Budding ambassadors who want to learn how to help promote the Peak District and Derbyshire as a world-class destination are being invited along to a series of free workshops being delivered by the area’s official tourist board.

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire is to stage a number of ‘Peak District and Derbyshire Welcome’ courses – developed in partnership with learndirect – to empower local businesses with the information and skills they need to welcome visitors to the area with pride and confidence.

The workshops – which are running between now and the end of July and are open to Derbyshire-based visitor economy businesses, including the retail sector – will equip participants to:

• Understand the importance of the visitor economy to the Peak District and Derbyshire and how they can contribute to increasing the amount of money visitors spend here
• Gain the right approach, skills and knowledge needed to welcome visitors and leave them with positive, memorable experiences
• Positively promote the area with pride, knowledge and enthusiasm in a professional and friendly way
• Transform them into confident and knowledgeable ambassadors

Lindsay Rae, Deputy Director, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, said:-

“Tourism is extremely important to the Peak District and Derbyshire economy – it currently supports almost 28,000 jobs, brings in around 40 million visitors a year, and is worth an annual £2 billion.

“These workshops are aimed at anyone who is interested in making a positive contribution to complement the wider work we do at the tourist board and add value to the area’s visitor economy for everyone’s benefit.

“Everyone who comes along will get the chance to learn about the area’s rich history, culture, main events and attractions so they can then go out and spread the word about our unique and very special area with knowledge and confidence.

“We all need to work together to shape the destination’s future direction and prosperity, and this is the perfect opportunity to get actively involved in the process.”

The courses are funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) through learndirect, the UK’s largest provider of skills, training and employment services.

Anyone interested in taking part can find further details and enrol at http://marketingpeakdistrictandderbyshire.eventbrite.com.

Green-fingered Chesterfield residents are urged to pick up their trowels and take part in this year’s Chesterfield in Bloom competition.

Chesterfield in Bloom is a community-led campaign, supported by Chesterfield Borough Council, aimed at encouraging residents to take pride in their area and forms the borough’s entry into the regional East Midlands in Bloom competition.

Last year, the borough won a gold award in the East Midlands in Bloom competition for the second year running.

Residents are encouraged to take part in the best kept garden competition to help the borough retain the title.

Categories in the competition are:

• Best front garden sponsored by Dunston Hall/New Leaf Garden Centres
• Best back garden (up to 80m²) sponsored by Chesterfield Markets
• Best back garden (larger than 80m²)
• Best container garden/hanging basket
• Best blooming pub/restaurant

The winners of these categories are also entered into the best overall garden category sponsored by Killingley Landscapes.

Allotment holders can enter the best allotment competition. Categories are:

• Best kept allotment site (six or more allotment plots)
• Best kept individual allotment plot (150m² and above)
• Best kept individual allotment plot (less than 150m²)

Councillor Chris Ludlow, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said:-

“Each year we are astounded by the number of fantastic entries into the best kept garden competition – with so many people working hard to keep their areas bright, clean and colourful.

“I’d like to encourage people to enter and help us retain our gold award in the East Midlands in Bloom competition.”

This year also sees a special category introduced for council tenants. Categories in this competition are:

• Best garden (this can be front, back or side garden)
• Best container/hanging basket

Tenants can also nominate an estate champion to receive an award, this can be an individual or groups of people who take an active role in keeping their local area clean safe and tidy.

Councillor Helen Bagley, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for homes and customers, added:-

“This year we are proud to introduce new categories in the East Midlands in Bloom competition for our tenants including the estate champion award.

“This new award will recognise people who are community champions and encourage others to keep their areas clean and tidy. If you know someone who fits the bill, please download an entry form and nominate.”

The closing date for entries is Friday 15 June, with judging taking place the following week.

Entry forms are available on the council’s website: www.chesterfield.gov.uk/bloom.

The competition is sponsored by Ringwood Hall Hotel. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the hotel in the autumn.

Having been granted a testimonial match by Chesterfield FC to mark his ten seasons with the club, Tommy Lee’s testimonial match will be against a Wigan Athletic XI on Wednesday, July 25 (7pm).

With former Spireites manager Paul Cook and his assistant Leam Richardson set to lead a team from the current League One champions, a gala occasion is guaranteed as fans can celebrate the career of one of the club’s most popular players of recent years, before his career was cruelly cut short by a shoulder injury.

Tommy said:-

“As soon as the club granted me the testimonial, Paul Cook let it be known that he’d do whatever he could to help and I’m delighted that he and Leam have agreed to send a team to play in the match.

“With Wigan agreeing to come over to the Proact for a game that will be the first at home under new boss Martin Allen, the game is sure to be of interest to all Spireites.

“I have to thank Chesterfield FC for allowing us to stage the game, which will be a major part of the team’s pre-season build-up. The club has been brilliant in ensuring the game can take place and I can’t thank them enough for their support for what is sure to be an emotional evening for me and my family.”

