February

Couples will be tying the knot in new surroundings at Chesterfield Register Office following a £40,000 refurbishment.

Derbyshire County Council has completely revamped the ceremony room at the New Beetwell Street venue to give it a tranquil new look complete with soft lighting and new furniture.

Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies, vow renewals and naming ceremonies will all be held in the new suite.

Access to the room has been moved from the front of the building to the back via Park Road which is less busy to make it easier and more pleasant for parties arriving at the venue.

An additional room has also been built so that parties can congregate before the ceremony away from the area where deaths are being registered.

• To book a ceremony at Chesterfield Register Office or for more information call 01246 271405.

Changing rooms: Derbyshire County Council’s chairman Councillor Walter Burrows, pictured left, and cabinet member for cultural and community services Councillor Bob Janes, check out the new facilities at Chesterfield Register Office.

Hundreds of pupils will tomorrow (Wednesday) move into two new schools built by Derbyshire County Council.

Long Eaton School and Newbold Community School have been paid for through a £37 million Private Finance Initiative (PFI) agreement.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “These are state-of-the-art buildings designed to give young people in Long Eaton and Newbold the highest quality education in 21st century facilities.

“The new building and environment will be beneficial and inspire young people in their learning. It will also give staff excellent working conditions.”

The Long Eaton School has been rebuilt because the existing school is on two sites separated by a canal. Many of the existing buildings are in a poor condition.

The new school, which cost more than £19 million, has spaces for 1,210 pupils. It contains: 

• 30 classrooms and 10 laboratories  
• sports hall, gym and general hall
• drama studio, three art rooms and two music rooms 
• four ICT rooms and a library 
• rooms where pupils can be taught construction and hair and beauty vocational courses
  

A footbridge enabling pupils to reach the school and an adult community education centre have also been built as part of the project.

Newbold Community School has been rebuilt because the school currently has two sites 800 metres apart. Many of the existing rooms are too small and in poor condition.

The new school, which cost almost £18 million, has spaces for 1,150 pupils. It contains: 

• 25 classrooms and eight laboratories
• sports hall, gym, dance studio and general hall
• two music rooms and three art spaces
• four ICT rooms and a library

The school will also act as the base for North East Derbyshire Music, which runs a music centre for young musicians from Chesterfield and north east Derbyshire.

Under the PFI agreement the cost of building and maintaining both schools will be met for 26 years by the private sector company Babcock and Brown.

In return Derbyshire County Council will pay an annual service charge. At the end of the 26-year contract ownership of the schools will pass to the county council.

Both schools have been designed to enable them to become enhanced resource schools which have spaces for 10 pupils with special educational needs.   

(REF: JF.77.06)

Pupils, teaching staff and governors at Sudbury Primary School have been boosted by the news that it has been taken out of special measures in record time.

An inspection team from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) placed the school in special measures in January 2005 because of concerns about pupils’ achievement, the quality of teaching and leadership and management issues.

But following a further two-day visit by an inspector earlier this month, the school has been told it has made big improvements and is now providing pupils with a better standard of education.

Derbyshire County Council funded the appointment of experienced headteacher Sandra Rimmer to transform the school after it was placed in special measures. 

Councillor Alan Charles, the county council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “It’s marvellous that Sudbury Primary School has come out of special measures in just over a year, which is three months quicker than the previous record for Derbyshire.

“The speed in which staff and governors have brought about improvements for pupils is very pleasing, especially when considering it can take up to two years to turn a school around.

“This is the reward for their efforts and the school can now look forward to a fresh start.  Plans are already underway to further raise standards and the county council will continue to give the school its full support.”

The inspector who visited the 38-pupil school found: 

• Achievements by pupils are improving, with many doing well in recent national tests
• Teaching has improved and is now good
• Pupils enjoy their education, want to do well and behave well in lessons
• Policies are in place to support pupils’ personal development
• The acting headteacher is leading and managing the school well, supported by the governing body

Acting headteacher Mrs Rimmer – who came in for special praise for putting the school “back on track” – said:  “This is excellent news.  Everybody connected with the school has worked extremely hard to deliver the standard of education that our pupils and their parents deserve.

“But emerging from special measures is only the start.  We’re now striving to deliver improvements across all areas and everybody is optimistic about the future.”

To continue the progress that has been made the inspector recommend the school: 

• Improve subject leadership, focusing on raising standards further
• Strengthen pupils’ personal development
• Build on the improvements so that it can eventually manage without the county council’s financial support.
  

Chair of governors Nigel Francis said:  “I’m delighted the inspector recognised the contribution that the whole school community has made in turning things around.  It’s especially pleasing the report highlights the happy family atmosphere developing in class and the improved quality of teaching.

“While we’re happy with the progress made, we’re committed to continuing this good work and getting even better.” 
  

(REF: RS.76.06)

A TV presenter is urging the county’s young people to come out in force in support of Derbyshire County Council’s latest Youth Forum elections known as The Big Vote.

Newsround presenter Ellie Crisell has given her backing to the election and is urging every 11 to 19-year-old in Derbyshire to vote.

“The only way to get things changed is to get your voice heard where it matters,” she said. “Every vote counts so use yours in the Big Vote.”

This year a record 72 candidates are up for election with voting about to get under way.

Voting - which takes place between Monday, March 6 and Wednesday, April 5 - can be done online, by mobile phone text messaging or on more traditional paper voting forms which can be posted into ballot boxes in every county library.

Councillor Bob Janes, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services, said he was delighted by the large number of candidates putting themselves forward.

“We’ve had a brilliant response,” he said. “We did well last time but the response has been even better this year. I hope as many young people as possible will check out what the candidates stand for and make their mark with a vote.

“Previous youth forum members have done a great job making sure young people’s views are heard both locally and nationally and I’m sure we’ve got a great crop of potential young representatives among this year’s candidates.”

The Derbyshire Youth Forum was set up by the county council in 2000 to give young people living in Derbyshire a greater voice in the democratic process. Elections take place every two years with the last one in 2004 attracting 16,000 votes. Derby City has its own separate youth forum.

Each district elects two representatives to the forum which feeds its views to the county council.

Last year members of the forum undertook a number of activities, including: 

• Helping appoint the new director of the county council’s children’s services;
• Meeting leading Derbyshire county councillors on a variety of issues, such as the children’s plan;
• Meeting the chair of the police authority at police HQ, Ripley;
• Attending the UK Youth Parliament national sitting at Leicester University;
• Attending meetings of the full county council at County Hall, Matlock.

To find out more about the Big Vote, or to vote online, go to www.derbyshire.gov.uk/b_line (opens in a new window)        

(AJ.75.06)

Youngsters can meet well-known children’s favourite Wibbly Pig at the official re-opening of Ilkeston’s new-look library on Thursday (March 2).

The Market Place library, run by Derbyshire County Council, has had a £60,000 make-over including a new counter, a toilet for disabled people, baby changing facilities and automatic doors fitted.

The work inside also included new carpets and lighting while outside the stonework has been repaired and window frames have been given a lick of paint.

Children under five will be invited to join in with songs, stories and crafts from 1pm-3pm while Wibbly Pig, a favourite children’s book character by Mick Inkpen, will be joining in the fun.

Writer Dave Wood will be reading poems between 9.30am and noon and has written a specially-commissioned poem called ‘Books are back in town’. Visitors to the library are invited to bring their own favourite poems along to share and add a word to a Scrabble game for a chance to win a prize.

Visitors will also be encouraged to read more as part of the BBC’s reading and writing initiative RaW with a display of books in the library.

Councillor Bob Janes, the county council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services, will be at the official re-opening at 10.30am.

The official re-opening of the building coincides with World Book Day – an international celebration of writing and reading.

Councillor Janes said: “The work has been carried out to the inside of Ilkeston Library to ensure that we comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

“Although the library had to be closed for ten weeks, this work has made the building more accessible to disabled people who can now take advantage of the range of services on offer.

