Champions boost Chesterfield’s community with latest initiatives
Businesses in Chesterfield are demonstrating their commitment to supporting the local community through a variety of impactful initiatives.
In recent weeks, organisations such as Bridge Help, Junction Arts, Graysons Solicitors and Chesterfield FC’s Community Trust have made efforts towards making a positive difference in the lives of our local people.
Read more about how our town’s Chesterfield Champions continue to support people in our area below.
Bridge Help to match fund donations to its Chesterfield Foodbank Easter appeal
Bridge Help is calling on people to support its Childrens’ Chocolate Appeal.
Bridge Help wants to make sure that the children of everyone who accesses Chesterfield Foodbank’s services has a chocolate treat this Easter.
One hundred tasty chocolate eggs will be delivered by the Bridge Help team to the Chesterfield Foodbank warehouse in Sheepbridge in time for Easter.
As well Easter eggs, Bridge Help also wants to ensure the Food Bank charity gets a vital cash donation to contribute to its operation throughout the year.
To enable this, the company is asking people to make donations to its JustGiving appeal which will go directly to Chesterfield Foodbank. Bridge Help will also match fund donations.
Chris Sellars, Chief Executive of Bridge Help, explained: “The team and I really wanted to support a charity this Spring and Chesterfield Foodbank was the obvious choice, importantly, that there are also treats, especially for children, during difficult times.”
Bridge Help’s Chesterfield Foodbank Easter appeal is in place of its annual Christmas fundraising efforts, which has seen them donate nearly £12,000 to the Foodbank since 2020.
Chesterfield Foodbank provides three days of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis. They are part of a nationwide network of food banks, supported by The Trussell Trust, a charity which is working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
In 2023, Chesterfield Foodbank provided vital support to over 11,000 local residents in need of emergency food supplies. Of these three-day emergency food supplies, (just under a third (3169) were given to children.
Chris added: “Donations are needed throughout the year, not just at Christmas where we have previously focused our giving. Given the current economic climate and the predicaments many local people now find themselves, it is more important than ever to support this vital charity throughout the year.”
If you would like to make a donation, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/bridge-help-chesterfield-foodbank-chocolate-appeal The closing date for donations is Friday 22 March 2024.
Graysons champions early breast cancer detection through podcast partnership
Graysons’ female staff have taken a leading role on the importance of self-examination as part of a new initiative to increase awareness of hereditary breast cancer.
Graysons is a firm renowned for championing the careers of female solicitors, and has teamed up with radio DJ, Becky Measures, and her mother, Wendy Watson MBE, on their new ‘Mother Daughter Breast of Friends’ podcast.
Various members of Graysons’ staff participated in an episode of the podcast dedicated to the importance of breast self-examination as a way to detect early signs of the disease.
Wendy Watson made history 30 years ago when she became the first woman in Britain to have both breasts removed in preventative surgery. Her daughter, Becky Measures, underwent the same procedure in 2004 after finding out she had an 80 to 90 percent risk of developing breast cancer.
97% of people who carry a faulty gene still don’t know and the show aims to raise awareness and navigate the complexities of genetics.
Bradie Pell, partner at Graysons, said: “With a significant number of female staff in our firm, this episode highlighting the importance of self-examination truly struck a chord with us. If our participation can inspire others to become more self-aware and detect any changes early on, then our partnership becomes even more meaningful.”
The podcast can be found at https://motherdaughterbreastfriends.co.uk/
Becky Measures said: “It was very important to involve Graysons’ staff in this episode to help spread the self-examination message.
“Building this relationship with a firm that has such a long-standing highly respected reputation within our community is massively humbling, and we are so grateful to have them with us on the next leg of our journey.”
Spireites deliver drug and alcohol recovery sessions
The Chesterfield FC Community Trust’s A Spire Right sessions are focusing on helping those who have a history of drug and alcohol misuse to get more physically active and do something positive with their lives.
Shane Nicholson, who had two spells with Chesterfield as a player, was banned from football from drugs and alcohol misuse himself and gave a speech to the group to share his story.
On visiting the group, Shane said: “It’s about me coming to share my testimony, sharing my experiences and how I’ve dealt with them, how I cope with it and how I didn’t cope with it.
“Hopefully, as we’ve heard today, three or four people can resonate to the story. Once they do that, they know it’s okay to open up and share their side of it.
“I’m no different to them. Whatever walk of life we’ve had, whether you’re a judge, whether you’re a footballer, whether you’re someone on the street, it’s irrelevant.
“Drink and drug addictions can take over your life, so these guys here, I needed to let them know that their story is just as important as mine.”
Shane made 92 appearances for the Spireites, scoring 13 times, before returning as a fitness coach after retirement.
Shane added: “I love to come here. The first time was when I came back sober and clean under the late John Duncan.
“Then obviously I came back as a player and later as a strength and conditioning coach where we had lots of success so I’ve got a big place in my heart for Chesterfield.”
Urging those in need to attend the group, Shane said: “Taking that leap of faith and sharing your worries, whatever it is you feel that isn’t worthy of talking about, share it with someone.
“It’s important. Certainly, as males, we don’t do it enough. We think we’ll be laughed at but get it out there and get it shared because once it’s out there, you’re not carrying that baggage on your back around with you.
“It makes your life a lot easier.”
Art supplies to improve the mental health of young people in Bolsover and North East Derbyshire
Local charity, Junction Arts is launching a new fundraising campaign this week to provide 100 art packs for young people in Bolsover and North East Derbyshire.
The campaign comes after the charity recognised the positive impact that creativity has on the mental health of young people aged 11-18 years, whilst working in schools in Bolsover and North East Derbyshire as part of its Six Pillars project.
Six Pillars supports the emotional health and wellbeing of young people via creative taster sessions and workshops, to help build confidence and develop skills. The young people involved in the project often encounter difficulties in traditional educational settings, sometimes finding social interactions to be challenging, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
During the regular meet-up sessions, the Junction Arts team saw the positive impact of being creative, which allows young people to channel and process their feelings, reducing stress and boosting their self-esteem.
Unfortunately, not all young people have access to the necessary art supplies to support their wellbeing needs and encourage their creative talents. So, the charity is asking people to donate and help them raise £3,000, so that they can distribute 100 art packs to Six Pillars young people before the end of this academic school year in July 2024. Each art pack includes a variety of high-quality art supplies, ensuring that every child has the tools they need to embark on their artistic journey.
Junction Arts Project Coordinator, Kylie North said: “We know that engaging in art has a profound impact on a young person’s emotional health and wellbeing, providing a therapeutic outlet for self-expression, fostering creativity, and promoting a sense of accomplishment that contributes positively to their overall mental and emotional development. One of our Six Pillars participants, who has autism and struggles with anxiety, has gone from barely speaking in a group situation to wanting to become a volunteer, their confidence and self-esteem has improved so much in just a few months of attending our sessions.”
“We want more young people to experience this so, we are on a mission to provide 100 art packs to young people within the Six Pillars programme, empowering them to unleash their creativity and explore the world of art. Your support can make a significant impact on their lives and open doors to new possibilities. Any donation, no matter how big or small will directly contribute to enriching these young lives in Derbyshire through the joy of art.”
Six Pillars is an arts and wellbeing programme, commissioned by Healthy North East Derbyshire Partnership and the Bolsover Partnership with funding from Derbyshire County Council. The Project is led by Junction Arts in partnership with Direct Education Business Partnership.
