Leisure

Route confirmed for 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon

2nd March 2020

Organisers of the 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon have confirmed the route for this year’s race.

Download the Chesterfield Half Marathon Route

Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon Guide

Chesterfield Half Marathon Road Closures

The race begins in the Park, before runners head through the town centre to be cheered on by the crowds in the market square and looping around the town’s famous crooked spire and southwards onto the A617.

Runners will then get the unique opportunity of not only running along the dual carriageway, but on right-hand side of the road, before heading towards Hasland Road and coming back towards the town centre, passing the halfway point in Hasland.

The runners will then have another chance to lap up the atmosphere of the busy crowds as they head back towards the town centre, past headline sponsors Redbrik Estate Agents, the town hall and out onto Chatsworth Road. They then then head towards event charity partner Ashgate Hospicecare, before looping back onto Chatsworth Road and heading for the finish line in Queens Park.

The 1km Fun Run will also take place during the main event in Queen’s Park.

John Timms, Event Director at Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, said: “We’re delighted to confirm the route for this year’s Half Marathon.”

“Following feedback from runners, Chesterfield Borough Council and event partners, we’re building on the route to not only provide an enhanced experience for our runners, but also provide easier movement for traffic, to keep the people of Chesterfield moving around the town as much as possible.”

“It also offers more opportunities for people to come and watch the event, with more time spent in the town centre and Queen’s Park. Friends and family can easily see runners a few times within walking distance of the start.”

“We’re really excited about this year’s event and we can’t wait until it starts.”

Entries remain open for the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, which is being held in aid of Ashgate Hospicecare, Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice and countless other good causes.

Enter the Chesterfield Half Marathon

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Chesterfield FC ‘Time to Change’ fixture raises awareness

29th February 2020

The Chesterfield FC match against Ebbsfleet United last weekend marked the Time to Change fixture for Chesterfield FC Community Trust.

Time to Change is a nationwide campaign to end the stigma and discrimination faced by people who experience mental health problems.

Statistically, one in four people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Participants from the Trust’s A Spire Right programme volunteered their time to engage with supporters at the Ebbsfleet game by giving leaflets out that focused on three points:

1. They are the same person as you. When someone tells you they have a mental health problem, don’t treat them differently.

2. Don’t just talk listen. Showing you are paying attention can make the world of difference.

3. Be careful with your language. Making a joke of someone’s mental health can be really isolating.

Andrea Parkinson, the Trust’s senior education and wellbeing officer, says: “There are two main fixtures at the Proact Stadium every season that focus on mental health and suicide prevention.”

“Dedicating matchdays to try and end the stigma regarding mental health is very important for our community and it also works alongside the messages we deliver on our mental health courses.”

“The participants gain from engaging with supporters and it is also a great way of raising awareness of our mental health projects.”

For more information regarding the health and wellbeing courses, please email andreaparkinson@spireitestrust.org.uk

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

State-of-the-art wellness clinic opens in Chesterfield

28th February 2020

360 Wellbeing Centre is a new state-of-the-art clinic, now open on Chatsworth Road in Chesterfield, offering a range treatments looking at all aspects of bodily, spiritual and mental wellness.

To celebrate their opening, the clinic has organised the 360 Wellbeing Seminar at Chesterfield’s Proact Stadium on 19th March, to give the local people an opportunity to meet the team, learn about what the clinic has to offer and to increase their knowledge of health and wellness related subjects.

Commenting on the event, Samantha Woodcroft, one of founding Directors of the clinic said: “Despite the advances in science, the research shows an continuing annual increase in conditions such as heart disease, anxiety, depression, cancer and type 2 diabetes. These are all conditions that can positively affected by good nutritional practice and supplementary treatments.”

“Helping people to address and overcome their health challenges is one of our primary reasons for being and we thought hosting a seminar would be an appropriate way to celebrate the launch of 360 Wellbeing whilst sharing some high quality speeches from leading experts in their field with the people of Derbyshire.”

The event has designed to be a fast-paced and engaging affair with short speeches covering a range of subjects. Attendees will enjoy a Gratitude Bag with gifts worth at least £60. Local Wellness Therapists in attendance will also have an opportunity to meet the 360 Wellbeing team and schedule some time for a formal meeting to discuss joint venture options.

Samantha added: “As well as hosting an agenda that we think offers subjects that will interest those local people who are focused on improving their mental and physical health, we are keen to add to our services and will seek to work with quality local therapists. We will also be explaining our recruitment process for this at the seminar”.

Click here to find out more or to book your place

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Get involved with Chesterfield Museum this March

27th February 2020

There are lots of great events to get involved with at Chesterfield Museum throughout March.

From storytelling for pre-schoolers, to crafts for all and even a special session for antiques lovers there is bound to be something for the whole family to enjoy.

