February 2012

18 South Derbyshire Sports Clubs and Communities Groups received funding from the Sports Action Grant Scheme

Submitted by Heather on 22 February 2012 - 7:10pm

I welcome the news that 18 local sports clubs and communities groups have received funding to help them promote healthy and active lifestyles in the first round of Derbyshire County Council’s new £180,000 Sports Action Grant scheme. Across the county 83 groups received funding, with 18 being directly here in South Derbyshire.

Grants ranged from £300 to £1,000 and were awarded for projects including building refurbishment, improvements to pitches and training areas, new equipment, coaching courses and website development.
 
Below is a list of the 18 local groups which received funding:
 
1.      Hatton Sports Football Club - £1,000 
Funding for equipment, training courses and CRB checks for volunteer helpers to allow the group to offer football activities to all age groups.
2.      Hatton Sports and Social Club - £1,000 
The club will spend its grant on advertising, promotion, new equipment and activities for open days where people can use all the sport facilities on offer.
3.      Staunton Harold Sailing Club - £1,000 
To improve and add to slipways and jetties to enable members to have better and safe launching facilities. Some events have had to be cancelled due to low water levels preventing access - the grant would prevent this.
4.      South Derbyshire Cycling Development Group - £750
The grant will be used to develop a range of cycling sessions including safeguarding and first aid workshops and coaching sessions. The grant will also go towards CRB checks and promotional costs.
5.      Melbourne Town Cricket Club - £505 
To run weekly cricket coaching sessions to introduce members to the sport and improve skills. Also request part-funding towards the hire of the school, promotion, various items of equipment and Level 3 coaches' fees for six weeks.
6.      Saturday Night Project, South Derbyshire - £500
To hold South Derbyshire inter-village games. The grant would provide promotional materials, hire of equipment, casual staff and medals to enable organisations to celebrate the Olympics.
7.      Y.O.H Group, Hatton - £975 
The Youth of Hatton group will use the grant to provide community sports, bike maintenance and climbing wall sessions and delivers Community Sports Leaders Awards.
8.      Etwall Cricket Club - £520
To develop and increase the number of qualified cricket coaches by placing identified volunteers on courses. The grant will fund three cricket coaching courses and various items of equipment to aid the coaches.
9.      Shardlow St James Football Club - £450
The club plans to develop the junior section, recruit players and volunteers and work towards chartered standard. The grant will fund volunteer courses, Sport Football Level 1 and Level 2 courses, social media course and footballs, cones and bibs.
10. Hilton Girls Football Club - £300
For the newly-formed club to develop and attract more members. It requires new training equipment, playing kit, Level 2 coaching courses and ongoing facility hire costs.
11. Netherseal St Peter's Bowls Club - £690
To host a one day coaching event, buy six sets of bowls, a full day's coaching for 20 people and to allow two members to gain a coaching qualification.
12. Lullington Park Cricket Club - £1,000
To develop the skills of children to play cricket at junior level then progress to senior level. The club currently runs twice-weekly training sessions attended by around 90 children and requires a wide range of new training equipment.
13. Aston-on-Trent Cricket Club - £960 
The club aims to run cricket taster sessions for children and parents and will use the grant to buy cricket and coaching equipment, six coaching sessions, advertising and an award ceremony.
14. Newhall Football Club - £994 
To buy extra equipment and hold more training sessions to increase the membership of the club and offer more local children the opportunity to be coached within a chartered standard club.
15. Newton Football Club - £995
The club was established last July and has 25 adult members. It now wants to a youth side and a range of junior football teams to come under the Newton Football Club umbrella. Funding will pay for equipment and three Level 2 coaches for Saturday morning coaching sessions.
16. Hilton Harriers Football Club - £425
The club has 17 coaches who need to retake their First Aid qualification before the start of 2012/13 season.
17. Swadlincote Sub-Aqua Club - £612 
To promote family and youth involvement by running two snorkel diver training courses for local youth groups and family taster dives in local swimming pools. Funding will also go towards British Sub-Aqua Club training courses, snorkel instructor training courses and basic youth equipment.
18. South Derbyshire Sport - £1,000
Fifteen new sports leaders will be trained to Community Sports Leadership Award Level 2 and also gain their emergency First Aid qualifications to complete their leadership award.
 
I am really pleased that so many of our local groups have received a part of the £67,530 fund currently allocated. These funds will certainly go to improving our local sports facilities which I think is paramount given that we are now in the year of the Olympics.
 
I would also like to encourage local sports coaches who coach 16+ age groups to apply for a bursary from the Derbyshire Sport Coach Bursary Fund in the second of the fund’s themed rounds.
 
