Leisure

Luxury holiday lettings provider becomes latest patron of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire

A Peak District-based property management company specialising in luxury holiday lets and venues is the latest business to become an official patron of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire.

Coverland UK has joined a dedicated network of tourism-related businesses who share Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s core aims to grow the visitor economy and promote the area as a world-class tourism destination.

As a patron, Coverland UK will support Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s ongoing mission to increase visitor spend, extend the tourism season and boost overnight stays, whilst helping to grow the tourism sector in an inclusive, accessible and sustainable way.

Coverland UK has expertise in purchasing, developing and managing properties within the Peak District and Derbyshire. Last year, the company expanded its portfolio to include Beyond Venues, a luxury holiday lettings and venues provider.

The Beyond Venues portfolio currently includes the impressive Bleaklow Farm at Hassop, a 15-bedroom venue with panoramic views of the Peak District National Park, meticulously designed interiors and a Grand Barn ideal for special events, celebrations, business meetings and training days.

Beyond Venues also operates several smaller properties, sleeping six to eight guests, including The Carriage House at Ashford-in-the-Water, a picturesque cottage ideal for family holidays and weekends away with friends.

Delivering top-class service throughout the customer journey is at the heart of their business, and many guests return numerous times for both business and pleasure.

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, together with Visit Derby, forms the Visit Peak District, Derbyshire & Derby Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP). Developed and administered by national tourism body VisitEngland, the national portfolio of accredited LVEPs work locally and nationally on shared priorities and targets to grow the local visitor economy.

John Jarman, Property Director at Coverland UK, says: “Beyond Venues loves the Peak District so supporting Visit Peak District & Derbyshire as a patron is a no brainer for us. We think everyone should want to visit the area and we want to ensure the Peak District delivers beyond our guests’ expectations.

“Our beautiful homes are only a small part of what we offer; our local knowledge, amazing team and stunning settings all add together to create a truly unforgettable experience for those that stay with us.

“We are so excited by the growth of the Peak District and Derbyshire’s tourism and hospitality sector in recent years and can’t wait to share Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’s knowledge further with our guests.”

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, says: “It’s excellent to welcome Coverland UK on board as our latest patrons, especially following the exciting addition of the Beyond Venues portfolio last year. Our beautiful landscapes, unique accommodation and warm welcome are what set the Peak District and Derbyshire apart as a destination, and Coverland UK are knowledgeable and experienced advocates for the tourism industry.

“Our patrons are a core network of organisations who want to see the visitor economy grow and prosper for the benefit of everyone. As well as maintaining our strong visitor offer, identifying new opportunities for growth – such as the meetings and incentives market – is fundamentally important to the sector’s future success.

“We look forward to working with Coverland UK and drawing on their expertise to help strengthen the Peak District and Derbyshire’s offer even further.”

Coverland UK joins existing patrons who are also part of Destination Chesterfield’s network of Chesterfield Champions:

Businesses interested in becoming a patron of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire should contact Lisa Woolhouse, Membership & Sales Manager, at lisa.woolhouse@visitpeakdistrict.com.

More information on Coverland UK can be found at www.coverlanduk.com. More information on Beyond Venues can be found at www.beyondvenues.co.uk.

Coverland UK and Visit Peak District & Derbyshire support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

John Jarman, Property Director at Coverland UK, pictured with Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire

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Research shows how town centre hotel boosts visitor spending

Research has found that guests staying at Premier Inn Chesterfield Town Centre, which is located in the former Co-op department store on Elder Way, are each spending, on average, £79 a night in the local area.

Whitbread PLC, the UK’s largest hospitality business and owner of Premier Inn, carried out the research. It found that Premier Inn guests typically spend £137 externally on items such as entertainment, with £79/night (56% of the total spending) being spent in the local area within which their chosen Premier Inn is located.

The comprehensive study by Whitbread involved surveying more than 12,600 Premier Inn guests staying in 357 Premier Inn hotels across the UK within 24-hours of check-out.

