Community Action Derby

02/06/2026

📢 CALL TO ACTION: ARBORETUM MATTERS

Do you live, work, volunteer, or want to make a difference in Arboretum? This is your opportunity to get involved.

Following the successful Call to Action meeting and Community Action Derby’s successful application to the Mayor’s Community Development Fund, local organisations, groups, services, and residents are invited to come together to hear updates and help shape the future of Arboretum.

📅 Wednesday, 17 June
⏰ 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
📍 St James Centre, Malcolm Street, Derby, DE23 8LU

Join the conversation, connect with others working in the area, and find out more about this exciting community project.

🎟️ Free to attend – book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/call-to-action-arboretum-matters-tickets-1990475947140

01/06/2026

It's Volunteers' Week and we're looking forward to celebrating Derby's incredible volunteers, community groups and voluntary organisations at the Derby Voluntary Sector Awards on Thursday! 🎉

It also feels like the perfect time to introduce a new sponsor of the awards – Cosy Foundation.

Cosy combines a passion for natural childhood and education with a deep commitment to social impact, donating 10% of its profits through the Cosy Foundation to support grassroots charities, children’s education, community projects and life-changing opportunities for young people in the UK and developing countries.

Many of you will also know Cosy through the Cosy Bike & Hike, Derbyshire's biggest multi-discipline fundraiser supporting children's holiday charities.

Our Programme Lead for Marketing and Communications, Helen Frudd, recently visited the Cosy headquarters to meet Amanda and Peter and learn more about Cosy's work. It was particularly great to hear about Cosy's annual volunteering day, when the business closes to enable staff to support community projects, with other organisations invited to get involved too.

Helen also got to meet some friendly goats and received a lovely memento as a thank you for "beeing" there! 🐝🐐

A huge thank you to Cosy Foundation for supporting the Derby Voluntary Sector Awards alongside our longstanding event partner, Derby Homes and helping us celebrate the people, groups and organisations who help make Derby a stronger, kinder and more connected city. 🙏

Find out more about Cosy Foundation at www.cosyfoundation.com

29/05/2026

🎙️ Yesterday, Helen Britten, our Programme Lead for the Derby Youth Alliance joined BBC Derby to discuss the youth employment crisis, with 1 in 8 young people currently not in education, employment or training.

She highlighted the challenges many young people face in Derby and how the Youth Alliance is bringing together communities and local partners to help them access the support and opportunities they need.

You can listen to the interview on BBC Sounds (around the 22-minute mark): www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002wk9c

Find out more about the Youth Alliance here: www.derbyyouthalliance.org.uk

Talking points and taking on the day's top stories. Also celebrities and music you love.

27/05/2026

💡 Thinking about setting up a community group but not sure where to start?

Join this free training session NEXT WEEK to learn the key steps involved in getting started and developing your idea!

📅 Tuesday 2 June 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 1:00pm
📍 Community Action Derby

The session will include:
👉 Identifying community need
👉 Choosing the right structure for your group
👉 Finding funding
👉 Key legal considerations

Booking is essential. To help reduce no-shows and ensure spaces go to those who need them, we now ask for a £10 refundable deposit to secure your place. A small non-refundable Eventbrite processing fee will apply.

🔗 Find out more and book your place here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/setting-up-a-group-training-tickets-1982445369466

21/05/2026

📢 We’re hiring! We currently have two exciting opportunities to join our team📢

🔹Executive Administrator🔹

⏰ 28 hours per week (flexible working)
💷 £29k pro rata
📅 Closing date: 2 June 2026

We’re looking for an organised and proactive individual to provide confidential PA and administrative support to our Senior Team, Chair and Trustees. The role includes managing communications, coordinating meetings, handling correspondence, and supporting day-to-day executive operations.

🔹 Programme Lead (HAF & Warm Welcome Programmes)🔹

⏰ 35 hours per week
💷 £33k – £36k
📅 Closing date: 9 June 2026

We’re seeking an experienced Programme Lead to provide strategic and operational leadership for our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) and Warm Welcome programmes. This role involves partnership working, programme delivery, monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring strong outcomes for communities across Derby.

