Chesterfield Champions continue to support Chesterfield’s community, with various initiatives.
Our latest roundup features charitable donations, voluntary efforts, sponsorship of local events and even some festive cheer.
Find out more in our latest roundup below:
Champions sponsor upcoming Champions Against Loneliness Awards
Two Chesterfield Champions, Magnavale and Hopkinson Waste Management have confirmed to sponsor two categories at the upcoming Brightlife Champions Against Loneliness Awards.
Scheduled to take place at the SMH Group Stadium on Saturday March 16th, 2024, the event will bring together local businesses, charities, volunteers and members of the public, at an awards evening designed to celebrate those members of society who have gone above and beyond in their actions to ensure that loneliness and isolation doesn’t occur amongst older people living within our communities.
Jules Gaylor, Managing Director of Hopkinson Waste Management Ltd commented, “The elderly in our community can be vulnerable and easily forgotten. They are also often the last to complain. BrightLife’s work is outstanding, we’re delighted to help out and spread their message too, which is a brilliant one.”
Amanda Cogan, COO, Magnavale commented: “We are excited to announce our latest partnership with BrightLife, as part of our ongoing commitment to giving back to the community, we are honoured to continue our sponsorship with BrightLife and the exceptional fight against loneliness within the community, in which they continue to deliver.”
Healthy Living project supports Staveley pupils
A new project aims to provide Staveley school students with the skills to cook healthy meals at home.
Delivered in partnership by Community Growth, Chesterfield Borough Council, Chesterfield College, Springwell Community College and Netherthorpe School, the Staveley To Eat Well (STEW) project had its first session on Wednesday 8 November.
Students from Springwell Community College travelled to Chesterfield College where level 3 students in the Hospitality and Catering School taught them how to cook Butternut squash soup with sage and croutons.
Natalie Pearce, Co-Director at Community Growth, said: “It’s such a wonderful opportunity for students to have exposure to fully trained chefs and a professional kitchen. Inspiring and eye opening. The College staff are exceptionally welcoming. I’m honoured to be part of this innovative project.”
The concept initially arose through the Staveley Town Deal Board where members discussed how to tackle health inequalities in the town. The project has since been incorporated into Chesterfield Borough Council’s Skills Action Plan.
Councillor Tricia Gilby, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council and Vice Chair of the Staveley Town Deal Board said: “This is a fantastic project for young people in Staveley, it will help them develop important skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. This is also a great example of how partnerships formed through the Town Deal can help create more opportunities and help improve the quality of life for local people.”
Catering students at Chesterfield College will be working with their tutors to develop a meal to cook for each session and will lead these sessions for 15 students each time.
Julie Richards Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Chesterfield College said: “It’s so exciting to see the project finally come to fruition after initial ideas at the Town Deal Board meeting. I’m delighted to welcome students to Chesterfield College and hope it’s the start of a much bigger initiative for the town and local residents.”
Ian Wingfield, Headteacher of Springwell Community College and Town Deal Board member, said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to get this project going, it will give our students a fantastic experience and help ensure they can develop some really useful skills that will benefit them for a long time to come.”
Further sessions are planned in 2024, in total around 72 students from both Springwell Community College and Netherthorpe School will take part in the project.
Funding for the project was secured through the Staveley Health and Wellbeing Group.
Chesterfield solicitor lights up Bolsover Castle with ‘Fame, Fashion, and Fortune’ exhibition
Legal eagle-by-day, Lacey Bates-Blinkho, has been helping bring a taste of Christmas past to Bolsover Castle.
She has become a key figure in the Fame, Fashion and Fortune project which is now on display until the end of January 2024.
The touring exhibition – which is set to visit various stately homes and museums in the region in the coming months – is sponsored by Lacey’s firm, Graysons Solicitors.
Various members of staff have been part of a team of volunteers working tirelessly to re-create the costumes worn by the influential women connected with Bolsover, stretching right back to Bess of Hardwick.
Fame, Fashion, and Fortune has attracted nearly £50,000 in National Lottery Funding and is being coordinated by Bolsover Parish Church.
Caroline Murray, partner at Graysons, added: “We’re a firm that has a long and proud history of championing the careers of women. To be involved in ‘Fame, Fashion, and Fortune’ is a great privilege, and we’re proud to have the opportunity to help tell the inspiring stories of these great women who helped shape our region. Special thanks have to go to Lacey Bates-Blinkho – she has truly gone above and beyond the call of duty once again!”
Graysons Solicitors specialise in property, family law, lifetime planning, private wealth, wills, estates and trusts, elderly client services, personal injury, occupational illness and clinical negligence.
