Passion for the Peak District has achieved a new high as the 500^th ambassador to pledge support for a key project to promote business success and boost the local and regional economy is announced.

Chris Mapp, chef patron of The Tickled Trout gastro pub and restaurant at Barlow, near Chesterfield, was revealed as the latest local entrepreneur to join Inspired by the Peak District and celebrate its major milestone at the recent Business Peak District Spring Conference.

Around 80 delegates heard the good news and welcomed the business to the fold at the special event, held at Thornbridge Hall, Ashford in the Water.

“Both I and all my team are passionate about the Peak District, where we are located, the quality of the area’s fresh produce and the work we are doing,” explained Chris, who has previously worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and took the helm at The Tickled Trout  three-and-a-half years ago.

“When I heard about Inspired by the Peak District, I was motivated to join, because I believe that by working together, businesses can both promote themselves and raise the profile of this fabulous area – for everyone’s benefit.

“I’ve also become a member of Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, our official tourist board, to help support wider marketing and PR campaigns to promote the Peak District and Derbyshire to staying visitors across the UK and overseas.”

Jim Harrison, Chairman at Business Peak District, added:-

“It’s great to welcome Chris and the team at The Tickled Trout to Inspired by the Peak’s ever-growing band of enthusiastic ambassadors promoting our brand values of quality and excellence in a beautiful environment.

“By joining forces, we can all build on the strong, recognisable brand that celebrates this unique place, as well as helping local businesses strengthen their own products and services and benefiting the local economy.”

The free conference also focused on subjects such as driving productivity and business after Brexit, plus updates on the project’s toolkit and general data protection regulations.

Inspired by the Peak District is part of a £1.49 million support programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to boost business quality, profitability and performance over three years. Its main focus is on promotional, marketing and on-line activity and an annual events programme.

Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire is working closely with colleagues at Business Peak District, Derbyshire Dales District Council, High Peak Borough Council and the Peak District National Park Authority to stimulate wider use of the project branding.

The tourist board is also bringing in tourism experts and specialist advisers to deliver a wide-ranging programme of business support focusing on international visitors, accessibility, marketing, business to business networking, workshops promoting the Environmental Quality Mark (EQM) and one-to-one advice and development.

Outdoor retailer, GO Outdoors has announced that it will officially open its first store in Chesterfield on Saturday 24^th March, with actor and BAFTA award-winning investigative journalist Ross Kemp on hand to welcome the community and cut the ceremonial ribbon

The opening not only marks the first GO Outdoors store in Chesterfield, but also the opening of the 63^rd store nationally. The new opening will make its mark on the area with the largest sign ever installed in a GO Outdoors store.

The brand new outlet in Chesterfield will offer customers an impressive 40,000 sq.ft. of retail space. Customers will be able to browse thousands of products including an extensive range of tents and equipment available in a dedicated camping and tents department. The store will also house key new ranges for SS18 from GO Outdoors’ own brands, Hi Gear, North Ridge and Freedom Trail, as well as thousands more products from over 250 brands including RAB, Regatta and Berghaus.

In addition to this, GO Outdoors Chesterfield will feature a specialist cycling department, stocking an incredible range of bikes, cycling clothes and accessories from brands such as the award-winning Calibre, Raleigh and Kona. With expertly-trained staff and mechanics on hand to provide the best advice, GO Cycling offers a bike repair service and a free six-week safety check with every bike purchase.

Each well considered detail of the store design is part of a £1.3million investment in the new development. With all products at discount prices, GO Outdoors continues to inspire everyone in Britain to get outdoors for less.

As part of the new store and investment in Chesterfield, GO Outdoors is pleased to announce that it has helped to increase employment rates in the area by creating 45 new jobs in store.

Commenting on the store launch, general manager Paul Gavin says:-

“We are so excited to be opening Chesterfield’s first GO Outdoors store. We’ve got everything you’d need for the great outdoors and the best staff on hand to help you choose the right products. The opening event kicks off at 9.00am on Saturday 24^th March. We look forward to meeting Chesterfield’s adventurous residents!”