“I think everyone will agree that the work has also created a cleaner and brighter atmosphere and made the building more welcoming to library users.

(CC.74.06)
 

Learn all about lace-making and needlework techniques from around the world – and closer to home - at an annual lace and textile celebration being held at a Derbyshire County Council adult community education centre.

Derbyshire-based embroidery designer Katrina Witten, whose company designs and makes embroidery kits inspired by the Derbyshire countryside, is the guest speaker at the event taking place at the Clay Cross Adult Community Education Centre on Saturday, March 11.

There will also be lace-making demonstrations and workshops as well as a large array of stalls on display, offering a selection of needlework materials for sale including kits, books, equipment, glass beads, brooches and wooden turned items. 

Katrina Witten, who founded Rowandean Embroidery with her mother 20 years ago, will talk about the story of her Duffield-based company – from early beginnings as a hobby to an international business selling embroidery kits around the world. Her talk starts at 11am. She will also be conducting a workshop and exhibiting her work.

A further workshop on Japanese quilting is also taking place. All workshops must be booked in advance as there is always a big demand.

Councillor Bob Janes, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services, said: “This is a popular event that is always well attended, both by experts in the field as well as the public who get a fascinating insight into these traditional crafts.

“There will be plenty of opportunities to see how lace making and other textile techniques are used and perhaps be inspired to try something yourself.

“This year we are delighted to welcome a local businesswoman to the event who is expected to give a fascinating insight into the inspiration behind her embroidery designs and the work of her family company.”

Experienced staff at the Market Street adult community education centre run a number of popular lace-making classes and new students can join at any time. The classes run on Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9.45am-11.45am and on Monday and Thursday evenings from 7pm-9pm. There is also a class on Wednesday afternoon from 1pm-3pm.

The centre also offers a variety of other craft classes, including art, cookery, decoupage, embroidery, lip-reading, dressmaking, pottery, sugarcraft, T’ai Chi and yoga.

As well as weekday courses, classes take place at the centre on occasional Saturdays. The next Saturday for courses is March 25 when local people can try lace-making, yoga, jewellery and Nepalese cookery. The full cost of the courses is £15 although concessions are available for the over 60s and those on certain benefits.
        
The lace and textiles event runs from 10am-4pm and entry is 50p, with accompanied children under 16 getting in free. The coffee bar will be open for hot drinks and snacks throughout the day.

For more information about the event, to book a workshop or join a class, call the Clay Cross Adult Community Education Centre on 01246 862383.
(AJ.73.06)

Parents will be able to find out more about plans to merge two North Wingfield schools during a public meeting organised by Derbyshire County Council.

The authority is proposing to amalgamate North Wingfield Infant School and North Wingfield Junior School to become a single primary school with one headteacher and governing body.

A six-week public consultation will start on 6 March. It will include a public meeting to talk about the proposals on Wednesday 5 April at 6.30pm in the infant school in Black’s Lane.

To enable a merger to take place Derbyshire County Council is proposing to carry out building improvements. This is likely to include: 

• Installing a new telephone system 
• Demolishing air-raid shelters and a wooden building on the junior school site
• Converting a classroom into a joint staff room 
  

Councillor Alan Charles, cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “The idea for this merger has come from the schools themselves and is one we support.

“The two schools are next to each other so a merger would work well. Our aim would be to build on the strengths of both schools to offer an even higher standard of education.”

Having a single primary school would: 

• Remove around 60 surplus places 
• Remove the need for children to change schools between infant and junior phases 
• Allow pupils to interact with a wider age range of children 
• Allow staff to develop more specialist subject skills
  

Parents have been sent a copy of the consultation document. They can make comments by writing to the Chief Education Officer (Reference DEV/MTO), Education Development Section, Chatsworth Hall, Chesterfield Road, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3FW or by emailing mike.oldfield@derbyshire.gov.uk The closing date for comments is Friday 14 April.

Following the consultation Derbyshire County Council will decide whether to continue with its proposals in North Wingfield. If that happens statutory notices would be published and a formal six week consultation period held. 

If there were any objections during this period the proposals would be referred to the Schools Organisation Committee, a group made up of representatives from Derbyshire County Council, schools, the Church of England Diocese and the Roman Catholic Diocese.

Should the committee be unable to reach a unanimous decision then an independent Government adjudicator would be appointed to decide on the final outcome.
          

(REF: JF.72.06)

A public meeting is to be held to discuss plans by Derbyshire County Council to merge two schools in Heanor.

The authority wants to amalgamate Mary Howitt Infant Community School and William Howitt Junior Community School to create a single primary school with one headteacher and governing body.

The move comes as Derbyshire County Council is spending £951,104 to build a:

• shared dining hall and kitchen for the two schools
• space for group lessons
• corridor linking the two schools, with disabled access ramps
• storeroom for PE equipment 
• disabled access toilet 
  

Parents have been sent a copy of the proposals to merge the two schools and will be asked for their views during a four-week public consultation which starts on Monday 27 February.

As part of the consultation a public meeting will be held in Mary Howitt Infant Community School at 6.30pm on Monday 6 March. Access to the school will only be possible from Holmes Street. Meetings are also planned with staff and governors at both schools.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “When the headteacher of William Howitt Junior Community School retired at Christmas we approached the two governing bodies to see what their views were about merging.

“Governors at both schools can see the advantages of the project so have asked us to find out if these ideas have the support of people in Heanor.

“Both schools already provide a good quality of education and we hope these proposals can build on those strengths. I hope everyone will take this opportunity to have their say.”

Derbyshire County Council believes it will be better to have a single primary school because it: 

• Removes the need for children to change schools between infant and junior phases 
• Allows pupils to interact with a wider age range of children 
• Allows staff to develop more specialist subject skills

Comments can be sent in writing to the Acting Chief Education Officer (Reference DEV/DAH), Education Development Section, Chatsworth Hall, Chesterfield Road, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 3FW or by emailing kevin.bowskill@derbyshire.gov.uk The closing date for comments is Friday 24 March.
            
Following the consultation Derbyshire County Council will decide whether to continue with its proposals. If that happens statutory notices would be published and a formal six week consultation period held. 

If there were any objections during this period the proposals would be referred to the Schools Organisation Committee, a group made up of representatives from Derbyshire County Council, schools, the Church of England Diocese and the Roman Catholic Diocese.

Should the committee be unable to reach a unanimous decision then an independent Government adjudicator would be appointed to decide on the final outcome.

(REF: JF.70.06)

A Northamptonshire-based packaging company has been fined £500 for misleading customers by under-filling pots of healthcare pills.

Contract packers Honeywood Ltd faced two charges at Chesterfield Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Wednesday 22 February) following investigations carried out by Derbyshire County Council’s trading standards team.

Trading standards officers carried out a sampling project in May last year to monitor the supply of health supplements on the internet and found pots of tablets containing less than the stated amount.

Two pots of Glucosamine Sulphate tablets (a dietary supplement which can be used to ease arthritic pain) claiming to contain 365 pills were ordered from a popular healthcare website at £7.99 a pot. When the pots arrived officers found they only contained 333 and 334 tablets instead of the 365 stated on the label.  This shortfall equates to 70p and 68p of the customer’s money.

Enquiries into the website company revealed that Honeywood Ltd were contracted to pack and label the pills and were therefore responsible for misleading the customer.

Honeywood Ltd of Edmonds Close, Denington Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, admitted failing to ensure the correct number of pills were in the container and were ordered to pay £550 prosecution costs.

Councillor Joyce Sanders, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for community safety, said: “This case is essentially about customers not getting what they’ve paid for.

“Information is placed on labels for good reason – so that customers can tell exactly what they are buying.

“Through careless packaging procedures this firm has been misleading the public who were getting less for their money than they were led to believe.