The cost of tickets has been set to encourage supporters to attend in numbers, with a £10 maximum charge for adults and U16s costing just £3. There will also be hospitality on offer – details will be released soon, as will the date when match tickets will be available.

In addition, there will be a very special opportunity for fans to mingle with the largest gathering of ex-players that will have ever congregated at the stadium. The launch of the Chesterfield FC Former Players Association will also take place that night with 50 former Spireites visiting the match and there will be the opportunity for 50 supporters to join them in the Brampton Brewery Lounge for what will be a unique opportunity to meet and chat with so many former heroes.

Martin Allen has been named as Chesterfield’s new manager.

Allen, who was latterly at Barnet, will have Adrian Whitbread as his assistant while former Spireites keeper Carl Muggleton takes on the joint role of head of recruitment and goalkeeper coach.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to be named manager of Chesterfield,” said Allen. “It’s exciting and it’s going to be fantastic. We’re going to build a new team and make fans happy.”

Allen, 52, has experience of non-league football and guided Barnet to the Conference title in the 2014/15 season. Two years before that, he was manager of Gillingham when they won the League Two title.

Dave Allen, who is the club’s majority shareholder, is delighted to have been able to bring his namesake to the Proact Stadium. He said:-

“Sitting down with Martin was quite refreshing, as he ticks a lot of boxes.

“He’s got the same personality as I have and he calls a spade a shovel. He’s the right man at the right time for this job, make no mistake about it.”

Ashgate Hospicecare has received a £600 funding boost thanks to the efforts of Chesterfield-based training advisor Emma Stanyard and her four-legged friends Finley and Ralph.

The trio braved the unpredictable elements to take part in the charity’s Woofs and Wellies sponsored walk around the scenic Linacre Reservoirs, raising an impressive £300.50 which was then matched by her employer and local construction training provider, Construction Skills People (CSP).

CSP announced Ashgate Hospicecare as its charity of the year back in January when it committed to double any funds raised by employees for the cause which provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care to patients across north Derbyshire and the High Peak and Dales.

The latest fundraising efforts will go towards helping to deliver services free of charge to patients with any life limiting illness, and extended support to patients’ families.

Construction Skills People Client Services Director, Stuart Anderson, said: “This is a fantastic amount raised for a very worthwhile cause, and so we’re really proud of Emma for donning her wellies and braving the elements to take on the challenge.

“This latest fundraising initiative takes our total raised for the year to £850 and are looking forward to further bolstering that figure in the coming months.”

Established in 2008, CSP is the leading provider of vocational construction qualifications and training courses across the UK.

To date it has raised a total of £850 for Ashgate by taking part in sponsored walks and bake sales. The next challenge scheduled will see employees participate in the charity’s Sparkle Night Walk which is taking place in July.

Jack Wood, Events Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare, said: “As the demand for our services grow so does the need for funding, and so we are thrilled to have been chosen as Construction Skills People’s charity of the year. As a charity the fundraising and support that businesses provide through events such as this is absolutely vital to ensure that we can continue to support the people in our care.

“The partnership will have a huge impact for Ashgate Hospicecare, enabling us to support more families who have a relative with a life threatening or terminal illness.”

To mark the start of Learning at Work Week, the Chesterfield Royal Hospital has launched a new resource to help patients living with Autism.

Six Autism resource boxes have been rolled out across the hospital, containing a number of devices, tools, distractions and information to help patients on our wards and outpatient suites cope with the experience of being in hospital.

Sarah Sewell is the Royal’s Inter-Professional Development Lead, she said:-

“We developed Dementia Reminiscence Packs a number of years ago that featured a number of visual and physical aids to help with communication and memory. These have been very well received so we thought that we could do the same for patients presenting with Autism.

“The boxes have a variety of contents designed to help to reduce some of the sensory symptoms that can be an issue for patients on the Autistic spectrum. For example, some patients may find it difficult to cope with loud noises or a wide range of sounds that can come with a busy ward, so we have some ear defenders. Similarly, others experience discomfort and distress with bright lights so we have dark glasses to reduce its impact.

“There are also physical distractions such as twiddle-mitts to help keep fidgeting hands occupied, and coloured wrist bands and mood fans to help convey how a patient is feeling in the clinical environment. In the patient, carer and relative packs we have patient information, hospital passports and leaflets that will help to improve the patient experience. These packs will be available in all of the clinical areas so please ask a member of staff to provide you with one.

“All of the contents of the boxes and packs have been provided following a successful bid to the Royal’s charitable funds; patients, carers and staff have been involved in developing the resource contents. The aim is to make the experience as comfortable as possible physically, emotionally and mentally whilst creating an environment that will allow them to communicate more effectively. This means that patients and carers or relatives will be more empowered in decisions about them and their care.

The boxes have been made available on our Emergency Department, in the Chesterfield Eye Centre, on Nightingale ward, within midwifery, and there will be a spare set based in the Education Centre Library. The Inter-Professional Development team will be taking the packs around the Trust during Learning at Work Week to explain more about them, what is inside and how they can request one. Further packs can be requested from the library team.