Chesterfield Champion, Fairplay, has become the first community organisation in Derbyshire to be trained to deliver Special Olympic GB’s Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP). The training will enable charity staff to support members with profound learning disabilities and complex needs to enjoy meaningful physical activity and sport.

Fairplay supports 350 children with a wide range of additional needs and impairments. The charity has a fully accessible centre featuring an activity hall, outdoor play area, meeting rooms, library, sensory room, kitchen and changing places toilet. Set up in 1992, by a group of parents who wanted accessible activities for their children, Fairplay celebrated its 25th year in 2017.

EFDS works with community organisations like Fairplay on a regular basis providing guidance on accessing physical activity and sport opportunities for disabled people. Last year, Fairplay worked with EFDS Engagement Advisor, Catherine Slater to educate their staff on resources and local opportunities available to the children and young people they support.

EFDS supported Fairplay by introducing them to Derbyshire’s Special Olympics network and the national Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP). In January 2018, 12 Fairplay staff took part in a training day so that they can provide MATP activities for their members. Staff will soon begin delivering an 8-12 week training programme with individuals, working on their motor skills and development in four categories: mobility, dexterity, striking and kicking.

Catherine Slater, EFDS Engagement Advisor, said:-

“It has been a very exciting journey working with Fairplay on the importance of disabled children and young people being active, and how they can help them be involved in local opportunities. Fairplay have enthusiastically taken up the opportunity to train their staff team to deliver Special Olympics Motor Activity Training Programme, to ensure that their members with complex needs have the opportunity to be athletes.”

Heather Fawbert, Chief Executive of Fairplay, said:-

“Working with EFDS and taking part in the MATP training has been fantastic for Fairplay. It has given our staff the opportunity to learn about what resources are available to them and to discuss the importance of health and wellbeing for young disabled people.”

Fairplay is proud to be the first community organisation in Derbyshire to complete the training and join both the MATP and Special Olympics Derbyshire networks. The charity is now planning for their Challenge Day in May and supporting some of its members to take part in Special Olympics regional and national events in the future.

The MATP programme provides genuine opportunities for training and competition for people with profound, multiple learning disabilities and complex needs.

On Friday 16^th March, two patients staying in the Inpatient Unit at Ashgate Hospicecare were able to watch a live streamed Seattle music festival from the comfort of their rooms.

This was the third time the Seattle based charity Melodic Caring Project, in partnership with Chesterfield College, have bought a live concert to patients and their families at the Hospice, and the first time the patients at Ashgate Hopsice were able to enjoy a show streamed from America.

Melodic Caring Project are dedicated to filming and streaming music concerts live directly to patients battling a serious illness in hospitals and hospices and, until now, had only ever brought music to children’s hospitals. The first time Melodic Caring Project had ever streamed a concert to adults with a life-limiting illness was in Ashgate Hospicecare in December 2017. The project embraces the medically proven healing properties of music to help alleviate pain, reduce anxiety and aid in the overall wellbeing of the patient.

The charity’s debut in the UK comes as a result of Melodic Caring Project building strong links with Chesterfield College, whose staff and students provide the technical skills and equipment needed to enable the live streaming to take place. Artists who agree to be filmed will also do a personal shout out to the patients watching.

In December last year, vocal group The Overtones performed a fantastic Christmas concert for two of our patients staying in the Inpatient Unit and their families, and on 2^nd March this year, Jake Bugg kindly agreed for his Nottingham performance to be live streamed to two more patients.

Sean, from Killamarsh, is staying on Ashgate Hospicecare’s Inpatient Unit. Sean said:-

“I have prostate cancer and I get very tired so watching the Jake Bugg concert certainly helped with my pain. It helped to perk me up and forget about my illness; I could just sit back and enjoy it.

“I’m a big music fan and have all of my favourite bands downloaded here on my iPad. I have many fond memories of going to music concerts – Status Quo, Madness, all sorts, throughout the years. I really enjoyed Jake Bugg’s concert and so I shall be downloading his songs now! I hope more patients will be able to see live concerts as I’m sure it will help them to feel better.”