Councillor Kate Sarvent, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy, said: “The team at the museum have worked really hard to put together some great events for March and I hope as many people as possible will come to the museum and get involved in some of these fantastic events.”

“We’ve got some great exhibitions this month too so I hope residents and visitors will take the chance to do something that interests them and learn more about the history of Chesterfield.”

Kicking the month off is World Book Day and the museum will be hosting a special World Book Day event on Thursday 5 March from 10am until 12 noon where pre-schoolers will be encouraged to dress up as their favourite characters and head along to hear some marvellous magical stories.

Dig out your antiques and art from the loft or garage as Bamfords auctioneers will be visiting the museum on Friday 6 March to hold a valuation day.

To celebrate International Women’s Day and British Science Week, a local social enterprise Kakou CIC will be holding an Explore Science event on Saturday 7 March to highlight the contribution women have made to science and technology. There will be loads of great hands-on activities for children and big kids alike covering a wide range of STEM subjects from code breaking to paper marbling.

Have you found a mystery object or archaeological treasure, but you can’t figure out what it is? The Finds Surgery on 14 March is here to help. Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire’s Finds Liaison Officer will be on hand to help identify all your mystery items and record them with the Portable Antiquities Scheme.

Don’t forget Mother’s Day is at the end of March. On Saturday 21 March, local artist Shirley Potter will be hosting a Mothers Day Card Making Workshop.

As well as these great events the Extraordinary Women exhibition which celebrates the lives of local women who have made a significant contribution to their communities and the country overall runs until 28 March. There is also an exhibition, DCAS – Only Time Will Tell, created by young people from the Donut Creative Arts Studio and a pottery exhibition that was inspired by William Gordon’s ceramics.

Entry to the museum and each event is free but donations are greatly appreciated. The museum opens Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 10am to 4pm and is operated by Chesterfield Borough Council.

Click here to search more events in Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Redbrik Half Marathon organisers target record year after successful 2019 event

26th February 2020

Organisers of the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon are targeting record entry numbers as the event’s Early Bird entry discount period draws to a close on February 29.

This year’s race, which takes place on 18 October and starts and finishes in Queen’s Park, has seen hundreds of entries in the first few weeks of 2020, having set advance entry records in each of the three events since its establishment in 2017.

More than 1,500 people registered for the 2019 event, a record advance entry total for a Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon.

The 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon’s Early Bird entry discount period closes on 29 February, with runners able to enter the 13.1-mile Half Marathon for just £23 (usual price £29). Entries are also being taken for the event’s Peak FM Five Mile Run, which takes place in tandem with the Half Marathon, for £16 (usual price £19).

In addition, the event will also see the return of the Blachford Fun Run, with new events also in the pipeline in 2020 which will form part of the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon weekend – details for which will be confirmed soon.

John Timms, Event Director for the Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, said: “We’re really excited for this year’s Redbrik Half Marathon, having seen a hugely positive start to 2020.

“We really want to build on the success of the first three Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathons by breaking advance entry records again, and with additional elements this year we’re confident we can achieve that.

“The Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon, in its short history, has achieved great things for the Chesterfield and north Derbyshire community, with more than £140,000 pledged for good causes including our event charity partners, Ashgate Hospicecare and Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.

“We look forward to the event continuing to blossom in 2020 with the amazing support of the people of Chesterfield.”

Mark Ross, Managing Director of event title sponsor Redbrik Estate Agents, said: “We’re proud to be such a big part of the Chesterfield Half Marathon, which has been very successful since it was established in 2017.

“We’re also incredibly grateful for the support of the Chesterfield community, with local people providing strong backing for the event every year.

“Exciting plans are in the pipeline for the 2020 event, too, with even more opportunities for people to get involved. Watch this space!”

The 2020 Redbrik Chesterfield Half Marathon will take place on 18 October, starting and finishing in Queen’s Park alongside the event’s Peak FM Five Mile Run.

For more information or to enter, click here.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Featured, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Derbyshire County Council launch survey for armed forces community

26th February 2020

A survey carried out by the University of Derby, on behalf of Derbyshire County Council, is aiming to find out more about the county’s armed forces community.

The research sets out to identify the size and make-up of Derbyshire’s armed forces community to help inform and improve local services for individuals and families who are connected to the British armed forces.

The survey is open to people aged 18 and over who live in Derbyshire and is completely anonymous. It is open now with a closing date of 3 April 2020.

Derbyshire County Council Armed Forces Champion Councillor Neil Atkin, said: “The council is committed to helping to make sure no member of the armed forces community in Derbyshire faces a disadvantage when it comes to public services.”

“Last year we re-signed our Armed Forces Covenant alongside all Derbyshire’s district and borough council’s to reaffirm our commitment to support military personnel with day-to-day life.”

Derbyshire County Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis, added: “If you are part of Derbyshire’s armed forces community we’d really like to hear from you. We want to reach as many people as possible.”