Alex Flach, UK Development Director in the UK & Ireland for Whitbread, said: “From shopping to sight-seeing, local dining to local drinks, this analysis shows the positive economic impact of Premier Inn hotels on local economies across nations and regions of the UK.

“As a business, we are committed to using our scale and national footprint to make a positive difference to people’s lives and to create long-term value. We are delighted that, for the first time, we can demonstrate clear evidence of the economic impact our hotels have on the communities they serve.”

The Premier Inn Chesterfield Town Centre, which is located on the upper two floors of the former Co-op department store on Elder Way, has proved popular since opening, with nearly 90% of guests rating it as either excellent or very good on TripAdvisor.

The 92-bedroom hotel was opened in 2019 following the transformation of the upper floors of the iconic building by regeneration specialist Jomast. The hotel also benefits from the proximity of a secure car park, Saltergate Multi-Storey, which opened the same year.

Jomast subsequently went on to transform the ground floor of the building into eight large street-level units with contemporary glazed frontages.

There are currently a number of leasing opportunities available at the 21,761 sq ft scheme, from smaller E Class and Sui Generis Bar units of 1,420 sq ft upwards to larger units of up to 4,704 sq ft.

Joint agents for Elder Way, WSB Property Consultants and FHP are now marketing the units at food, drink, entertainment, retail and clinical operators.

Mark Hill, Commercial Property Director of Jomast said: “We have worked with Premier Inn to bring the hotel chain to a number of Jomast’s developments throughout the country. We recognise that having Premier Inn as an anchor tenant is very attractive to tenants of our schemes, and Whitbread’s research into guest spend in the local area supports this.”

Food and drink and entertainment were the top categories of spending for Premier Inn guests followed by non-food shopping and travel.

Whitbread calculates that spending by its guests on food, drinks, entertainment, shopping, and local transportation could be contributing £1.6 billion annually to those catchments that have a Premier Inn. This is equivalent to an average annual benefit of £3.3 million in visitor expenditure for local businesses in each Premier Inn hotel location.

Chesterfield’s businesses are set to benefit from further hotel investment in the town after the Holywell Hotel by Voebeg received the green light from planning officers recently.

Located next to the town’s well-known Holywell Cross or ‘Donut’ roundabout in the heart of Chesterfield, developer of Holywell Hotel, Voeberg, is set to undertake a £1 million refurbishment of the Grade II listed building.

The building will be converted into one two-bedroom and eight one-bedroom apartments for use as short-stay accommodation.

Emily Smith, Property Investor and Mentor at Voeberg commented on the ‘imminent’ Holywell Hotel saying: “It’ll complement other hospitality and retail businesses’ offerings in the town and we’re looking forward to partnering with many local businesses through the development and then the running of the hotel.”

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We are aiming to attract more tourists and visitors over the next four years and there are a number of new hotel developments planned to support this growth. It is useful to understand how guests at hotels support our wider town centre economy and provide a boost for local businesses.”

If you’re a business looking to benefit from the opportunities on offer at Elder Way, contact Alan Pearson at FHP on 07587 133540 or Adam Mobley at WSB Property Consultant on 0113 234 1444, or visit www.elderway.co.uk.

Find out more about the wide range of benefits associated with locating your business in Chesterfield.

Chesterfield Elder Way, Holywell Hotel by Voeberg and Chesterfield Borough Council support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Chesterfield Elder Way

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New community wellbeing space opens in Hasland

A new community interest company has opened in Hasland, aimed at improving access to heath and wellbeing for people in the area.

Kula is seeking to make yoga and mindfulness within reach to more people in Chesterfield. Co-founders and local couple, Bronwyn and Kevin both found benefit in yoga and mindfulness and are excited to share it with more people. The pair want the rewards of yoga to be available to all, regardless of experience, background or income.

Bronwyn explains: “We moved to Chesterfield in 2019, just before lockdown. Those two years were hard not knowing anyone, and as we’ve gotten to know more people, we’ve heard the same story repeating itself. People saying they want to meet others and saying they want to look after themselves better.”