The Derbyshire Sport Coach Bursary Fund offers grants to coaches to help them gain qualifications and knowledge in the sports they coach, and eligible coaches can now apply for up to 65 per cent of the cost of their course, up to a maximum of £300, through the ‘Plus 16’ themed round.
The deadline to apply is on the 31st of March 2012. If you would like more information, please visit the website below http://www.derbyshiresport.co.uk/coaching_derbyshire/bursary (opens in a new window)

 

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I invited the Minister for the Cabinet Office to South Derbyshire to discuss Government procurement contracts with local businesses

Submitted by Heather on 14 February 2012 - 5:45pm

During Cabinet Office questions on the 8th of February I asked the Rt. Hon. Francis Maude MP, if he would like to come to South Derbyshire to hold a question and answer session for local businesses to help them to apply for Government contracts.

My question to the Minister came in response to a concern raised by a constituent, who highlighted that in order for the Government to reach its newly set target of awarding 25% of government contracts to small and medium sized (SME) businesses, local businesses would need much greater guidance.

 
The Minister told me that he would be ‘delighted’ to meet South Derbyshire constituents, but that he would urge them to look at the Contract Finders website on http://www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/ where for the first time government and public sector contracts are available for scrutiny.
 
The Rt. Hon. Francis Maude MP said that:
 
“If they find procurements still being done in the old fashioned way inherited from the Labour Government then they should phone the helpline (0845 600 9006) and they will get on the case and put improvements in place.”
 
I welcome the Minister’s comments. It is so important the SME’s are given every opportunity to break though existing barriers to be awarded Government contracts. SME’s really are the driving force behind this country’s economic recovery and I the Government must do all that it can to open up business to them. I would encourage those interested in winning a Government contact to visit the Contract Finders website.
 
 
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House of Commons Metal Theft Debate

Submitted by Heather on 14 February 2012 - 4:58pm

On the 7th of February, I spoke in the House of Commons about the problem of metal theft in South Derbyshire. The debate was held in response to the Home Secretary’s decision to amend the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill, to make it illegal to use cash to pay for scrap metal.

 
I told the House that the issue in South Derbyshire was really beyond the pale. Since October alone there have been more than 800 thefts in Derbyshire and 63 arrests including arrests following thefts in Simsby and Melbourne.
 
I also told my fellow MPs that I think it is really important that the Government develops a robust licensing process, but that it is vital that that good professional firms are not penalised by more red tape and more cost.
 
You can see my full speech at the following link http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=9990&st=19:50:37, starting at the 05:41 mark.
 
No one wants well run traders being buried with red tape and extra cost, but when youngsters can walk into dealers with carrier bags of copper wire and are given cash for it - no questions asked - this is a big problem. Those few pounds can actually mean thousands of pounds of chaos and lost business to firms whose telephone systems have been affected. There has to be a responsible payment system, with real traceability. That is the only way this scourge will be eliminated.
 
The Government will be amending the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill and will look at further measures following talks with Trade Associations and interested groups.
 
I really welcome the Government’s decision to take a tough stance on this crime. In South Derbyshire we know, along with the Derbyshire Constabulary, that this is not a victimless crime and one that we need to tackle.
 
 
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My Visit to meet an Award Winning Apprentice

Submitted by Heather on 13 February 2012 - 2:15pm
Pictured from Left to Right: Sue Sharratt (Assessor), Heather Wheeler MP, Robert Taylor (Apprentice) and Heidi Taylor (Owner)

I learnt first-hand about what it is like for young apprentices at work and College when I visited trainee chef Robert Taylor at the Melbourne restaurant where he works.

 
I talked to Robert (18) and his mum Heidi Taylor who part-owns Harpurs restaurant in Derby Road, Melbourne, and then sampled some of his cooking. The visit was organised at the end of National Apprenticeship Week – celebrating the success of young people and their employers under the scheme.
 
It was the second time in a week that Robert went under the spotlight having just won Derby College’s annual apprenticeship cook off at The Roundhouse when ten apprentices from local restaurants spent two hours creating a two-course menu which was then judged by top chefs from city and county restaurants.
 
Robert said: “I was still buzzing from winning the competition and then it was great to have the chance to cook for Mrs Wheeler and talk to her about my apprenticeship.
 
“It’s the best of both worlds for me – being able to learn the classics from the chefs at Derby College on my day off as well as working in the kitchen at Harpurs and gaining practical experience.
 
“My hero is Sat Bains who was also a student at Derby College and I really hope to emulate his creativity and innovation some day in a Michelin star restaurant.”
 
Harpurs owner Heidi Taylor, who started her own catering career in the Houses of Parliament more than 20 years ago, said: “It was great for us to be able to talk to Mrs Wheeler about the benefits to our own business of having an apprentice and the support that Derby College gives us.
 
“It was also really interesting to reminisce about my days working in the House of Commons dining room and then the House of Lords kitchen all those years ago and find out from Mrs Wheeler whether things have changed over the years.”
 
National Apprenticeship Week is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the achievements of young people and to highlight the positive contribution that they are making to businesses.
 
The fact that apprentices such as Robert are also able to attend College on day release to really hone their skills is particularly positive.
 
