to thank those who have contributed and hope there's something here you will enjoy!
Don't forget you can help our charity during this challenging time with a £10 donation - see details below. Many thanks for your continued support!

'Hello Art' by John Sutcliffe

Subscribe to our Artist in Residence's YouTube channel. 

Request from NHS Community Staff

Clinical Staff (individually or in pairs) working in the community (nurses, therapists etc) are in need of places where they can:

·        Use the loo

·        Wash hands

·        Charge phones/ laptops/other devices

·        Stop, rest and be quiet

South Derbyshire District Council Business Support - COVID-19

Support is available for organisations in South Derbyshire which have been affected by coronavirus (COVID-19).

South Derbyshire District Council is administering a business support scheme which was announced by the Government earlier this month.

The Government has announced a package of support for organisations affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak - this ranges from grants and loans to Business Rate holidays and deferment of taxes. Details continue to be released and the latest information can be found via the links below.

List your virtual events on Fantastic for Families!

We’re very excited to announce that Fantastic for Families is now listing online events for families.

If you have a live performance, class or workshop coming up, you can now add it to the site by logging in and visiting the My Online Events tab. As always, listing your event is completely free.

As usual, your listings will be disseminated to a wide range of partner organisations. We're working closely with all of our partners, including Netmums, In Your Area, and others, to ensure maximum exposure for your events, to reach as many families as possible.

Support Dronfield Barn

Like all small businesses and charities, the current pandemic has given the Dronfield Heritage Trust unprecedented challenges.  

We are a registered charity and we have currently lost all our essential, regular income streams. Dronfield Hall Barn is at the centre of the community and we provide valuable support for local people through our volunteer and events programme, work with schools and local training partners. Currently we are running a collection and delivery service to support vulnerable people and the wider community. 

In Isolation Together at Artcore

'In Isolation Together' is an initiative in response to the global pandemic, Covid 19. Art has always reflected the voice of people, both in times of celebration and in dire circumstances. Now is no different. We are at a point in time where technological advances are at its peak and it seems necessary to utilise it. We know there are many people, creatives and non-creatives alike that are home either in self-isolation or quarantine.
 

University aids PPE production efforts

Bondholder the University of Derby is supporting the national effort to combat COVID-19 by producing essential elements of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Researchers based at the University’s Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering research centre (IISE) have produced single-use and reusable visors which can be mass manufactured for use in the short-term.

Marketing Derby wins Queen’s Award

We are delighted to announce that Her Majesty The Queen has approved the Prime Minister’s recommendation that Marketing Derby is to receive the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The award is in the Innovation category and reflects the organisation’s ground-breaking business model and success as the inward investment promotion agency for the city of Derby and county of Derbyshire in attracting over 5,000 new jobs and £500m of investment. 

D2N2 in PPE appeal

Bondholder D2N2, the Local Enterprise Partnership, is putting its support behind the PPE4NHS campaign and asking businesses across the region to donate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the fight against Coronavirus.

In addition to widely reported shortages of PPE within the NHS, the care and charity sectors are also finding it difficult to source adequate items of PPE in order to safeguard vulnerable members of society.

Bondholders are Talking Business LIVE

Marketing Derby has launched its new Talking Business LIVE webinars for the Bondholder community to keep in contact and share advice during the Coronavirus pandemic. Over the past two weeks over 150 people have joined Managing Director, John Forkin, on-line to hear from a panel of Bondholder experts talking about responses to the pandemic including funding and support available to businesses, communication style and tone, and mental wellbeing.

City Council appoints new Chief Executive

Bondholder Derby City Council has named Paul Simpson as its new Chief Executive.

Paul has been Acting Chief Executive at the Council, having been appointed as its Strategic Director of Corporate Resources in August 2019. Originally from Derby, he began his career at Derby City Council, as a Trainee Accounting Technician in 1991.

D2N2 launches redeployment service

Bondholder D2N2 - the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) - has announced a Redeployment Triage Service for businesses and employees affected by Coronavirus redundancies.

The Service, to be administered by Futures - the National Careers Service provider for the East Midlands - will match those recently made redundant with new work in sectors experiencing a surge in employment demand such as food retail, care and distribution.