“We will continue to investigate cases where we suspect Derbyshire residents are being short-changed and these fines send out a clear message to other firms that we will take legal action where necessary.”

(Ref: SS.69.06)

People launching creative enterprises in Derbyshire Dales and the High Peak have another chance to get some free specialist advice – and make their business a success.

Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Chamber and Business Link are staging a further series of workshops as part of their Focusing Creativity business support programme.

They are led by arts and creative industry specialists and cover topics ranging from marketing creativity to managing finances.

The programme is open to new and emerging enterprises – from craftspeople and visuals artists to web designers and media businesses – based in the Peak District Rural Action Zone.

An introductory one-day workshop helps people put together a realistic development plan and strategy, followed by four half-day sessions to equip them with the skills needed to manage their enterprise.

They are held at the Old Hall Hotel, The Square, Buxton, Derbyshire, on:

• Tuesday April 25 (9.30am to 4pm)
• Tuesday May 2 (12pm to 4pm)
• Friday May 5 (12pm to 4pm)
• Tuesday May 9 (12pm to 4pm)
• Friday May 12 (12pm to 4pm)
  

At the end of the programme people will receive a session of one-to-one mentoring to ensure they continue to develop their business ideas.

The county council’s cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Geoff Carlile said:  “These workshops are a must for fledgling and soon-to-be-launched enterprises in Derbyshire Dales and the High Peak.  They teach combining the practical aspects of running their business with doing what they do best – being creative.

“Each session is informative, jargon-free and delivered by an industry expert. Places are limited so people should book early to avoid missing out.”

Focusing Creativity is funded by Arts Council England and Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership and supported by College of the Peak.

To apply for a place on the free workshops or for further information contact Dorothy Robinson at Derbyshire Chamber and Business Link on 0845 601 1038 or email dorothy.robinson@derbyshire.org
(REF: RS.68.06)

Young people in South Derbyshire are to benefit from a £30,000 grant from Derbyshire County Council to help pay for a mobile climbing wall and safety equipment.

The Safer South Derbyshire Partnership – one of the county’s eight community safety partnerships – applied for the grant from the county council’s community safety fund.

It is part of a £105,000 project to provide a multi-activity games area which aims to reduce anti-social behaviour by involving young people in sport and healthy social activities.

The equipment will be unveiled at a series of launch events expected to be held across the district between April and June.

Councillor Joyce Sanders, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for community safety services, said: “Anti-social behaviour can increase people’s perception of crime when in actual fact Derbyshire is a safe place to live.

“The equipment will provide all young people in South Derbyshire with a safe place to carry out healthy sporting activity and we hope it will be seen as a positive alternative for those who might otherwise choose to behave anti-socially.”

(REF:JM.67.06)
 

Richard Branson and Ruth Rendell are just two of the big literary names launching short, fast-paced new books in Derbyshire for World Book Day on Thursday 2 March.

Designed to encourage reluctant readers to get into books, twelve new titles will be launched at Derbyshire County Council’s libraries on the day to mark the worldwide celebration of books and reading.

Perfect for people wishing to regain the reading habit or for those who want to develop their reading, the range of Quick Reads provide a choice of fact or fiction and a variety of subjects.

Libraries across the county are hosting a variety of other fun events for families and all ages. Activities taking place at 17 of the authority’s libraries include ‘Bag a Book on the Net’ – a guide to reading choices on the internet and a new library coffee club at Long Eaton Library welcoming people along for a coffee and a chat about books and reading.

For children there is a launch of the new ‘CBeebies’ Story Circle at Bolsover Library and on Saturday 4 March ‘Creeping Toad’ will visit Buxton and Glossop libraries with a family story telling and book-making event.

Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services Councillor Bob Janes said: “World Book Day is a chance for people across the globe to celebrate reading and books and Derbyshire is no exception. 

“The new Quick Reads collection is a great opportunity for those who don’t read regularly to give it a go and enjoy some interesting titles by well-known authors.

"There are always lots of events going on at our libraries and I would encourage people to go along and find out more."

World Book Day will also see the official reopening of Ilkeston Library at 10.30am by Councillor Janes, followed by a fun poetry activity called Clickity Clackety Words led by local wordsmith Dave Woods.

Children will be entertained in the afternoon when ‘Wibbly Pig’ drops into the revamped building in Market Street, to provide some fun activities, stories and rhymes.

Below is a list of all World Book Day events in Derbyshire libraries:

Thursday 2nd March

• Ilkeston Library – ‘Clickity, Clackety Words’ Dave Wood “Wordsmithing” & performing poems throughout the morning.  9.20am -12pm. More information: Jane Smith 0115 930 1104  (public event)
  
• Ilkeston Library – ‘Wibbly Pig comes to the library’.  Activities, stories and rhymes.  More information: Anne Gilman 0115 930 1104 (public event)
  
• Heanor Library – ‘Let’s celebrate World Book Day’.  Drop in session for under 5’s and their parents/carers.  Promotion of ‘Bookstart’ packs.
  
  9.30am -11.30am.  More information: Jan Nicholson 01773 520632 (public event)
• Alfreton Library - ‘Let’s celebrate World Book Day’.  Drop in session for under 5’s and their parents/carers.  Promotion of ‘Bookstart’ packs.
  
  1.30pm - 3.30pm. More information: Jan Nicholson 01773 520632 (public event)
  
• Long Eaton Library – ‘Library Coffee Club’ a drop in session to talk about books and promote ‘Quick Reads’.  From 10.30am.  More information: Hilary Fern 0115 973 5426  (public event)
  
• Swadlincote Learning Centre – Celebration of World Book Day writing competition, Quiz, display of ‘Quick Reads’ and opportunity to join the library. 1pm - 3.30pm. More information: Ruth Jameson 01283 217701  (public event)
  
• Ripley Library - ‘Bag a book on the Net’ – introducing users to book related websites 9.30am -10.45am and 11am -12.15pm.  More information: Elaine Glenwright 01773 743321 (public event)
• Dronfield Library – Visit to Basic Skills Group at Gladys Buxton Centre introducing ‘Quick Reads’.  9.30am – 11.30am. More information: Alison Boyce 01246 414001  (group event)
  
• Clay Cross Library – Visit to Basic Skills Group introducing ‘Quick Reads’. 1pm - 2pm  (Hope to lead to creation of new basic Skills reading group)  More information: Alison Boyce 01246 414001  (group event)
• Belper Library – Visit of 3 year 5/6 classes from Long Row Primary School
  
  9.30am – 10.10am; 10.15am – 11am; 1.15pm 2pm.  More information: Janet Parker 01773 743321 (group event)
  
• Ripley Nursery School – Visit to ‘After School Club’ – introduction to the library and services (ages 3-8)  More information: Janet Parker 01773 743321 (group event)
  
• Killamarsh Library – Storytime – stories and songs for Killamarsh Village Centre Pre-School.  10.30am – 11am.  More information: Jenny Downsborough 01246 414001  (group event)
  
• Bolsover Library – Cbeebies Story Circle.  Launch of story circle for under 5’s and their parent/carers.  Introduction of RaW and Quick Reads to family members.  10am - 11.30am.  More information: Cathy Petersen  01246 823179 (public event)
  
• Chesterfield Market Place - Sure Start/Healthy Living Centre Bus – promotion of RaW and library services on Market Stall and for under 5’s on the bus which provides services weekly in Chesterfield Town Centre.  More information: Sara Clayton 01246 209292 (public event)
  
• Bakewell Library  - Creating a Character Wall - two classes from Bakewell infants to visit the library during the day and create the wall using their favourite characters from books.  10am, 11am,1.30pm.  More information: Sophie Beardsmore/Heather Stewart  01629 582480 (group event)
  
• All libraries in Derbyshire Dales – cross District Writing Competition ‘Why Libraries are Important’.  Open to all ages.  More information: Anne O’Leary 01629 582480 (public event)
  
• Holmewood Library – Family Craft and Fun Night, 5.30pm – 6.30pm. More information: Nicola Rushton 01246 852228.
  