Bronwyn and Kevin have a track record of delivering for the community. Kula is a for-impact organisation, acting in the interests of the people it serves. Profits are reinvested into the community, helping to subsidise classes for those who need it. Every class you pay for at Kula does two things. It helps fund subsidised passes, and it helps teachers hold regular ‘pay-what-you-can’ classes for all.

“We have tiered pricing” Kevin explains, “not everyone is in the economic position to pay for classes. Our Oak passes are the true price of classes at Kula, but we also have Elm passes. Elm passes are our effort to make access to classes within reach.”

Depending on your financial situation, you choose the right pricing for you. And if you can’t commit to a membership, you can drop in to classes or attend their ‘Karma Classes’ that are pay-what-you-can, between £2 – £10. As Kula establishes, they’re hoping to be able to offer more Karma classes on their timetable.

Kula’s mission has clearly resonated. They received an overwhelming level of support from the people of Chesterfield in their recent Crowdfunder. In just 5 weeks, Kula’s fundraiser surpassed their initial target of £1,500 and has raised £1,740 to date.

The financial support from residents has made the space even more warm and welcoming, and has funded the tools necessary to start helping the people of Chesterfield. The space is now stocked with yoga chairs and other specialist equipment that will enable even more people to take advantage of all Kula has to offer. Even though the official Crowdfunder is finished, they’re still accepting donations.

Kula are hosting an open weekend 22–24 September, where you can try a class for £5. These taster classes will be shorter than usual, at 45-minutes, allowing time to meet and chat to the team. Or, for those not sure about yoga, people are able to pop in to meet the team and ask any questions. There’ll be herbal teas, freshly brewed coffee and homemade cake to share. As space is limited, advance booking is required for these classes onto classes.

The venue will also be hosting plenty more opportunities to get involved, with a variety of classes and workshops coming up. If you’re new (or returning) to yoga, their 6-week Introduction to Yoga course is a great place to start. You’ll get an overview of the core poses and how to get the most from them. This will be running on Tuesday evenings at 8pm, starting October 3rd.

And it’s not just yoga & mindfulness, Kula is planning various events, like film nights, food nights, wellbeing workshops and more to help in bringing the community together. Find out more about Kula on their website.

Looking for a great location and quality of life for you and your family? look no further than Chesterfield! Find out more about the benefits of living in the area here.

Bronwyn Kula main photo

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Residents invited to share memories of Chesterfield pop culture for museum project

Chesterfield residents are being invited to take part in a new project that aims to involve local people in a celebration of pop culture and community memory.

Project REVERB aims to collect images, ephemera and oral history recordings which can then be used to inspire works of art which will form the basis of a future exhibition. Chesterfield Museum is currently working on the exciting project with oral history recordist and artist, John Hall from Artspace.

On Sunday 8 October from 11am to 3pm, Chesterfield Museum and REVERB will be in the Pavements Shopping Centre, hosting the first event which coincides with the Chesterfield Record Fair. As well as a place to reminisce and chat to the team, there will also be interactive activities designed to spark musical memories, including a large memory map and a fun badge-making activity.

Record Fair 2

Chesterfield Record Fair

John Hall said: “As well as the big names, Chesterfield has produced loads of its own bands, promoters, fanzines, and DJs. It has had- and still has- great independent record shops, and atmospheric venues that have supported the endless cycle of scenes and trends over the decades, all important to the vitality and changing flavour of the town’s pop culture and identity.

“We are looking for the evidence of all these years of local creativity – the stuff in the back of the drawer, in the scrapbook, or maybe framed on the wall. The stuff you just can’t throw away because of the magic it contains and the memories it can summon.

“Let’s see what you’ve got, and if there’s a story, let’s hear that too.”

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “We’re really excited to be working with John Hall on this project. Our town has a rich cultural history with a host of huge names performing over the years. I hope lots of you will take part in this project and help ensure that your memories can live on for years to come.”

Eventually the project aims to present an exhibition which draws on memories of the local pop scene using images, ephemera (collectable items that were expected to have a short-term usefulness), and oral history recordings to inspire works of art, photography, sound, and film.

