Businesses in our town’s network of Chesterfield Champions have been busy getting into the festive spirit, with several initiatives to support our people and communities.
Find out more about what our organisations have been up to below!
Chesterfield FC spreads festive cheer at Ashgate Hospice
The players from Chesterfield Football Club brought plenty of smiles and Christmas cheer to Ashgate Hospice on Thursday 5 December, during their much-loved annual visit.
The day began in the hospice’s Day Services area, where players joined patients for festive arts and crafts, including Christmas card making. They also took part in a light-hearted debate about the best chocolates in a Celebrations box – with the Spireites unanimously agreeing that Bounty is not a fan favourite!
Next, the team visited Ashgate’s specialist Inpatient Unit to spend time with patients, chatting and sharing stories with them during the visit. One special visitor, Daisy the Poodle Shih Tzu, was especially delighted with all the attention from the players.
Before finishing their visit, the players took a tour of Ashgate’s newly renovated Day Services area, set to reopen early next year. The updated space will provide enhanced support for people living with life-limiting and incurable illnesses and the people important to them.
Spireites captain Jamie Grimes said: “It’s been a couple of years I’ve been here and it’s great to see all of the new facilities going in and all of the money that has been donated by local companies.
“It’s really eye-opening to see how kind people can be and the kind work that everyone does here. People seem so comfortable and as happy as they can be in their situation.
“It’s nice to have a joke, bring a smile to a face and hopefully take their mind off of what they are going through.
“It’s not nice to see people struggling but it gives you a bit of perspective with football and makes you appreciate what you have got.
“It’s been my third year coming now [to Ashgate Hospice] and I keep seeing the place get better and that is important thanks to the donations that they get.
“I can only commend the people and the countless companies that have donated to the new facility and it’s a credit to the amazing work that people do here and the amazing kindness and generosity of the people in the community.”
To make the day even more magical, the club brought Christmas sacks filled with chocolates and biscuits to share with patients and staff.
Ali Ward-Foster, Partnerships Manager at Ashgate Hospice, shared: “We’re so grateful to Chesterfield FC for visiting us each Christmas. It’s such a special day, and the joy they bring to our patients, those important to them, and our staff and volunteers is just incredible.
“Watching them take the time to chat and laugh with everyone is heartwarming—it’s a reminder of how amazing our community is when we come together.”
Right now, Ashgate is only able to operate 15 out of its 21 inpatient beds. As a result, not all patients who require hospice care are able to access it, meaning some families are missing out on the essential support and special moments that hospices offer, especially during the festive period.
To support Ashgate this Christmas and help ensure more people can access vital care, please visit www.ashgatehospice.org.uk/christmas-appeal or by calling 01246 567 250.
Legal Firm’s Will Writing Service Success Boosts Charity Funds
Chesterfield-based Graysons Solicitors raised £1,130 for Ashgate Hospice recently with its Will Week initiative. The Glass Yard-based firm offered free will writing whilst encouraging a donation to the charity for each one drafted.
Graysons also offered advice on other matters from powers of attorney to trust arrangements. Peter Clark, managing partner at Graysons, said: “I’m proud to say it was a very successful week. Every donation helps support the specialist care given at Ashgate Hospice, and making a Will provides peace of mind that a person’s affairs will be handled in the way they wish in the future.”
Graysons Solicitors has been a regular supporter of Ashgate Hospice for many years.
Laura Law, senior individual giving and legacy officer at Ashgate Hospice, said: “We were so happy to once again have the support of Graysons Solicitors during their Will Week fundraiser. Writing a will is so important to ensure that our affairs are in order whilst making sure our loved ones are looked after when we’re no longer here. Not only that, but it allows us to put plans in place so that we can get on with making the most of the time we have with them.”
Graysons were the main sponsor of the Butterfly Appeal at Chatsworth last year, following two years as sponsors of the successful Forget Me Not Appeals staged at Chatsworth in 2021 and Renishaw Hall in 2022. They also sponsored Ashgate Hospice’s 2024 ‘Big Thank You Party’.