“Research is important to help local authorities, health and social care services to meet the needs of the armed forces community so they are treated with fairness, compassion and respect.”

Derbyshire County Council want to hear from:

regular currently serving personnel from the armed forces
volunteer and regular reservists
veterans
families of regular, reservist and veterans
the bereaved – who are family members of service personnel and veterans who have died whether that death is connected to their service or not

Research is being externally funded from a grant provided by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund and Derbyshire County Council has commissioned Derby University to conduct the research.

The covenant fund gives grants to community projects that are mutually beneficial to the armed forces community and the civilian community.

Click here to take part in the survey (opens in new tab)

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Development, Featured, Home, Leisure

Free social swim for Chesterfield cancer patients

25th February 2020

Residents in Chesterfield who are recovering from or have cancer are invited to take part in a new swimming session at Queen’s Park Sports Centre.

OutSwimming Cancer is a supported swim session that will take place once per week and is completely free to attend, thanks to funding from Weston Park Cancer Charity.

Lesley Rechert (right), a swimming instructor at Queen’s Park Sports Centre who organises the OutSwimming sessions, said: “Swimming is a wonderful activity for people who have experienced cancer – it’s fun, enjoyable and therapeutic.”

“Recovery from cancer can take a long time but swimming is really beneficial for the journey back to better health. It’s a great way for rebuilding your strength and confidence.”

“It can often be a challenge to return to swimming after suffering with cancer but quiet sessions like this aim to create an inclusive environment that is supportive as well as enjoyable.”

Councillor Jill Mannion-Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We are very proud to be supporting these sessions, it’s important that everyone in the Borough feels like they can pursue a healthy lifestyle and use our facilities for it.”

“It makes me proud that we can offer support like this to people who are going through such a difficult time in their lives.”

Lesley added: “A swim teacher will be available before, during and after the session to encourage, reassure and improve people’s swimming if they wish, so it is ideal for anyone who has had cancer and wants to start swimming or get better at it.”

Dr Ruby Osborn, grant officer at Weston Park Cancer Charity, said: “We’re proud to fund this scheme to help anyone who has or has had cancer to enjoy swimming in a supportive environment.”

“Changes to the body following cancer and cancer treatment can make it difficult to begin or return to exercise, so these sessions with a dedicated swimming teacher to guide people will make a big difference.”

The sessions start on Monday 2 March and run between 2pm and 3pm. Booking is not required.

Funding for the OutSwimming Cancer sessions is provided by Weston Park Cancer Charity with support from Chesterfield Borough Council. Swimmers must be fit and healthy enough to be in the swimming pool, please consult your GP if you are unsure.

For residents who are unable to attend the weekly sessions, a limited number of OutSwimming Cancer vouchers are available for free to be used at either the Healthy Living Centre, Staveley and Queen’s Park Sports Centre, Chesterfield.

For more information about the sessions or to book individual vouchers please contact: rebecca.truman@chesterfield.go.uk.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Leisure, Visiting

Trustees required by Friends of Queen’s Park Cricket

25th February 2020

Friends of Queen’s Park Cricket is seeking to appoint a number of Trustees to help achieve their objectives and to move forward the aims of the group.

Queen’s Park has seen cricket played there since 1894. The Friends want to celebrate that history and promote this iconic and historic ground in order to ensure the future of cricket at Queen’s Park.

Over the next couple of years, the Friends of Queen’s Park Cricket intend to:

Increase the membership and especially corporate membership
Raise funds in order to support investment in facilities and ground maintenance
Promote the Cricket Festival and increase the range activities to appeal to a wider audience
Increase the opportunities to play cricket in the park
Promote the historical significance as a world-renowned major cricket venue

Chairman Neil Swanwick stated: “We need help to achieve this and are looking to recruit additional trustees. In particular we are seeking skills and experience in Marketing and PR and using social media but above all else, we would value you anyone who shares our passion for cricket and the legacy of Queen’s Park Cricket and prepared to give us your time and commitment.”

Deadline for applications is 28 February 2020. Please click the below links to download more information about each role.

Social Media Trustee

General Trustee

Friends of Queen’s Park Cricket a Registered Charitable Organisation who: act as a voice for cricket in Queen’s Park; campaign to maintain high-standard facilities; strive to keep cricket in the park; ensure the Chesterfield Festival of Cricket continues and expands; develop the history and promote the playing of cricket at all levels and ages.

Click here to find out more about the Friends of Queen’s Park Cricket

Posted in About Chesterfield, Destination Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Visiting

Stars of hit West End musicals to perform at Queen’s Park

24th February 2020

After successful sold out events in 2018 and 2019, Derbyshire County Cricket Club is bringing stars of London’s West End to Chesterfield this summer for An Evening of ABBA.