The project team are interested in collecting digital scans and photographs of items including posters, leaflets, autographs, photos, tickets, record / music shop bags, fliers, locally produced records, live tapes, badges and more.

Booking is not required for the event on Sunday 8 October.

Hudson's Records Bag

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Santa’s Grotto to return to Chesterfield for the festive period

Chesterfield Borough Council has announced that Santa Claus will be back in town this Christmas wishing everyone good tidings for the festive season, and tickets are now on sale to meet him in the Grotto.

Taking place in the Market Hall’s Assembly Rooms, the Christmas Grotto will be open from Sunday 19 November to 24 December 2023 welcoming families from across the local area.

Tickets for the grotto need to be booked in advance by visiting chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/shows/santas-grotto.aspx, by calling the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) on 01246 345777 (10am to 3.30pm) or by visiting the VIC in person.

Tickets are on sale now and families are encouraged to book their preferred time slots early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are priced at £7.50 per child. A maximum of two adults can attend with each paying child, so any extra adults will need to buy a ticket also.

Every child that visits Santa will receive a wrapped present and they will be able to talk to him about what their Christmas wishes are this year. Each time slot to see Santa will admit up to 10 people, over a 30-minute timeframe.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, portfolio holder for the town centre and visitor economy, said: “Meeting Santa Claus is the highlight of many families’ festive calendars, so we are pleased to be welcoming people back into our brilliant Market Hall grotto for 2023.

“Each child will receive an age-appropriate gift that will be gift-wrapped, making the decision yours if you’d like to take it home and put it under your tree.”

Don’t forget to bring your phones or cameras to capture some photographs of you and your family meeting Santa.

Find out the exact dates and times Santa’s Grotto is open in the Market Hall this year.

Three relaxed sessions will also take place for children with learning disabilities or sensory and communication disorders. Santa’s elves will turn down the music, switch off the flashing lights, increase the background lighting and allow a little longer to meet with Santa.

Santa's Grotto 873x466

Posted in About Chesterfield, Christmas, Home, Leisure, Uncategorised, Visiting

Chair’s blog: “It has been delightful to see so many people attending events”

As summer draws to a close, I wanted to reflect on some of the fantastic activities which have happened in our town over the last few months…

It has been delightful to see so many people attending events, bringing local communities together and supporting our independent businesses.

Back in June, we saw some fantastic cricket as Derbyshire played host to Yorkshire at Queen’s Park, with Derbyshire coming out victorious in front of a fifth successive sell-out crowd.

The Chesterfield Canal Festival also saw more than 8,000 people visiting Staveley. It is brilliant to hear of the work Chesterfield Canal Trust is carrying out with partners to restore the canal and the Staveley basin.

Elsewhere, Chesterfield’s reputation for having one of the biggest and best Pride festivals in the region was once again showcased, with more than 5,000 attendees enjoying ‘90s boyband, A1 and rapper Tinchy Stryder.

The first-ever Chesterfield Children’s Festival proved a hit with youngsters, with silent discos, comedy clubs, theatre workshops, and more. It is wonderful to see that our town is providing a quality leisure offer for people of all ages.

One of the events which really stirred emotions was the Sparkle Night Walk, in aid of Ashgate Hospice. A record 3,100 people took part, raising over £150,000 for a charity which I know is dear to so many in our area. A big well done to everyone who got involved.

We also saw the first-ever Peddler Market in Chesterfield, which was welcomed to the town centre with resounding success. It was great to see people enjoying quality food and drink from the traders, including Chesterfield’s own Pizza Pi! I can’t wait to see its return on the 15th and 16th of September.

I’m excited to see how Chesterfield’s programme of events continues to develop in the coming years, with upcoming regeneration in our marketplace set to create a more communal and social space in the heart of the town. Somewhere you will enjoy sitting and chatting with family and friends.

Plans for next year include a new market layout with modern stalls, more seating, better lighting, and refreshed paving. This will all provide the flexibility needed to host events regularly in the town centre, providing that much-needed footfall for our independent shops, bars, and restaurants. The regeneration will go ahead thanks to £25m of funding, secured by Chesterfield Borough Council, with the market being just part of a major project that will see several improvements to our town centre, including the Stephenson Memorial Hall. Who knows what fun awaits once all the work is completed!?