They will be sponsoring the 2025 Dragonfly Appeal at Chatsworth.
Graysons Solicitors specialise in wills, estates and trusts, elderly client services, lifetime planning, property, family law, personal injury, and clinical negligence.
To find out more, please visit: www.graysons.co.uk
Chesterfield Royal Hospital Health and Wellbeing Hub receives a Highly Commended accolade
The Health and Wellbeing Hub at Chesterfield Royal Hospital has received a prestigious accolade, being named ‘Highly Commended’ in the Staff Wellbeing Award at the HSJ Awards 2024. This annual event celebrates success stories across the health and social care sector, providing a platform to inspire and shape the future of the NHS.
The facility includes:
• A fully equipped gym
• Two studios to host groups and exercise classes
• Counselling rooms
• Areas for group or individual reflection
• Changing room and shower facilities
• Bike storage facilities
• Foyer space for colleagues to take time out, eat lunch and network
The Health and Wellbeing Hub opened in July 2023 – and is a free on-site facility supporting both the physical and mental wellbeing of all 5,613 colleagues . Its purpose is to ‘care for carers’.
The initial predictions expected the Hub to engage with around 15% of the workforce. However, since launch, over 50% of colleagues have been engaged with the Hub – it’s a facility with options for all.
Mahmud Nawaz, Trust Chair, attended the Awards with colleagues from the Trust: “This commendation is testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team. We are committed to creating a supportive and healthy workplace and this recognition is a huge encouragement for us to continue our efforts. Thank you to everybody involved.”
This year’s awards covered an incredible 26 categories. An impressive 1,351 entries were received, with 235 organisations, projects and individuals making it to the final shortlist.
Abbie Foster, Health and Wellbeing Lead, added: “This is a proud moment for us. We faced tough competition from other incredible organisations in our category, and we are honoured to be recognised amongst such great company.”
Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive comments: “It’s important we continue to support our people – without our exceptional people, we can’t provide exceptional patient care and I’m very proud that we’ve been able to showcase this and be recognised on a national stage. Thank you to everybody involved.”
The Trust were able to attend the ceremony thanks to sponsorship from Westfield Health.
Veezu Supports Sheffield Children’s Hospital Patients with Free Rides to Blend Culinary Foundation
Veezu, the UK’s largest and fastest-growing private hire technology business, is proud to announce a special partnership aimed at supporting young patients from Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
Since August, Veezu has been offering free, round-trip transportation to the Blend Culinary Foundation at Cambridge Street Collective. This initiative eases logistical challenges for families, ensuring that young patients can attend cooking classes without added stress. By removing transportation barriers, Veezu enables children to fully benefit from this therapeutic programme, contributing to their recovery and well-being.
The Blend Culinary Foundation, in collaboration with Sheffield Children’s Hospital, offers cooking classes designed for children and young people under the hospital’s care. These sessions focus on building kitchen confidence, encouraging positive relationships with food, and equipping participants with practical skills to promote healthy eating habits. This supportive and therapeutic approach complements the hospital’s broader treatment programme, which includes medical care, psychological support, and nutrition education.
“At Veezu, we are committed to supporting the communities we serve,” said Sacha Boulis, Regional Marketing Manager for Veezu. “By providing transportation for these young patients, we hope to reduce any barriers they may face in accessing these classes. It’s a small gesture that we believe can have a big impact on their journey to recovery.”
Caitlin Hallatt, Philanthropy Manager for The Children’s Hospital Charity, added “We are so grateful for the continued support of Veezu. Working together in partnership with staff at Sheffield Children’s and Blend Culinary Foundation, we are able to offer accessible support and classes for our patients. Moving away from the hospital environment to experience tailored sessions in a fun and interactive place has proven really beneficial, and without Veezu it wouldn’t have been possible to run these sessions as effectively.