Both roles are subject to funding.

If you’re passionate about supporting communities and want to make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you!

👉 Find out more and apply via the Jobs page on our website:
www.communityactionderby.org.uk/jobs

20/05/2026

📢 Book your place for our July Voluntary Sector Forum 📢

📅 Thursday 2 July 2026
🕛 10am - 1pm
📍 The Multi-Faith Centre, The University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby, Derbyshire, DE22 1GB

Join us for a lively and welcoming Voluntary Sector Forum, where people passionate about Derby’s communities come together to share ideas, make connections, and spark new opportunities.

There’ll be plenty of time to chat and network throughout the session, and refreshments will be provided.

Voluntary Sector Forums are open to anyone working or volunteering in the VCSE sector in Derby, whether you are a charity, community group, social enterprise, volunteer-run sports club, arts organisation or passionate volunteer!

👉 Network with a wide cross-section of local voluntary and community sector groups
👉 Increase awareness of the sector
👉 Hear updates on news and events happening in the sector
👉 Promote projects and organisations
👉 Increase opportunities for partnership working
👉 Build the strength and voice of the voluntary sector
👉 Regular guest speakers.

Full agenda to follow.

Book your free place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1989661496095

19/05/2026

You are invited by His Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire and the Dean of Derby Cathedral in partnership with Community Action Derby, Rural Action Derbyshire and Foundation Derbyshire to All Shall be Well: A Celebration of Volunteers, Trustees and Community.

📅 Sunday 7 June 2026, starting at 2:30pm
📍Derby Cathedral, 18-19 Iron Gate, Derby DE1 3GP

This annual service will celebrate the importance of all voluntary and community sector organisations and groups to our society.

This invitation is for all – including volunteers, staff, trustees, service users and supporters.

The service will reflect on the importance of hope for the sector during difficult times.

Refreshments will be served after the service.

Click here to RSVP: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=VzW3Wp_hKE2oCzITJd5eDoRigp7UZmxHm-RN5eaF0ZdURTM1UDVBVjVKUVVLSjQ5TE1QNlVCMkYzRi4u&route=shorturl

For further information, please contact The Dean of Derby’s PA, Ben Sherwood, on 01332 341201 option 1 or [email protected]

18/05/2026

💡 Thinking about setting up a community group but not sure where to start?

Join this free training session to learn the key steps involved in getting started and developing your idea.

📅 Tuesday 2 June 2026
⏰ 10:00am – 1:00pm
📍 Community Action Derby

The session will include:
👉 Identifying community need
👉 Choosing the right structure for your group
👉 Finding funding
👉 Key legal considerations

Booking is essential. To help reduce no-shows and ensure spaces go to those who need them, we now ask for a £10 refundable deposit to secure your place. A small non-refundable Eventbrite processing fee will apply.

🔗 Find out more and book your place here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/setting-up-a-group-training-tickets-1982445369466

15/05/2026

Yesterday, some of our team travelled to Birmingham for the 2026 NAVCA Annual Conference, with a quick stop to visit Ozzy the Bull along the way! 🐂

As members of NAVCA (the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action), it was a fantastic opportunity to come together with peer organisations from across the country to learn, connect and share ideas about the future of local infrastructure and the voluntary sector.

This year’s conference theme, Neighbourhoods and Communities, focused on the vital role local infrastructure organisations play in building stronger, more connected and resilient communities.

The day was full of valuable conversations, learning and inspiration, and we’re looking forward to bringing ideas back to Derby to help strengthen support for local organisations, volunteers and communities.

Thank you to NAVCA for hosting another great conference!

15/05/2026

So proud to see the impact of our DE23 Active programme, and the incredible work of our DE23 Active team, being recognised and celebrated after winning Community Group of the Year at the British Muslim Awards last week 🎉🏆

DE23 Active is all about creating inclusive, community-led opportunities that help people in Normanton and Arboretum become more active, connected and confident through sport and physical activity.

A huge thank you to all of our community partners, coaches, volunteers and participants who continue to make this work possible every day!

You can find out more about DE23 Active on our website: www.communityactionderby.org.uk/our-work/programmes-and-alliances/de23-active