• Foston Hall Prison – Storybook Mums & Big Book Share activity all morning.  More information: Elaine Carter 01283 584300 (group event)
  
• Sudbury Prison – Storybook Dads – afternoon activities. More information: Elaine Carter 01283 584213 (group event)

Friday 3rd March

• Heanor Library –‘Bag a book on the Net’ – introducing users to book related websites. 4pm - 5pm.  More information: Julie Potton 01773 833199 (public event)
  
• Alfreton Library - ‘Bag a book on the Net’ – all day. Timed sessions introducing users to book related websites.  More information: Julie Potton 01773 833199 (public event)
  
• Melbourne Library – Storytime – introduction to Quick Reads for family members.  11am -11.30am.  More information: Kathleen Freeman/Ruth Jameson 01283 217701  (public event)

Saturday 4th March

• Buxton Library  -  ‘Creeping Toad’.  Family event with Gordon Maclellan telling stories and making books.  11am - 12.30pm.  More information: Angela Wilkinson 01298 25331  (public event)
  
• Glossop Library – ‘Creeping Toad’.  Family event with Gordon Maclellan telling stories and making books.  2pm - 3.30pm.  More information: Annabel Wilson 01457 852616  (public event)

Saturday 11th March 

• Ashbourne Library – Presentation of the Derbyshire Poetry Anthology to the winners of the District Poetry Competition by John Weir.  2pm.  More information: Trisha Hill 01629 582480  (public event)

“We’re keen to do business with you” – that’s the message from Derbyshire County Council to local firms and community enterprises.

The council is embarking on a drive to encourage more of them to bid for contracts to provide it with goods and services.

It follows a review into how the authority works with local businesses and voluntary and community sector organisations.

Research has found they can sometimes face more barriers in winning public sector contracts than larger organisations and have fewer resources to overcome them.

Derbyshire County Council spends around £300m a year buying goods and services from around 15,000 suppliers and is encouraged by the Government to make best use of its budgets with large contracts – an approach which tends to favour larger suppliers.  These companies are often based outside the area.

But the authority is also keen to use local businesses to boost the local economy and help regenerate communities.

It has now adopted a new policy and drawn up an action plan to tackle the issue and make its contracts more accessible to smaller firms and voluntary and community sector organisations, while retaining quality of service and value for money.

The county council’s cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Geoff Carlile said: “While our priority when awarding contracts will always be to get the best possible service and value for money, we recognise that using local suppliers is good for the Derbyshire economy.

“We’re therefore keen to help them compete on a level playing field, which is exactly what our action plan aims to address.

“We want to improve efficiency and value for money while taking every opportunity to work with local firms and voluntary and community sector organisations to boost sustainability.”

The range of measures in the action plan includes:

• Promoting and raising awareness of the Source Derbyshire website – www.sourcederbyshire.co.uk (opens in a new window) – which advertises the county council’s contracts
• Simplifying the way it buys goods and services
• Giving feedback when firms do not win a contract
• Building community benefit clauses into major contracts, such as employing local trainees or unemployed people
• Signing up to the Government’s small business good practice agreement.
  

These measures are aimed at increasing awareness of county council contracting opportunities, reducing bureaucracy and using the way it awards contracts to meet community and council aims.

The review was carried out by a county council improvement and scrutiny committee and involved speaking to various organisations including private sector companies, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Links CVS (Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire) and the Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce and Business Link.

Dave Wait, regional chairman for Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire FSB said:  “We‘re delighted to see that our recommendations have largely been taken on board as part of the county council’s review.  The council has taken the lead on this work and we look forward to seeing other authorities following their example when they see the benefits brought to small businesses and the local economy”. 

Carol Lawton, Links CVS director, said, “We were pleased to be consulted by Derbyshire County Council when it was drawing up its new procurement policy.  We’re running a contracts advice project with North Derbyshire Voluntary Action and other partners to improve understanding in the voluntary sector about contracts, and the county's new policy is an excellent, clear document which will take the work forward".

(REF: RS.65.06)

A mouth-watering menu is being put together to make Derbyshire’s premier food and drink event the best yet.

Derbyshire County Council is blending firm favourites with new ingredients to make the fifth annual Derbyshire Food and Drink Fair a recipe for success.

Producers are already signing up to take part in the event, which will be held in two large marquees at Bolsover Castle on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May from 10am-5pm on both days.

Crowd favourites returning to the mix include TV’s ‘Flying Cook’ Rachel Green and the Crafts @ the Castle section, which showcases the talents and products of Derbyshire craftspeople.

A new addition will be celebrity chef James Tanner who will give demonstrations and mingle with visitors.

Local chefs will host cooking tutorials over the two days, in addition to those by the celebrity chefs.

Derbyshire’s highest quality food and drink will be on sale and visitors can sample various produce including wine, beer, honey and chocolate.

It is expected there will be more than 100 stalls and exhibitions by county caterers, shops and producers. 

The popular fair – which last year attracted 22,000 visitors – also features children’s entertainment, a prize draw and a cooking competition for local catering students.

The county council’s cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Geoff Carlile said:  “The Food and Drink Fair continues to attract record crowds and is always highly anticipated.  It offers visitors a great day out and a chance to buy the excellent local produce available.

“Derbyshire boasts a reputation for having the finest meats, cheeses, pastries and beers and this annual event is the perfect platform for our superb food and drinks industry.

“It also demonstrates the county council’s support to local businesses, which make a major contribution to the county’s thriving tourism industry.”

This year there will be an entry fee of £2 which gives access to not only the fair but also to the castle grounds and the castle itself, where there is normally a £6 entry fee.

In addition there will be a continental market in Bolsover town centre all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Producers wishing to sign up for the Food and Drink Fair should contact Stephanie Walsh at the county council on 01629 585964.

(REF: RS.64.06)

A programme of activities for young people in the Chapel-en-le-Frith area has been set up by Derbyshire County Council.

The Chapel-en-le-Frith youth centre on the High Street is planning to run events on Friday nights and during the day on Saturdays to offer young people more activities.

On the first Friday night in each month a Showcase night will be held, where budding musicians get the opportunity to turn up and play live on stage to other young people.

On the third Friday night each month, starting on 17 February, there will be a karaoke night where young people can show off their vocal talents. They will also be able to try a ‘mocktail’, which is a non-alcoholic cocktail.

A rolling programme of activities is planned for Saturdays, alternating between dance, music and extreme sports events.

The dance days will give young people the opportunity to learn a range of dance skills and work towards putting on a show with the Retina Dance Company at Buxton Opera House on 19 March.

Music nights will see tutors help young people learn how to put on a band gig, including sound engineering, promoting it and setting up the equipment needed.

Extreme sports days will offer young people the opportunity to try a range of different activities.

The programme will start on Saturday 25 February and run until June. Details of which nights the different activities are on is available from the youth centre.

Councillor Bob Janes, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services, said: “This programme offers young people in the Chapel-en-le-Frith area the opportunity to attend a wide range of activities.

“As well as being fun these activities help young people to gain new skills and build their confidence.”

Anyone wanting more details about the activities can ring the centre on 01298 812705.

(JF.63.06) 

Pupils at a Derbyshire secondary school will be able to develop their construction skills thanks to Derbyshire County Council.

The authority has helped Hope Valley College secure a grant to create a new classroom at the school where students will be taught construction and construction-related skills.

The authority is also contributing toward the project with cash given to the council for meeting tough targets on a range of services.

The new covered workspace will be created out of an open courtyard at the centre of the school.

Building work on the £75,000 scheme at the Castleton Road school is due to start this month with completion expected by the end of March.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said the project was a major boost to the school’s vocational training.

“It’s vital that we help pupils get the skills they need,” said Coun Charles.