“We’ve been in partnership with Veezu for many years now and are always blown away by their willingness to support in any way that they can to help our patients and families.” The complimentary rides were provided through the Funded by Veezu initiative, which helps to fund hundreds of local projects nationwide and aims to make a positive difference. To learn more about Funded by Veezu, please visit https://www.veezu.co.uk/funded-by-veezu.
Certificate of appreciation for Vicar Lane
Vicar Lane Shopping Centre, Chesterfield were delighted to receive a Certificate of Appreciation from the Royal British Legion Riders (RBLR) this week, acknowledging the centre’s ongoing support for the charity’s vital work.
The RBLR, a group of motorcycling enthusiasts dedicated to supporting and promoting the work of the Royal British Legion, have found a valued partner in Vicar Lane.
Vicar Lane has warmly welcomed the Chesterfield branch of the RBLR to host numerous fundraising events at the centre. These events have offered visitors a chance to interact with RBLR members, admire their motorcycles, and even take photos on the bikes — all in support of the Royal British Legion’s important initiatives.
Shaun Brown, Centre Manager at Vicar Lane, shared his enthusiasm: “We’re thrilled to receive this recognition from the RBLR and look forward to many more opportunities to work together for such a meaningful cause.”
For further details please visit https://www.vicarlaneshoppingcentre.co.uk/
Bolsover shines bright with light show and lantern parade
Junction Arts brought two illuminating events to Bolsover; Bright Winter Nights at Bolsover Castle and the Bolsover Lantern Parade, which celebrated its 30th birthday.
On Friday, the 29th of November, Bright Winter Nights saw over a thousand people flock to the immersive light show at Bolsover Castle. The sell-out event included three art installations that were co-created with the community and professional artists. Know Your Neighbourhood in the old riding school saw Bolsover District residents’ artwork come to life in a film created by national artist William Lindley and projected onto the stable walls.
Mirror, Mirror, created by Derbyshire theatre company, Babbling Vagabonds and projection artists Illuminos, featured the work of students from Bolsover School. It was an interactive piece, with visitors using mirrors to find characters and become part of the artwork.
In Full Colour, a digital projection onto the Little Castle was the event’s centrepiece. Projection artist Rebecca Smith worked with youth members of Derbyshire LGBT+, which includes LGBTQIA+ young people from around Chesterfield, to create an inspiring immersive experience that combined history with contemporary digital art.
Local resident Michelle Ward said: “It was amazing, we really enjoyed it. I think William Cavendish would have approved as it was his party palace and he liked to show it off.”
On Saturday, hundreds of people joined the Bolsover Lantern Parade with their lanterns and thousands more lined the streets to see one of the UK’s biggest and longest-running light processions.
Following a month of lantern-making workshops in the community and local schools, just under 600 lanterns were made for the parade, with 400 taking part on the night. Among the hundreds of creations, there was a giant Stitch, a beautiful turtle, a rocket, a jellyfish, a car, a sausage dog, lots of Christmas trees and two huge dragons!
The parade marked the finale of the Bolsover Winter Festival, a weekend of festive fun, which includes a traditional Christmas market and a day of festive food and entertainment in the town centre.
Chesterfield-based charity Junction Arts organised the events in partnership with Bolsover District Council, Old Bolsover Town Council, English Heritage, Bolsover Place Board, PlatformThirty1 and other community partners.
Junction Arts Managing Director, Emily Bowman said: “Wow, what a weekend we’ve had in Bolsover! The two events celebrated art, technology and local people, with every piece of content co-created with the community and professional artists. These events shine a light on the creativity and strong community spirit that exists in this brilliant town, and we feel so proud to be part of it.
“Thank you to our funders, supporters, partners, volunteers, artists, and everyone who made a lantern or turned out to support these fabulous events.”
Images courtesy of David Blewer, Steven Bostock and Philip Newman from Bolsover Camera Club.
The organisations featured in this article support the marketing and economic growth of the town through Chesterfield Champions, a network of over 200 organisations across Chesterfield and North Derbyshire.