The law firm first formed in 1925 and currently employs around 65 staff.
CSLAS recieves donation from DCJ Group Insurance & Risk Management
A four-figure donation to Chesterfield charity, CSALS has been made by DCJ Group Insurance & Risk Management to help boost fundraising efforts.
CSALS provide free online first aid training with over 11,000 people having completed the Prepared to Save a Life course, which is offered in partnership with Virtual College. Practical sessions are also delivered in schools and at companies that support the organisation’s 999 Appeal.
DCJ Group specialises in commercial and personal lines insurance with four offices across the Chesterfield, Lincoln and Nottinghamshire area, putting them in a great position to support clients across the UK.
With a turnover in excess of £30 million, DCJ Group also comes under the umbrella of global insurance giant Brown & Brown – one of the world’s largest insurance broking businesses, supporting DCJ Group and others by providing access to strong insurance partnerships, enhanced insurance products, risk management resources, and the expertise of over 14,000 insurance professionals worldwide.
Debra Johnson, CSALS’ community facilitator, added: “We rely heavily on assistance from the local business community and I would like to thank Chris and DCJ Group Insurance & Risk Management for their generous donation, which is very much appreciated.”
Business invited to College Santa Dash event
Chesterfield College’s Santa Dash is set to return this Christmas, in support of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice
The event takes place on 15th December, and all students, staff and local businesses are welcome.
The Santa Dash will be taking place at Queens Park at 9:30 am to start the warm-up at 9:45 am.
The event itself is three laps of the park which can be run, jogged or walked dressed in festive attire (Christmas jumpers, Santa costumes, etc. or wearing purple to show support for Bluebell Wood) to raise as much money as possible for the charity whilst being together and having a fun-filled morning at the same time.
Sports students will lead the warm-up from the college while the college’s Public Services students will marshal the route. There will be prizes for:
- 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers
- Most money raised
- Best dressed individual
- Best dressed team
The College is asking local businesses to help in any way they can, be it by entering a team for the event and raising sponsorship money or donating prizes. Details following the event will be published on the Chesterfield College website and social media platforms including any details/social media tags of all businesses involved.
Business which would like to donate a prize or enter a team for the event, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Jake Wilshaw by email: wilshawj@chesterfield.ac.uk.
BHP Supports the Elm Foundation with charity advent calendars
The BHP Chartered Accountants team in Chesterfield have been collecting advent calendars for children currently living in a domestic abuse refuge house based in the town.
The refuge is run by The Elm Foundation, which runs four such safe houses for men, women and children.
A total of 38 advent calendars have now been donated to the children in the refuge.
Vicar Lane Opens Food Bank this Festive Season
To support Chesterfield Foodbank, Vicar Lane is taking part in the ‘Let’s Can Hunger’ campaign once again, to support those most in need within the community this Christmas.
From Monday 4th December until Thursday 21st December, visitors can contribute by donating to either of the food banks in Iceland or the Vicar Lane Centre Management Suite.
Items that can be donated are tinned goods and other non-perishable goods such as pasta, cereals and toiletries. To see the full list please visit https://www.vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk/whats_on/lets-can-hunger-2023/.
For more information speak to a member of management at Vicar Lane, email enquiries@vicarlane.com or call 01246 234630.
Brandon Howard, Centre Administrator, Vicar Lane said, “We are always blown away by the generosity of our local community, so we anticipate this to be a successful collection to support the work that Chesterfield Foodbank do. We know that times are tough for everyone this season and so we are happy to do our part in helping out and welcome any donation however small”.
Chesterfield Royal Hospital launches charity appeal
Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is appealing to businesses, organisations and communities to help give the ‘gift of extraordinary’ this Christmas through the Chesterfield Royal Charity.
Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive, explained: “Our Christmas wish this year is to show our patients and colleagues that they truly matter through a small act of kindness. Our goal is to always provide exceptional care and look after the health and wellbeing of our people. One of the ways we’d like to do this is by offering small gifts, paid for by the Chesterfield Royal Charity.
“We already have plenty of kind donations and from community organisations bringing gifts in – such as motorcycle clubs bringing appropriate gifts children but this year, we’re wanting to make it even more exceptional and we’re launching a last-minute appeal for kind gestures from local businesses and organisations.
“We know it’s a difficult time for many people and it’s important to not go above your means, so please do only donate if you’re able. As they say; every little helps!”
The appeal ‘Webster is Quackers for Crackers’ is running from now until 4 January. Find out more here.
Hopkinson Waste Management, Magnavale, Chesterfield Borough Council, Chesterfield College, BHP Chartered Accountants, Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, CSALS, DCJ Group Insurance & Risk Management and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.