I hope that we can all continue to support our local events, businesses, and people. By doing so, we can make a huge impact on the future economic growth of our area by attracting more visitors to stay here, more families to live here and more businesses to invest here.

Peddler Market

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Chesterfield and Derbyshire producers showcased at 40th Chatsworth Country Fair

Some of Derbyshire’s finest makers and producers had the opportunity to showcase and sell their products to thousands of visitors at Chatsworth Country Fair (1-3 September 2023).

Over 50 local artisans were invited to exhibit in the ‘Derbyshire Makers Marquee’, hosted by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire in partnership with Derbyshire County Council, at one of England’s most spectacular annual outdoor celebrations.

Now in its fourth year, the Derbyshire Makers Marquee aims to support the growth of small, independent artists and producers by helping them to reach new audiences.

Visitors to the marquee had the chance to sample and buy quality items ranging from arts, crafts, jewellery and homeware to photography and fine food and drink – all produced in Derbyshire.

Chesterfield exhibitors included Hogg Norton, an award-winning producer of alcoholic fruit liqueurs, The Original Paper Starlights, whose colourful handmade lanterns decorated the marquee, and Cup & Saucer, an independent tea blender.

Chatsworth celebrated its 40th Country Fair with three action-packed days of entertainment including thrilling grand ring displays, inspirational cookery demonstrations, interactive rural crafts and traditional country pursuits.

Chesterfield’s Casa Hotel was also involved at the event, with their renowned chefs providing cookery demonstrations to the crowd alongside the nation’s top culinary talents.

Jo Dilley, Managing Director of Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, said: “It’s been fantastic to see so many artisans and craftspeople embracing the chance to come together to showcase the high quality products made here in Derbyshire.

“As well as being very popular with visitors, thanks to support from Derbyshire County Council, the Derbyshire Makers Marquee also gave independent producers the chance to exhibit at a nationally-renowned, large-scale event – fuelling their growth and helping them to reach new audiences.”

Mike Norton of Hogg Norton Fruit Liqueurs, based in Chesterfield, said: “Having a stall in the Derbyshire Makers Marquee at such a prestigious event such as Chatsworth Country Fair was such a privilege. Being able to showcase our products to thousands of visitors and potential new customers with our liqueurs that are produced in Derbyshire, with fruit from Derbyshire, literally a few miles from Chatsworth House, gives us brand exposure that we could not achieve on our own.

“Also, being with so many amazing producers from across Derbyshire and the Peak District gave us an opportunity to work with new partners and grow our product offering.”

Hogg Norton – Mike Norton displaying products at Chatsworth Country Fair

Mike Norton displaying Hogg Norton products at Chatsworth Country Fair 2023 – Image by Visit Peak District & Derbyshire.

William and Laura Burlington said: “Derbyshire is blessed with a wealth of extraordinarily talented artisan makers, artists and craftspeople and we’re delighted to be able to celebrate their skill and creativity with a broad audience through the Derbyshire Makers Marquee at the Chatsworth Country Fair.”

Councillor Simon Spencer, Deputy Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “We’re proud to promote small local businesses and value the contribution Derbyshire producers make to the local economy.

“The Derbyshire Makers Marquee provides independent artists and producers with a fantastic platform to display their skills and reach new audiences and I’m pleased we were able to support it.”

Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, Hogg Norton and Casa Hotel support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Celebrating local producers in the Derbyshire Makers Marquee at Chatsworth Country Fair 2023

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Major progress on new boutique hotel coming to Chesterfield town centre

The development of a new boutique hotel coming soon to Chesterfield has achieved another milestone, having received the green light from planning officers.

Voeberg has taken on the project to develop the Holywell Hotel, next to the town’s well-known Holywell Cross or ‘Donut’ roundabout in the heart of Chesterfield.