“The county council is working hard on developing the 14-19 curriculum to give more choice to students and we are pleased to be able to support this project.

“We want to help make sure employers have access to workers with the skills they need and that all pupils get the best education they can, including vocational training.

“It is vital we address the current skills shortage in the county and we are currently expanding our vocational academy to take more pupils. Schools are also playing their part by developing practical courses so that students can study them alongside more traditional GCSEs.

“This new covered workspace will help Hope Valley College do that for its students.”

A Rural Action Zone grant of £57,000 will pay for the majority of the work. Derbyshire County Council is contributing around £18,000.

(AJ.62.06)

Plans are being drawn up by Derbyshire County Council to rebuild Shirebrook Community School in a multi-million pound project to transform the quality of learning for pupils.

The ideas are at an early stage and will form part of the wider Smart Schools initiative – a 15-year programme to improve the quality of secondary school buildings in Derbyshire using Government funding.

Derbyshire County Council hopes to build a new school for 900 pupils on the current site in Common Lane and then demolish all the existing buildings.

Although plans are at an early stage it is estimated the school would cost around £17 million and be opened in 2009. 

The school would continue to have its specialist science college status but also look to develop as a base for vocational subjects, such as construction, engineering and motor vehicle studies. This would mean it could offer both GCSEs and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs).

The new school would have: 

• The latest ICT equipment to ensure pupils have easy access to learning materials
• Large classrooms, sport hall and school hall
• More science laboratories to develop its science specialism 
• A library and music room 

Derbyshire County Council is proposing the new school becomes an academy sponsored by All Roads, the authority’s road construction direct labour organisation. 

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “This is an exciting idea which would see a new school built to benefit not only pupils but the wider Shirebrook community.

“The existing building is not up to the standards we want to see in the 21st century. Schools in the future will become more than just a place of learning. They will be at the hub of their community.

“We are keen to talk to parents, pupils, staff, governors and people who live in Shirebrook about the general idea before we develop more detailed plans for the school or take any decisions.”

To become an academy the plans to rebuild Shirebrook Community School would need to be approved by the Government. A public consultation would be held during the summer before a decision was taken to build the new school.

If a school was built facilities like the sports hall, music and drama rooms would be available for community groups to use outside school hours.        

(JF.60.06)

Do you like caring for people? Then perhaps a career in social services could be for you.

Derbyshire County Council has backed a national campaign to recruit more people to the caring profession.

The council currently has around 60 vacancies in its social services department and jobs range from home carers and residential care assistants to social workers and service managers.

A range of qualities and qualifications are needed to fulfil these roles while Derbyshire County Council also offers training.

There are currently around 15,000 people working across Derbyshire to help older people, people with learning disabilities, children unable to live at home or families struggling to cope.

Councillor David Allen, the county council’s cabinet member for services for older people and vulnerable adults, said: “As we have such a huge department there will always be some staff turnover.

“However, we have decided to highlight the vacancies we do have as part of this national campaign to encourage more people to think about a career in social work and social care.

“It offers a rewarding career, either full or part-time vacancies and flexible hours. We also offer training and the chance to gain more qualifications to progress in to different roles.”

Derbyshire County Council works closely with other organisations to deliver a range of services including caring for people in their own homes and in residential homes.

The authority also offers support and respite care for people with learning disabilities and their families and foster care for young people. Care and support is also offered at day centres and residential homes across the county.

Details of the vacancies on offer are available on the county council’s website – jobs.derbyshire.gov.uk (opens in a new window) – or by ringing the call centre Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058.

The Government has launched a two-month campaign to highlight careers in social work and social care through national television and radio adverts. 

(REF:  CC.SM.61.06)                                                                                    

Finding something to do won’t be so hard for young people living in parts of the Amber Valley, thanks to a new mobile youth bus run by Derbyshire County Council.

The county council is working with local town and parish councils on the project to provide 13 to 19-year-olds in Heanor, Loscoe, Aldercar, Langley Mill and Codnor with new and interesting activities to try.

A fully-equipped youth bus will tour the streets, stopping where young people gather, enabling county council youth workers to engage with them in parks and other open spaces.

Equipped with sports equipment, floodlights, seating area and table, the bus offers young people the chance to try something new as well as allow the youth service to work one-to-one with teenagers.

The new bus is costing £29,000 and will be funded by a partnership between the county council, Heanor and Loscoe Town Council, Aldercar and Langley Mill Parish Council, Codnor Parish Council and the Amber Valley Community Safety Partnership.

The county council is providing the staffing and will run the project four to five nights a week, including during some of the school holidays. A similar bus is already being used successfully in the Erewash area.

Councillor Bob Janes, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services, said the facility could be up and running by Easter.

“This is a great opportunity for young people in these areas to enjoy new and interesting activities they wouldn’t previously have had access to,” he said.

“It’s a very imaginative partnership which shows how the commitment of the local community working with the police and the county council has helped provide a positive opportunity for young people.

“The minibus is smaller than our other mobile information and activity units so can get into more places. It will enable our youth workers to engage with young people in the area, enhancing our youth service provision and allowing us to take our work out to them.”

As well as a portable sound system, the bus will have laptop computers and outdoor sports equipment provided by Derbyshire Police.

Heanor and Loscoe Town Council and Aldercar and Langley Mill Parish Council are each paying £10,000 toward the cost of the bus. A further £5,000 is coming from Codnor Parish Council with £4,000 from the Amber Valley Community Safety Partnership. Derbyshire Police are paying £3,700 for equipment.

As well as the two youth buses, Derbyshire County Council already operates six mobile information units, a mobile climbing wall, skate and ride vehicle, creative arts unit and adventure vehicle which offers young people the opportunity to carry out exciting sport and teambuilding exercises.

(AJ.59.06)
           

Average waiting times for access to drug treatment services in Derbyshire are now at their lowest ever level.

Around 1,800 Derbyshire residents with a drug addiction are currently receiving treatment funded by the Derbyshire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) – a partnership of agencies, including Derbyshire County Council, responsible for tackling drug misuse.

Compared to figures from October to December 2004, average waiting times for treatment have been reduced in most cases from:

• 8.5 weeks to less than three weeks to receive prescribed drugs from a specialist
• one week to less than a week for social and developmental support sessions 
• six weeks to two weeks for counselling.
  

These figures are all either in line with or below national targets.

Derbyshire has six main treatment centres in Chesterfield, Ripley, Ilkeston, Matlock, Swadlincote and Belper with several more clinics across the county.

Councillor Joyce Sanders, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for community safety services, said: “The fact that people are now having to wait less time to receive treatment for their drug misuse services is a promising step in the right direction. 

“But we are still striving to reduce waiting times further to make sure those who need it have access to those services when and where they need them.”

A national award scheme has been launched by the Home Office to recognise the work of public and private sector workers who have taken positive action to tackle drugs issues in the community.

Members of the public can nominate a team or an individual who has made a difference. This could be a police, probation or prison officer, social worker, drug treatment worker, housing officer, youth worker or any other person who has addressed issues of drug misuse in their line of work.

This could mean anything from supporting families and friends of drug misusers to helping to reduce drug-related crime, working in a rehabilitation facility or educating young people about the danger of drugs.

Winners of the two Government awards will receive £10,000 to spend on projects to tackle drugs in their area.

To nominate someone or a team for an award or for more information visit the Tackling Drugs Changing Lives website at www.drugs.gov.uk/awards2006 (opens in a new window)

The closing date for nominations is 31 March 2006.

(REF:JM.58.06)

An interactive conference which will showcase creative subjects and careers for gifted and talented pupils is being organised by Derbyshire County Council.

The unusual concept is believed to be the first of its kind in Britain and has been part funded by the Department for Skills and Education with a view to rolling it out to other parts of the country if it proves successful.