Patients and their families who have been involved in the project said that watching a live concert brings a sense of normality back to their lives, at a time when they are simply not well enough to enjoy a night out or when their plans get frequently cancelled due to ill health.

Karen Walker, Ward Manager, said:-

“Thank you Melodic Caring Project, Chesterfield College and all of the artists involved for giving patients with a life-limiting illness the opportunity to enjoy live, personalised music concerts. We sincerely hope that we can continue to bring the joy of live music to our patients on a regular basis.”

The concert aired on Friday was the ‘17th Annual More Music @ The Moore’ presented by the Seattle Theatre Group and celebrated the rich talent of young musicians in Seattle. There were performances covering a diverse range of music styles including rock, hip hop, folk, R&B, singer-songwriter, EDM, Scottish, jazz, and more.

Lord William Burlington has been installed as the new Chancellor of the University of Derby, an ‘ambassadorial’ role held by his father, the 12th Duke of Devonshire, for the last 10 years.

Lord Burlington was installed as the fourth Chancellor at an official ceremony in the Devonshire Dome, at the University’s Buxton Campus on the 15th March.

He said:-

“It is an honour and privilege to become Chancellor of such an ambitious and forward-looking university and I intend to take on the position with an open mind, not with preconceived ideas. I am curious, I want to listen, and I want to learn.

“What I do know is that good education is the right of everybody, at all stages of life. It has the ability to transform lives and is fundamental to a functioning society. These sentiments are very close to my heart and will no doubt shape the way I approach the role.”

Lord Burlington’s career began in photography studying under Jorge Lewinski. He worked for eight years as a portrait photographer before setting up Jasmine Photographic Studios Ltd. However, much of his time is dedicated to the family’s businesses, at Chatsworth in Derbyshire, Bolton Abbey in North Yorkshire, and Lismore Castle in Co. Waterford, Ireland.

Also, he is Chairman of the Devonshire Educational Trust, which is an independent charity that works in partnership with the Chatsworth House Trust, offering diverse and accessible educational opportunities; from learning about matters of historical, artistic and architectural interest, to learning about the countryside and rural landscape.

Last night the Duke of Devonshire, who stepped down from his role of Chancellor at the ceremony, was awarded an Honorary Master of Art to mark his contribution in the world of art as a collector and conservationist of important national and international works. He was presented with the award by Sir Michael Craig-Martin, who studied Fine Art at the Yale University School of Art and who was considered a key figure in the emergence of young British artists in the early 1990s.

During the ceremony the Duke was presented with two bespoke pieces of artwork created for him by artists Lynda Adlington – a first-year University of Derby Fine Art student – and Rosie Young – a third-year student of the University’s Illustration degree, both of whom felt privileged to be have been selected for this commission.

The Duke said:-

“It has been an honour to be Chancellor of the University of Derby for 10 years. As I step down from the post at this wonderful university, I reflect on what has been a tremendous decade; the city of Derby has achieved its mission to grow as an inspirational city and to be a beacon in the UK, and the University has gone from strength to strength and I am confident it will continue to do so.”

The Chancellor is the non-executive titular head of the University who normally presides at meetings of the University Court, ceremonial occasions and at award ceremonies which take place in Buxton, Derby and overseas.

The University of Derby’s first chancellor was Sir Christopher Ball from 1995-2003, followed by Professor Leslie Wagner from 2003-2008, before the Duke of Devonshire was installed.

Professor Kathryn Mitchell, Vice-Chancellor at the University of Derby, said:-

“We have been immensely privileged and proud that the Duke of Devonshire has served as Chancellor for 10 years. During his tenure, the Duke has enabled the University to develop stronger links between the University and Chatsworth but more importantly harnessed the ambition of our staff and students, and encouraged a more global perspective, putting Derby and Derbyshire on the international stage.

“The installation of a new Chancellor is a very significant event in the life of the University, one that allows us to reflect upon current successes and look forward to new challenges and opportunities. We are delighted to welcome Lord Burlington to the University of Derby and look forward to working with him to help realise our collective ambitions of providing educational opportunities capable of transforming lives.”