The Grade II listed building is set to undergo more than £1 million of refurbishment, sensitively converting it into one two-bedroom and eight one-bedroom apartments for use as short-stay accommodation.

Emily Smith, Property Investor and Mentor at Voeberg commented: “We’re really excited to have the support for the project from the council and all the stakeholders involved in granting planning permission.

“We’re working through some of the final building control requirements, but are expecting to start the renovation imminently. We’re looking forward to enhancing the character of the Grade II listed building while bringing it into a new use.

Once work is completed, the premises will operate as a ‘smart hotel’ with self-check-ins, keyless entry and a digital portal which will provide guests with relevant information about their stay. Work will also take place to repair the buildings, including restoring the sash windows, renovating the doors and conserving all the listed features.

Emily added: “The hotel is going to offer a different accommodation option for Chesterfield’s visitors – whether leisure or business. The location serves the town centre as well as the train station so it’s ideal for people travelling and conducting business in the area.

“It’ll complement other hospitality and retail businesses’ offerings in the town and we’re looking forward to partnering with many local businesses through the development and then the running of the hotel.”

Attendees at the upcoming Chesterfield Investment Summit will be able to hear more about the Holywell Hotel, with Emily being involved as a guest speaker.

She said: “It’s amazing to be asked to be involved in the Investment Summit – it shows the council are supporting smaller developers and business owners alongside some of the larger and established companies investing in Chesterfield. It takes companies of all sizes to support the town’s vision, and each other.”

Get the latest updates on the development of the Holywell Hotel. 

Holywell Hotel by Voeberg supports the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

Emily and Ryan holywell hotel

Posted in About Chesterfield, Business, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Home, Leisure, Property and Construction, Uncategorised, VisitingTagged in , , , , ,

New EV charging site opens in North Derbyshire

A new charging site for electronic vehicles has been installed at a new site near Chesterfield.

Two rapid charging stations have been installed by InstaVolt at Starbucks, located on The Hill in Glapwell.

This latest addition brings the total of InstaVolt EV charging sites in the Chesterfield area to six, with others being based at McDonald’s West Bars, Chesterfield Lawn Tennis Club, KFC at Markham Vale, alongside McDonald’s and Costa Coffee in Barlborough.

With plans to install 10,000 rapid chargers by 2030, InstaVolt currently has more than 1,200 chargers across the country.

There are now more than 780,000 EVs on Britain’s roads. InstaVolt says charging infrastructure is increasing to match demand as more people make the switch to electric vehicles, with 550 rapid chargers installed last month alone.

Adrian Keen, the CEO of InstaVolt, said: “We’re delighted to bring more of our award-winning rapid chargers to Chesterfield, with class-leading reliability of more than 99.9% and installations of two or more chargers at many sites.

“EV drivers can be confident that when they arrive, they’ll find an easy to use charger, with on-site driver amenities, without having to queue.”

He added: “With an extensive, fully nationwide network, EV drivers are never far away from an InstaVolt rapid charger. When embarking on a long journey, just a little bit of route planning in advance using search engines or a dedicated App for charging points like ZapMap or InstaVolt’s own App, makes life easier.

“And while you recharge your EV, recharge yourself: stretch your legs and enjoy a coffee or bite to eat from one of our on-site partners.”

InstaVolt’s chargers are powered using 100% renewable energy, are easy to use and take contactless payment.

Drivers can visit the website, or sign up to the optional InstaVolt App, where they can find their nearest charging station, search for real-time availability across its sites, and pay for their charge – all in one place.

Chesterfield Borough Council recently published its climate stategy, which outlines aims to ensure the Borough achieves net zero by 2050. Read more at: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/2023/02/new-climate-strategy-agreed-in-chesterfield/

Planning a journey to Chesterfield? Find out more about the town’s excellent transport links here.

Instavolt Chesterfield 873

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Chesterfield organisations continue strong community spirit

Several businesses, charities and community organisations in Chesterfield are continuing to launch new initiatives, aimed at supporting people across the area.

The town’s network of Chesterfield Champions is continuing to help raise the profile of our area and strengthen links, by hosting charity events, launching new support groups and more.