More than 300 gifted and talented year 9 pupils and 100 teachers from schools in the north of Derbyshire will attend the Talent Matters event at Shirebrook Community School on Thursday 16 February.

The day is designed to make gifted and talented pupils and their teachers aware of the many careers in creative industries, such as the arts, music, media, fashion and design. 

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “Despite 3.5 million people working in these industries many talented pupils are currently discouraged from entering these jobs and guided towards more traditional careers for high achievers, such as accountancy or law.   

“The day will be very different from a normal school conference because much of the time is set aside for pupils and teachers to try some of the creative activities. They can also talk to people in those jobs and ask their advice about what to do to get a good career in a creative industry. 

“Year nine pupils were picked so they could find out about these different career options before they chose the GCSE courses they want to study in years 10 and 11.”

During the day events will include a: 

• Fashion show by students from Chesterfield College and West Notts College 
• Workshops by television company ITV and E M Media – an organisation that supports film, TV and interactive games projects in the East Midlands
• Sculpture demonstration
• Performance by rock group Not The Musak made up of Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School pupils
• Performance by string players Mitsy Jones and Thomas Wilkes from Highfields School in Matlock
• Performance by Newbold Community School’s drama club
• Talk by former Derbyshire student Emily Dodds, who is now at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London
  

The day will also include a talk by author Bette Gray-Fow, who has written influential books about discovering and developing creative talents in schools.

(REF: JF.57.06)

Sales of alcohol to children during a county-wide clamp down by Derbyshire County Council are lower than the national average according to Government figures.

Spot checks were carried out nationally as part of the high-profile multi-agency Alcohol Misuse Enforcement Campaign run by the Home Office.

In the run up to Christmas 2005, young volunteers working with Derbyshire County Council’s trading standards service made 58 attempts to buy alcohol in off-licences and supermarkets across the county.

A total of seven sales were made (12 per cent) compared to 26 out of 74 attempts (35 per cent) in summer 2004 when the campaign was launched – a reduction of 23 per cent.

Latest figures show that the national average for sales in the latest round of checks was 18 per cent – six per cent higher than in Derbyshire.

Derbyshire police teamed up with trading standards officers carrying out spot checks for the campaign and issued fixed penalty notices to people caught selling alcohol to children.

The national campaign runs alongside the county council’s own campaign called Are You Old Enough? which aims to reduce sales of products such as alcohol, cigarettes and solvents to children.

Councillor Joyce Sanders, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for community safety services, said: “Latest figures show that sales of alcohol to children have fallen nationally which is great news. 

“I’m particularly pleased that we’re bucking the national trend in Derbyshire and that’s due in part to the success of our campaign and the vigilance of local traders. But we recognise there’s still work to do and we will continue to work with local traders and take action where we find the law is being broken.”

(REF:JM.56.06)

A council tax increase of 4.5% - among the lowest of any county in the country – has been agreed by Derbyshire County Council.

It means a 62p a week increase – the cost of two first class stamps - for the average Derbyshire household.

In its latest spending round, the Government agreed a £4.5 million (3.6%) budget increase – well short of the £16 million the council needs to standstill. Inflation accounts for £12 million while increases in waste disposal taxes and greater demands on services makes up the rest. 

But, to protect and improve service services, the council is using Gershon efficiency savings valued at £6 million. And the cash raised from this year’s rise in council tax tops up our budget by a further £10.3 million.

“This is a tight year,” says Council Leader John Williams. “But it’s not all bad news. We expect to be able to invest almost £5 million to meet new demands on and improve our services.”

He added: “It means we will have to watch every bit of spending, look for new ways to tighten our belts and become even more efficient.”

The new budget will allow the council to meet the extra cost of:

• pay and price increases - £12 million
• waste disposal taxes - £900,000
• debt charges for our capital programmes including school and road improvements - £2.8 million
• pensions and insurance - £930,000.
  

It also provides more cash for:

• improvements to fostering and disabled children’s services  
• increased demand on services for people with learning disabilities
• extra books in libraries to meet national standards and additions to the housebound service
• meals on wheels funding shortfalls. 

“We’ve done the best with what we’ve got,” added Councillor Williams. “The Audit Commission confirms we give good value for money and this budget reflects that.

“Thanks to a lot of good housekeeping, we’ve managed to keep council tax increases low for the last four years and improve life for local people too.”    

Final spending figures for the county council are set at £371.8 million. Schools - now funded separately - will get a 6.4% increase in funding per pupil. 

New council taxes levels are set at:

(Ref: JT.54.06)

Move over Jamie Oliver.

Students at Parkside Community School in Chesterfield are being served up some tasty dishes after Derbyshire County Council built a new dining hall and kitchen.

It includes state-of-the-art equipment, such as a cashless system that prevents the need for pupils to bring in dinner money each day.

The £871,500 multi-purpose dining hall will also help the school, in Boythorpe Avenue, meet the Government’s new food standards.

Even before Jamie Oliver’s high-profile campaign to improve the quality of school dinners Derbyshire County Council’s school catering service was serving up nutritious meals for pupils. 

Options on the menu for pupils include pasta, roast dinners, baked potatoes, salad and quiche. Chips are only served once a week. Fruit juices, flavoured water and milk shakes have replaced fizzy drinks, crisps and chocolate on the menu.

Councillor Walter Burrows, chair of Derbyshire County Council, and Councillor Alan Charles, cabinet member for school planning and support, officially opened the new dining area, which is used by 500 pupils each day.

Councillor Charles said: “The new dining hall and kitchen will help transform the quality of meals being served to pupils. It provides cooks with a better equipped area to prepare meals, while the dining hall offers a better quality eating environment for students with wonderful views over Chesterfield.

“As the Jamie Oliver programme showed pupils who have a healthy, balanced diet behave better and are more receptive to learning.”

Serving up a tasty meal…Councillor Alan Charles, cabinet member for school planning and support, and Councillor Walter Burrows, chair of Derbyshire County Council, try out food in the dining hall at Parkside Community School with pupils Lauren Moseley, 15, Matt Thompson and Laura Robertson, both 11.

(REF: JF.55.06)           

A collection of animal themed pottery dating back to the 20th century has gone on tour in Derbyshire libraries.

Currently on display at Derbyshire County Council’s Bolsover Library, the exhibition of contemporary studio pottery is part of the renowned Ballantyne collection.

The nationally-recognised ceramics have been touring Derbyshire thanks to a £50,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant awarded to the authority.

This is the third exhibition, following ‘The Leach Tradition’ and ‘Time for Tea’, and is called ‘Animal Ark’ and as the name suggests is a set of pottery all with associations to animals. The collection includes pots by the Sudanese potter Siddig el Nigoumi, Jeremy James, Ian Godfrey and Henry Hammond.

Formed by Rollo and Marion Ballantyne, the Ballantyne collection is kept at Nottingham Castle Museum, but thanks to Heritage Lottery and Severn Trust grants, the authority is able to tour selections of pottery to five libraries in the county - Alfreton, Bolsover, Glossop, Long Eaton and Melbourne.

Families can enjoy story time with professional story teller Graham Langley and activities with potter Wendy Jackson at each participating library during the tour of the collection.  People should ask in their local library to find out the dates.

Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services Councillor Bob Janes said: ”Extraordinary ceramics from this collection have been touring the county’s libraries during the year and have created a lot of interest.

“Derbyshire is a county well known for its ceramics industry so this is important opportunity for local people to learn more about their heritage.”

There is still time to catch the second Ballantyne exhibition, Time for Tea, as it ends its tour at Pickford’s House, Derby and Nottingham Castle Museum.

Animal Ark will be at Bolsover Library, in Church Street, until Friday 7 April before moving to Glossop and Long Eaton libraries.

For more information please contact Ros Westwood at Buxton Museum and Art Gallery on 01298 24658 or email ros.westwood@derbyshire.gov.uk

(Ref: SS.53.06)

A further 15 schools have received awards from Derbyshire County Council to recognise the anti-bullying measures they have introduced. 