The event, which takes place on Sunday 21 June, will round off the popular Chesterfield Festival of Cricket in association with Chesterfield Borough Council, with crowds set to be wowed by a stunning display of ABBA’s back catalogue.

Performed by some of the West End’s brightest talents and featuring hits such as ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘Waterloo’, it’s a night no ABBA fan should miss!

Set in the picturesque, tree-lined Queen’s Park, the outdoor concert is the must-see event of the summer in Chesterfield, full of singalong classics and entertainment.

Chief Executive Ryan Duckett said: “We have run sold-out events of this kind in Derby and it’s exciting to take the format to Chesterfield as part of the annual festival.

“We have strong ties to Chesterfield dating back to the nineteenth century and this is the latest chapter, bringing a new and vibrant concert event to Queen’s Park with a chance to welcome a new audience in the local community.”

Tickets for the outdoor concert spectacular are priced at just £25 and are on sale now via derbyshireccc.com , reception at The Pattonair County Ground or by calling 01332 388 101.

Only a limited number of tickets are available for this special event.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure, Summer, Visiting

Pitchford equals best World Tour performance

24th February 2020

Chesterfield born table tennis player Liam Pitchford equalled his best performance on the World Tour by reaching the semi-finals of the Hungarian Open.

Seeded ninth for the event, Pitchford did not have to play the qualifying rounds and started in the last 32 with a 4-2 (11-2, 10-12, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 11-5) win over Alexander Shibaev of Russia.

He followed up with two confident victories, first 4-0 (11-7, 11-4, 11-7, 11-7) against Qiu Dang of Germany, who had won the Portugal Open the previous week, and then taking out 11^th seed Kristian Karlsson from Sweden 4-0 (11-9, 13-11, 11-4, 11-8).

His semi-final was against Yukiya Uda, a rising teenage star from Japan, and the match swung back and forth for four games before Uda pulled away to win 4-2 (11-13, 11-8, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6, 11-7).

But Pitchford will be pleased with his form going into the Mark Bates Ltd National Championships, which start on Friday in Nottingham.

Posted in About Chesterfield, Celebrate Chesterfield, Home, Leisure

BMX pro Libby Hawkins supports Chesterfield’s Beat the Street game

24th February 2020

Meet Libby Hawkins, the co-ordinator of the Beat the Street game that’s starting in Chesterfield this week.

Libby is well-known locally as the founder of the Tuff Riders BMX School and club manager and coach for Chesterfield BMX Racing Club based at Ringwood Park in Brimington, Chesterfield. She is a development pathway coach for Team GB and also runs coaching sessions for people of all ages and abilities from beginners to international standard.

As well as cycling, she enjoys rock-climbing, indoor bouldering and is the co-founder of a non-profit dance school. She was recently shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality Unsung Hero award plus was a finalist in the Special Recognition category at the recent Active Derbyshire awards for her commitment to encouraging the community to try BMXing.

Her latest role brings together her love of sport and community to the Beat the Street Chesterfield game which takes place from 26 February to 8 April.

Anyone from the Chesterfield area is welcome to take part in the free game which encourages people to ditch the car and to walk, cycle, scoot or run as far as possible. More than 120 beeping and flashing sensors called Beat Boxes will be placed on lampposts around the area for the duration of the game. Players join a team or choose to support one of the chosen charities: Age Concern Chesterfield and District; Community Transformation for Cosy Hub and Fairplay.

Libby is currently visiting schools, workplaces and community groups in Chesterfield to raise awareness of the game and to encourage as many people to take part as possible.

She said: “I love encouraging people into physical activity and to help remove any barriers that might be stopping them from taking part in sport. What I love about Beat the Street is that it helps people make healthy lifestyle changes like considering walking to school, or cycling to work, or perhaps getting outside at lunchtime.

“I’ve always believed that sport is a way of bringing communities together and to connect people and change their approach. When I heard about Beat the Street, I wanted to get involved as it reflects what I currently do, but on a mass scale.

“Beat the Street is so much more than just a six-week game – it leaves a sustainable legacy of signposting people into finding an activity that suits them. It’s about changing perspectives and helping them find an activity they might not have thought of or had the confidence to consider before.

“We’re delivering fobs to each school in the area, and anyone else who would like to play is welcome to pick up a free card and map from a distribution point listed on the Beat the Street Chesterfield website. There are great prizes of vouchers for books or sports equipment for the top scoring teams, and also an average points leaderboard so smaller teams have a chance of winning too, plus ‘lucky tap’ prizes that you could win just for taking part.”

Beat the Street is being delivered by Intelligent Health in partnership with Chesterfield Borough Council and is funded by a National Lottery grant through Sport England and Chesterfield Health and Wellbeing Partnership.

Click here to find out more about Beat the Street Chesterfield

Posted in About Chesterfield, Home, Leisure