For young people in South Derbyshire, Derby College at The Roundhouse is particularly accessible with the train links to villages such as Willington bringing training and further education within easy reach.
 
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I met with JTL and WT Parker to learn more about apprenticeship schemes in South Derbyshire

Submitted by Heather on 9 February 2012 - 5:46pm
Pictured: WT Parker’s representative, Peter Elver, and JTL’s CEO, Denis Hird and Heather Wheeler MP

Yesterday I was delighted to meet, as part of National Apprenticeship Week, apprentices from JTL the main work based learning provider of Advanced Apprenticeships for the Building Service Engineering Industry in England and Wales. I also met with representatives from WT Parker who are based in Burton and work with apprentices from Burton and South Derbyshire College.

 
Government figures released last week show that there has been a 90% increase in apprentices in South Derbyshire since 2009, putting the total number at 970 in 2011. 
 
As part of National Apprenticeship Week, the Government has announced new incentives for small employers to take on their first young apprentice. Including the opportunity to bid for a share of £6 million from the Higher Apprenticeship Fund, which will support the development of thousands of new Higher Apprenticeships in sectors including aerospace, energy and renewable technologies.
 
Furthermore, to encourage thousands of small firms that don’t currently hire apprentices to take on a young apprentice aged 16 to 24, the Government will offer employers with up to 50 employees an incentive payment of approximately £1,500. This will support around 20,000 new apprenticeships in 2012/13. Details of how to apply will be announced by the Business department in the next few weeks.
 
I really support the Governments moves to promote apprentices, they allow people to earn and learn at the same time, while significantly increasing their potential future earnings. But the benefits go wider than that – every £1 spent on an apprenticeship returns an estimated benefit of £18 to the economy.
 
That’s why it is such great news that companies such as WT Parker are taking on apprentices as well as Harpur’s Restaurant who I will be visiting tomorrow. These apprenticeships are really raising standards all round the constituency.
 
I would urge people of all ages to consider becoming an apprentice and seize the opportunities that the Government has opened up.
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Cold Weather Payments have been triggered in South Derbyshire

Submitted by Heather on 7 February 2012 - 12:33pm

Following on from my post on the 18th of January cold weather payments have now been triggered in the following postcodes in South Derbyshire.

 
DE1, DE11, DE12, DE13, DE14, DE15, DE2, DE23, DE24, DE3, DE6, DE65, DE7, DE72, DE73, LE6, LE65
 
This means that the average temperature has been zero degrees or below for seven consecutive days.
 
Cold Weather payments are made from the Social Fund to certain recipients of Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit during periods of very cold weather. The payment is a fixed amount of £25. Payments are made automatically to those entitled to them and normally take about three working days to reach the recipient's account. There should be no need to make a claim, but people who think they may be entitled but did not receive a payment should contact the Pension, Disability and Carers Service, or Jobcentre Plus.
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South Derbyshire Charities are now using JustTextGiving

Submitted by Heather on 2 February 2012 - 4:29pm

JustTextGiving is a service that allows charities and individuals to raise money via text message and provides a free, swift and convenient means of fundraising.

 
Several South Derbyshire charities have already started using JustTextGiving, including Newton Solney Village Hall, Scropton Riding for the Disabled Centre, South Derbyshire Mental Health Association, and Tara Mahayana Buddhist Centre.
 
The service is free to set up, with an every penny donated going to the charity, and works by allowing individuals to make donations by text messages. Donations can be made by the customers of any network provider without network charges and gift aid can also be claimed on each donation. Although this scheme was developed by Vodafone, they do not profit from the service.
 
It is hoped such service will encourage charitable donations, particularly among the younger generation who are comfortable using mobile technology, and it is estimated that text donations could be worth £96million annually by 2014.
 
I think this is a really good initiative and would encourage all South Derbyshire charities to take advantage of this service. If you would like more information then please visit the following link for more information: http://www.justgiving.com/justtextgiving.
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I was delighted to welcome Byrony Balen Home to Melbourne after her record breaking 705 mile ski to the South Pole

Submitted by Heather on 1 February 2012 - 5:05pm

On Sunday I was delighted, at her family home near Melbourne, to meet Bryony Balen after her 705 mile ski to the South Pole. Bryony now holds the official title of being the youngest Briton to ski the full distance from the Hercules Inlet to the Pole.

Bryony told me all about her trip, in particular how she skied for eight hours a day pulling a sled with a 60kg bag on her back containing food, equipment and a tent. I also was shown her equipment including the incredible warm clothing Bryony had to wear for her 56 day adventure.

I think Bryony is an exceptional young lady, having turned 21 on her travels she still has plenty of time ahead of her to continue on with her adventures. I would like to wish her and her family all the best. I particularly look forwarded to hearing about her next trip.

What a great example Bryony is to other young people in South Derbyshire, always strive, work hard and will get you there.

If you would like more information about Bryony and her South Pole adventure, and particularly how much she was able to raise for Charity, please visit her website on http://southpoleadventure.com/record-breaker/.

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