Across Derbyshire 291 schools, family centres and support centres are now signed up to the Anti-Bullying Commitment (ABC) Quality Assurance Scheme. 

Schools in the scheme qualify for either initial, intermediate or excellence awards depending on the amount of anti-bullying initiatives they have introduced. 

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “These awards are an opportunity to recognise good practice, share ideas and look at ways of preventing and dealing with bullying issues. 

“Different schools have different initiatives but they all receive an information pack from Derbyshire County Council to act as a blueprint for developing measures to tackle bullying.”

The latest schools received their awards from Councillor Alan Charles during a ceremony at the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton.

They were: 

Excellence awards 

• Furness Vale Primary School
• Hill Top Infant School, Ashbourne

Intermediate awards

• Longford Church of England Primary School, Ashbourne
• Taddington and Priestcliffe Church of England Primary School, Buxton
• Fairfield Endowed Junior School, Fairfield, Buxton 
• South Darley Church of England Primary School, Darley Bridge, Matlock

Initial awards 

• New Mills Primary School
• Brailsford Church of England Primary School, Brailsford, near Ashbourne 
• Peak Dale Primary School, Peak Dale, near Buxton
• Combs Infant School, Combs, High Peak
• Fairfield Infants and Nursery School, Buxton     
• Buxton Infant School
• St Oswald’s Church of England Infant School, Ashbourne 
• New Mills School and Sixth Form
• Chinley Primary School 

Working to prevent bullying…Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, presents an ABC excellence award to Hill Top Infant School pupils (l-r) Amy Hill, Alice Maskery, both six, Jack Hollands, seven, and Connor Shelley, six.

(REF: JF.52.06)

Derbyshire’s first vocational academy has been officially opened in Alfreton.

The academy, in the Genesis Centre on King Street, is a major part of Derbyshire County Council’s plans to transform the way education and training opportunities are provided for 14 to 19-year-olds.

More than 170 young people have enrolled on courses in beauty therapy, construction, motor vehicle studies and engineering that lead to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and on to accelerated apprenticeship programmes once they are 16.

Students spend two half days a week working at the academy and the rest of the week at school doing GCSE lessons.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “The academy totally transforms the way that pupils aged 14 to 19 can learn.

“It means we can offer young people the opportunity to sample careers in industries where there is a skills shortage while they are still at school.

“Vocational qualifications will become increasingly important and provide an excellent opportunity to give young people the skills they need to get good careers.”

The £407,000 academy, which opened to students in October, has now been officially opened by Councillor Walter Burrows, chair of Derbyshire County Council. It has already proved a success and plans were recently approved to spend a further £170,000 expanding the centre to take even more students. 

Derbyshire County Council is spending £332,000 and the Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership contributing £245,000 to the costs of the two phases.

The academy currently has pupils from: 

• Mortimer Wilson School in Alfreton
• Frederick Gent School in South Normanton 
• Swanwick Hall School
• Tupton Hall School in Old Tupton
• Tibshelf School
• Alfreton Park Community Special School in Alfreton
• Quarrydale School in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire 

From September pupils at Matthew Holland School in Selston will also attend the academy.

The course tutors come from the Derby Academy of Hair and Beauty; EMTEC the apprentice learning division of Carter and Carter Group plc; Training Services 2000; Chesterfield College and South East Derbyshire College.  

   
The academy is managed by a partnership made up of all the schools, colleges and training providers plus Derbyshire County Council; the Derbyshire Education Business Partnership; Derbyshire Learning and Skills Council; Alfreton Further Education Centre; Connexions and the Derbyshire Network.  

Under the bonnet…James Duff, 14, of Frederick Gent School, shows Councillor Walter Burrows, chair of Derbyshire County Council (left) and Councillor Alan Charles, cabinet member for school planning and support, some of the motor vehicle skills he is learning at the Alfreton Vocational Academy.

(REF: JF.51.06)

Education secretary Ruth Kelly has met with members of Derbyshire County Council to hear their concerns about school reforms.

A delegation of Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, Councillor Dave Wilcox, cabinet member for external affairs, and acting chief education officer David Shaw travelled to London for the meeting.

The group was joined by several Derbyshire MPs for a lengthy and in-depth discussion into all aspects of the Government’s White Paper – called Higher Standards, Better Education for All.

The main concerns raised by the delegation were the plans to: 

• Set up independent trust schools 
• Remove the role of local education authorities to oversee school admissions across a county
• Remove the right of education authorities to open new community schools
  

They also expressed concern that the White Paper doesn’t include proposals to make it compulsory for schools to comply with the Every Child Matters agenda. This is a Government initiative to ensure every child has the support they need to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well-being.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “We welcomed the opportunity to put our views directly to Ruth Kelly because this is an issue that is extremely important to the children, parents and teachers of Derbyshire. 

“While we had a long, open and honest discussion we are not convinced by the Government’s arguments in those key areas of concern.

“We did not hear any evidence that trust school status will improve a school’s performance. The key to improvement is extremely complex. It involves inspirational headteacher leadership, excellent teachers and support staff, committed school governors, supportive parents along with strong relationships with other local schools, colleges and the local authority, all of whom are interdependent on each other. Simply changing a school’s structural status does not achieve any of this.

“Ruth Kelly did agree to meet a group of Derbyshire headteachers later this month to discuss their concerns about the White Paper.”

During the meeting the Secretary of State explained that the proposal contained in the White Paper to introduce new powers for parents to demand a new school is opened was suggested to tackle an issue in London. Some parents believe local education authorities in the London area are not opening enough schools.

The Government is expected to shortly announce whether it is planning any changes to the original White Paper in light of concerns raised by MPs, local education authorities and teachers.

(REF: JF.50.06)

Teenagers from a Derbyshire village mounted an exhibition of their own art work just months after joining a county-council run youth project designed to cut down on anti-social behaviour.

Using village life as their inspiration, young people from Findern, near Derby, took up their brushes and paints for the exhibition being mounted in the local parish rooms.

The artworks received the official seal of approval when Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services, Councillor Bob Janes, visited the exhibition’s opening night on Friday, January 27.

Councillor Janes is full of praise for the young people who only started taking part in the rural arts project with Derbyshire County Council’s youth service in October.

“It’s proving to be a fantastic success,” he said.

“The young people have come up with the ideas themselves and are really enjoying what they are doing.

“There’d been a lot of complaints about anti-social behaviour in the area before but this has really helped give the local young people something to do.”

The community arts project was launched by the county council’s youth service after the Findern Crime Reduction Group asked if there was anything that could be done to help local young people find something to do in the area.

Youth workers held a consultation evening to talk to teenagers who came up with a lot of different ideas before settling on an art club which now meets every Wednesday evening at the Findern Parish Rooms, Lower Green, from 6.30pm-8.30pm.

Up to 27 young people are now taking part in the club with a regular core membership of about 18.

“It’s really helped change the whole atmosphere,” explained Councillor Janes. “There’s much less of a feeling of us and them in the village and barriers are really starting to break down.”

Members of the group, who are aged 12 to 19, have also taken part in other activities including an accredited climbing course for which they received their certificates at the opening of the exhibition.

They have also carried out a number of fundraising initiatives, including making gift bags and Christmas decorations and holding a karaoke party.

So successful is the art project proving, the group recently received a £450 grant to undertake a much larger community art project – to decorate the A50 underpass during half-term. 

Work on the underpass, which goes through the village, will be carried out by a group of 10 budding artists with the help of the youth service’s creative arts team who have also worked with the teenagers on the art for the new exhibition.      

All artwork produced by the young people will be on display from January 27, featuring what matters most to the young people taking part in the project. Subjects include cars, friends, mobile phones and music.

One of the works is a group effort and depicts, in an abstract style, a map of the village featuring places where young people hang out.