Find out more about some of the latest news from across our community in our latest roundup.

Spireites launch new LGBTQ+ supporters group

Rainbow Spireites

Chesterfield Football Club is now working alongside a new supporters group, aimed at improving the matchday experience for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The group was formed by supporters, Darren Yates and Ellie Yates, with the aim of creating a safe space and ensuring everyone feels welcome at the SMH Group Stadium.

Darren explained: “Our main aim is to be that safe space for LGBTQ+ supporters, who don’t want to come to the game on their own.

“It is also to be a critical friend of the club to help them reach into the community more.

“A group like this can really help fans feel welcome at games, and not have to worry about feeling alone or unwelcome.

“Everyone at the club has been brilliant and totally supportive. We were at Chesterfield Pride and the response was really good. People were saying that they were really happy to see the group being formed.”

Outlining plans for the future, Ellie said: “We’re hoping that now we’ve started getting a few members on board, we can start doing some meet-ups and talk to our members to see what they want to get out of the group as well.

“We’ve joined a regional alliance with some LGBTQ+ supporters’ groups. At the moment, we’re just letting people know we’re there and once we’ve got more members, we’ll look at pre-match meet-ups to encourage fans who might not feel safe enough going to games.”

Vicar Lane to support children’s charities with One Great Day event

Vicar Lane Fun Day

Vicar Lane Shopping Centre will once again be supporting the UK-wide annual charity day ‘One Great Day’ on Saturday 2nd September.

One Great Day is a series of family and community charity events being held throughout the country to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and another local charity close to the heart of each community. This year Vicar Lane is proud to be sharing donations with GOSH and Sheffield Children’s Hospital, The Children’s Hospital Charity.

The event includes a range of free outdoor activities, a tombola and face painting for the youngsters.

From 10am – 3pm, mini aspiring footballers will have a chance to meet Chester the field mouse for a fun shoot-out challenge. For a minimum donation of £1, visitors can show off their skills to score against Chesterfield FC’s cheeky mascot.

To help raise as much money as possible the centre will be running a raffle draw – including a grand prize of 4 tickets to see Chesterfield Football Club play at home.

Brandon Howard, Centre Administrator said: We’re really looking forward to welcoming the people of Chesterfield to Vicar Lane to help us raise much-needed funds for two amazing charities. With the help of Chester the field mouse and Theo the bear, we hope to bring a smile and beat the amount raised last year.

To see the full schedule of events this One Great Day at Vicar Lane, visit https://www.vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk/whats_on/ and plan your day out.

Charity skydive supports children with additional needs in Chesterfield

fairplay

A charity skydive has recently took place to raise funds for Fairplay, a charity which supports young people with additional needs in our area.

Rachel Middleton took the leap, and has so far raised more than £1,000 for her efforts. Rachel commented: “I’ve worked for Fairplay for over two years now and I want to support them to do more great work!

“We support families, child and young adults with disabilities and promote independent living skills in SCaRT, Moving Forward and Enterprise. We have lots of groups running including our gorgeous cafe, craft and gardening groups. Along with the new addition of our shop which the young people make things to sell and will be helping to run themselves!”

Find out more about the initiative on Rachel’s JustGiving page.

Chesterfield Royal Hospital awarded ‘Trailblazer’ status from Race Equality Matters

Chesterfield Royal Hospital

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded the prestigious Trailblazer status from Race Equality Matters, a not-for-profit organisation seeking to improve racial equality.

Trailblazers are organisations that are successfully taking action and making an impact on race inequality and Chesterfield was selected for work on The Big Promise solution, where people and organisations make a public commitment to create meaningful and positive change.

Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status is determined by an independent panel of experts – all with lived experience. It aims to identify meaningful impact, keep momentum going, inspire others and evidence an organisations commitment to tackling race inequality.

Becoming a Trailblazer means that the work Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (CRH) has done to implement The Big Promise has resulted in significant change and made an impact across the breadth of the entire organisation. This is a step that contributes to their aim to successfully address racial inequality and become a more diverse, inclusive and equal organisation.