HANDS ON: Young artists show off their work. From left, Charlotte Binns and Josh Beardsall, both 14, Terri Baker and Scott Reid, both 15, and Councillor Bob Janes, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services.

Shoppers at the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet picked up free consumer advice as well as a bargain when the Consumer Direct roadshow pitched up at the site.

Trading standards officers from Derbyshire County Council joined the Consumer Direct team to give advice on issues such as dealing with faulty goods and how to stop unwanted phone calls from sales companies.

Consumer Direct is the regional consumer advice service which now handles calls from the general public.
By calling the Consumer Direct number on 08454 04 05 06 (charged at the local rate), residents can talk to an expert about any consumer issues they may have.

This allows trading standards to focus on giving more detailed help and support to consumers and concentrate on key priorities such as clamping down on fraud, rogue traders and counterfeiting.

Consumer direct can also be contacted on-line by logging-on to www.consumerdirect.gov.uk (opens in a new window)

Sound advice: Shopper Lillian Jarvis from Chesterfield, left, gets some helpful consumer advice from, Consumer Direct’s Alison Hall, centre, and Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for community safety services Joyce Sanders.

People suffering from mild depression, anxiety or panic attacks are being offered a new kind of prescription thanks to Derbyshire County Council and the local NHS.

An innovative ‘books on prescription’ scheme is being launched at libraries throughout the county.

The authority’s library service is working in partnership with local primary care trusts to provide self-help books, recommended by health professionals, to help people deal with a range of common psychological problems.

Following the success of the pilot scheme in the High Peak and Dales region, the service is being extended to a further 17 Derbyshire County Council libraries.

The aim of the scheme is to provide people with the opportunity to help themselves without resorting to medication. Not everyone who suffers from psychological problems requires medication and by prescribing self help books, GPs and other health professionals are able to provide an effective alternative.

The books use evidence based techniques to help understand and learn to manage commonly experienced mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, phobias, anger and mood swings.

Multiple copies of recommended books on the list have been bought so that they can be issued for longer than the normal library loan period and so that copies are also available for people who haven’t got a prescription.

Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services Councillor Bob Janes said: “We are delighted with the success of this scheme so far and hope to help many more people now that we are extending it to other libraries throughout the county.

“Often people suffering from mental health problems can feel very isolated and these books not only offer ways to manage the problems but also reassure people that they are not alone.

“Many people who have visited the library for the first time with their prescription have been surprised by the range other services now available such as free internet access and DVD and CD loan.”

For more information on the prescription service call Carol Campbell-Hayes on 01629 585135 or email carol.campbell-hayes@derbyshire.gov.uk

(Ref: SS.49.06)

Prizes worth £50 each are up for grabs for anyone who simply shares their views on mobile libraries with Derbyshire County Council.

The authority aims to deliver the best possible library service to residents no matter where they live and is asking for their views on what could make it better.

People from all over the county are invited to join an online forum to discuss whether or not they use a mobile library and what would encourage them to use one more often.

Anyone who joins in the online discussion will have the chance to be entered into a draw for one of five prizes of £50 worth of book tokens. 

Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for cultural and community services Councillor Bob Janes said: “Mobile libraries are a vital link to local communities, giving them access to a whole range of library and information services.

“We want to hear what people think of the service we offer and how we could improve it so that even more residents may use it. Just phone the freephone number, log on and give us your views and you might even win a prize”.

Derbyshire County Council’s mobile library service:

• runs 13 vehicles;
• makes 1,700 stops in 400 places around the county;
• accounts for almost one in every five books loaned out by the county library service; 
• can spend from 10 minutes to over an hour at stops – depending on what is needed.

Many customers live in isolated places where a visit by the mobile library is often the only way they can easily borrow books, and access other information services. The three biggest vehicles visit larger locations, sometimes on a weekly basis. They spend at least half a day offering a more extensive range of services.

To take part in the online discussion call FREEPHONE 0800 161 3157 for a password and details of how to log on to the website. The discussion will take place between Wednesday 1 February and Tuesday 28 February.

(Ref: SS.48.06)

An open day was held to coincide with the official opening of Derbyshire County Council’s Alfreton adult community education centre.

The centre, in King Street opposite the leisure centre, cost £300,000 and provides learners with 21st century facilities.

Councillor Walter Burrows, chair of Derbyshire County Council, and Councillor Bob Janes, cabinet member for cultural and community services, officially opened the building.

The centre has: 

• Teaching rooms, including adult basic skills facilities 
• Two computer suites
• Arts and crafts studios and a cookery room
• Multi-purpose hall
• Disabled access to all floors
  

More than 2,400 students enrolled on 200 classes moved into the centre on 31 October last year. Before then courses had been run at Alfreton Hall.

The grade two-listed hall needed £600,000 of building improvement work, had inadequate office and storage space and didn’t provide full disabled access.

Councillor Janes said: “The facilities in the new centre are a world away from the conditions that faced students at Alfreton Hall.

“We are investing heavily in improving the quality of adult community education centres across the county so we can offer the widest range of courses to meet the needs of learners.”

Details about the range of courses available at the Alfreton adult community education centre can be obtained by visiting the centre, ringing Call Derbyshire on 08 456 058 058 or visiting the website at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/adulteducation (opens in a new window) 

Stitch in time…Textiles student June Haywood, from Alfreton, shows Councillor Bob Janes, cabinet member for cultural and community services, and Councillor Walter Burrows, chair of Derbyshire County Council, (right) some of her work.
           

(REF: JF.47.06)

The go-ahead has been given to build a £4.15 million primary school for pupils in Clay Cross and Danesmoor.

Derbyshire County Council has been given permission to build the school from the Schools Organisation Committee, a group made up of representatives from Derbyshire County Council, schools, the Church of England Diocese and the Roman Catholic Diocese.

The plans were referred to the committee after an objection was made to the authority’s proposals during a formal public consultation. 

The unanimous decision will mean Clay Cross Infant School, Clay Cross Junior School and Danesmoor Infant School closing in August 2007.

They will be replaced by a £4.15 million single site school on land off Pilsley Road, which will open in September 2007.

The new school will see pupils benefit from: 

• Bigger classrooms and a large school hall
• Fully integrated computer workstations throughout the building
• A school library
• A spacious playing field, playground and environmental areas
  

The committee also approved plans to expand the catchment area of Holmgate Primary School to include homes west of the A61 that are currently part of the Clay Cross Infant and Junior catchment areas. 

Councillor Alan Charles, cabinet member for school planning and support, said: “Getting the proposals to this stage has been a lengthy and complex process but I am delighted that all pupils in Clay Cross will soon be able to learn in a state-of-the-art school.

“Throughout this process we have listened to the views of people in Clay Cross and Danesmoor and tried to adapt our plans to meet their needs.

“One of the key changes was moving the location of the school to Pilsley Road from the original suggestion of Flaxpiece Road.”

Derbyshire County Council aims to gain planning permission by July at the latest. Building work should start in August and be completed by August 2007.

The school is needed because pupils at all three existing schools are working in old and cramped buildings. All three schools also have surplus places, which will be removed once the new school is built.
       
The new school will also: 

• Remove the need for children to change schools between infant and junior phases
• Allow pupils to interact with a wider age range of children
• Allow staff to develop more specialist subject skills 

A children’s centre has recently opened in Flaxpiece Road, run by Clown’s Nursery. It is open from 8am to 6pm for children aged three months to five years old. Over time it will offer: 

• Nursery and learning education
• Childcare 
• Family support services, such as family mediation and parenting skills
• Health services
• Employment and training advice for parents
  

The owners of Clown’s Nursery have agreed to work closely with the new school once it is built.

Councillor Charles said: “Between the new school and the children’s centre families in Clay Cross will be able to access some of the best integrated education and childcare services in Derbyshire.”

(REF: JF.46.06)