Hailey Pottinger, Co-Chair of the Race Equality and Cultural Inclusion Network at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “The Big Promise helped us to create an inclusive environment where everyone could get involved and talk to us about Race Equality. By giving the Big Promise a central focus, especially as part of Race Equality Week, we created a positive statement and encouraged conversations with colleagues and members of the public. The aim was to increase the understanding that race equality is everyone’s business and secure buy-in and a sense of personal responsibility.

“At Chesterfield, a lot of work is being done to raise awareness of anti-racism (and how that is different to simply not being racist). This work is laying the foundations for conversations around racism and feeding into the creation of our Anti-Racism Strategy. There was a big focus on as part of Race Equality Week.

Kevin Sargen, Medical Director and Race Equality Network Exec Sponsor, at Chesterfield Royal NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are pleased to be highlighted as trailblazers; however, we recognise that this is an ongoing process and there is a lot more we all need to do as an organisation and as individuals to ensure that that we not only highlight this agenda but actively drive action and change. As a Board of Directors, we have made a commitment to tackling race inequality and to be accountable for taking actions. It is something that is very important to all of us and to our colleagues across the organisation.”

BHP hosts work experience academy to provide a taste of the workplace for young people

Chesterfield waterside bhp

BHP offices at Chesterfield Waterside. Image supplied by Derbyshire Economic Partnership

Chesterfield accountancy firm, BHP has recently supported a number of young people by providing a work experience programme this summer.

The firm launched its first ever work experience academy, which the firm expained on its Linkedin page was well recieved by those who took part. The company said: “Our participants really enjoyed the practical, structured programme and many of them said they’ve been inspired to pursue a career in finance following their time with us, which is so great to hear!

“We’re really looking forward to meeting and getting to know our new Graduate and Non-Graduate trainees, who will be joining us very soon.”

Chesterfield FC, Vicar Lane, Fairplay, Chesterfield Royal Hospital and BHP support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.

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New outdoor activity business to launch in Chesterfield

A business which provides outdoor activities and unique life experiences for adults with additional support needs is set to launch in Chesterfield.

The Adventure Service is expanding into the town, following successful growth in nearby Nottinghamshire since its inception in 2011.

The organisation enables people to participate in outdoor adventure activities, many they have probably never experienced – thus enhancing their quality of life, skillsets and personal development.

Terry Harris-Ellis, Director at The Adventure Service explained how the business has grown over recent years: “By working closely with my wife Helen (a former special needs teacher), who witnessed my frustrations daily, we created The Adventure Service Ltd.  Fast forward twelve years and our business model is going from strength to strength thanks to a dedicated, trained team of over 30 staff members.”

“We have chosen to expand our services into Chesterfield to allow us to continue providing a service with unique life experiences to adults with additional support needs.”

Terry hopes the new service will help in boosting Chesterfield’s visitor economy: “The Adventure Service Ltd has the potential to help increase visitor numbers by drawing in residents from neighbouring areas to access our services.

“We continually look to expand the experiences of our Adventurers and to do this we look to showcase and tap into the resources on our doorstep. As Chesterfield has some wonderful attractions and historical buildings, our aim will be to visit and learn about their heritage and utilise the local leisure economy in the process.

“This unique service will increase the life skills and personal development of individuals through the use of outdoor adventure, and we are extremely keen to develop relationships with the Chesterfield community.”

The business is hosting a series of open days for people in the area to find out more about its services. These will take place at St. Thomas Church in Chesterfield on the following days, all between 10:30am -2:00pm.

  • Tuesday 5th September
  • Thursday 7th September
  • Monday 11th September
  • Wednesday 13th September
  • Tuesday 19th September
  • Thursday 21st September
  • Wednesday 27th September
  • Friday 29th Septmber

Find out more by emailing welcome@theadventureservice.com or visit the company’s website: http://www.theadventureservice.com

Looking to launch or expand your business? Find out why Chesterfield is the perfect place to locate your organisation: https://www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/invest-in-chesterfield/

 

The Adventure Service

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