December 2015

New Innovation Hub at Derby College Provides Access to Latest Technologies

Fujitsu and Intel have launched a new Innovation Hub at Derby College, which is set to put technology at the heart of learning for the College and its students.

As part of the businesses’ commitment to developing IT skills in the UK, the new Innovation Hub, which is the ninth of its kind in the UK,  will transform the learning experience for more than 400 students on degree programmes at the College, support teacher development  CPD, as well as providing a resource for the wider community.

Casting Call For The Belper Passion 2016

The Belper Passion goes into it's fourth year with the performance on

Saturday 26 March 2016.

The community based project attracts up to 800 visitors who pack the Methodist Chapel and St. Peter's Church. The Walk of Witness links the two venues. With up to 100 people involved in performance, music and organisation The Belper Passion has become a major community event.

Teacher Training Programme Wins Ofsted Praise

Derby College’s involvement in the University of Derby Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes has been awarded the highest accolade from Ofsted.

Ofsted ranked the FE and skills provision as ‘outstanding’ following an inspection in September. The inspection has also ranked the overall effectiveness of the ITE partnership as ‘good’ in Early Years; ‘outstanding’ in Primary and ‘good’ in Secondary.

Derby College is a key main partner in the University of Derby-led programme in the city and has the highest number of in-service trainees.

New Prospectus Focuses on Career Aspirations

Derby College has launched a new website to coincide with the launch of its 2016 full- time courses prospectus to help young people focus on their career aspirations.

The new-look website www.derby-college.ac.uk incorporates an innovative Career Coach programme – enabling users to input which job they have their sights set on and the qualifications they will need to achieve those dreams.

International Player Visits Andrew Flintoff Cricket Academy at Derby College

International cricketer Niall O'Brien has visited Derby College’s Broomfield Hall Campus to run a special coaching session for members of the Andrew Flintoff Cricket Academy at the College

Niall plays for Ireland and Leicestershire and recently returned from playing in cricket’s Inter Continental Cup in Zimbabwe.

He said: “I am very impressed with the set up at Derby College.  I did not have these opportunities as a youngster in Ireland but cricket is now the fastest growing sport there and I thoroughly enjoy coaching to bring out the potential in individual players.

Festive Entertainment in St Peters Quarter

Three local singers will make a welcome return to Derby’s St Peters Quarter on Saturday December 19 as part of a day of festive street entertainment.

The musical entertainment will be staged at St Peter’s Cross, the busy crossroads of St Peter’s Street, East Street and St Peter’s Churchyard.

Kezia will start the programme at 10.30am with a range of Christmas song.  This will be followed by Danieal at 12.15pm and Lily Taylor-Ward at 2pm.

Festive Entertainment in St Peters Quarter

Three local singers will make a welcome return to Derby’s St Peters Quarter on Saturday December 19 as part of a day of festive street entertainment.

The musical entertainment will be staged at St Peter’s Cross, the busy crossroads of St Peter’s Street, East Street and St Peter’s Churchyard.

Kezia will start the programme at 10.30am with a range of Christmas song.  This will be followed by Danieal at 12.15pm and Lily Taylor-Ward at 2pm.

Déda Pledge Supports New Year Resolutions

Dance and fitness enthusiasts are being given an extra incentive to keep their New Year resolutions with the chance to win six months of classes free of charge at Derby-based regional dance house Déda.

Everyone who signs up to the 12-week social dance, styles and techniques or health and well-being class programme and attends ten of the weekly sessions will receive a free Déda branded water bottle and be put into the prize draw.

Déda and Trinity Warriors Launch Dance Partnership

Derby-based regional dance house Déda and award-winning urban dance group Trinity Warriors have joined forces to expand the range of dance opportunities for young people.

Under the 12-month partnership agreement, Trinity Warriors is now based at Déda in Chapel Street for training sessions and performances, with business, marketing and performance technical support from the organisation. 

The group’s directors Paco Box and Leon Heywood will also work with young dancers at Déda including the Fuse performance group and the BA Dance Degree students who are based at the venue.

Motor Finance Company Plans Expansion Through Derby College Partnership

A leading motor finance company has teamed up with Derby College to launch an Employer Academy that will support its expansion plans.

First Response Finance, based in Chilwell, Nottingham, is currently recruiting up to 15 A level and Business Studies students from Derby College onto the programme with a view to recruiting some of them onto Degree Apprenticeships after they have finished their course.

Introductory Course to Natural Perfume Making with Buxton Spa Aromatics

This special offer is for any Natural Perfume Course in 2016 taking place at No.6 The Square Tearooms and The Old Hall Hotel, reputed to be the oldest hotel in England. The special invitation to the course come in comes in a beautiful black box presentation box.

 

The offer is on a first come basis and ends at midnight on Sunday 20th December 2015.

 

The introductory course in perfumery will give you the opportunity to gain a basic understanding of the history of perfumery and then work with a variety of materials to design your own fragrances.

 

Croots Farm Shop creates hanging Christmas tree forest in Derbyshire

Derbyshire farm shop Croots has come up with a novel way to display its Christmas trees – a hanging forest in one of the farm’s barns.

The set-up means that customers can walk amongst the firs, as they hang from the ceiling of the barn, and see exactly how the tree will look when it finds its place in the home.

“Everyone has their own idea of what makes the perfect tree for their home,” said Steve Croot, who runs the farm shop off Wirksworth Road, Duffield, with wife Kay.

Village Carols Come to Town

Buxton Festival Fringe sang its heart out at a special party featuring Derbyshire Village Carols at the Green Man Gallery on December 5th. The party was to mark the opening of entries to Fringe 2016 but had a distinctly festive buzz as choir leader Daisy Barker helped by the Green Man’s Caroline Small organised an afternoon rehearsal followed by group singing at the party in the evening. Musicians Helen Cochrane, David Blowers and Dorothy Waite played trombone and concertinas, and Kevin Allsop, Alison Broady and Nadine Weston from the band Simply Layback also performed.

Derby College Awarded Gold Career Mark

Derby College has been awarded the top Career Mark accreditation in recognition of its consistent quality in providing careers education and guidance for learners at its campuses in Derby, Ilkeston and Morley.

Career Mark is awarded by the Quality in Careers Standard Board (QiCS). It measures good practice in a number of areas – management, curriculum, information, guidance and outcomes in helping young people develop life long career management skills.

New Year – New Skill

Derby College has published its programme of full-time and part-time courses that start in January 2016 – aimed at adult learners.

A wide range of courses will start in the New Year across the College campuses in Derby, Ilkeston and Morley ranging from Access to Higher Education and Teacher Training to Welding and Dog Grooming.

In addition, there are a number of one-day and short courses available on the Learning for Leisure programme ranging from cookery to pottery.

The Fringe gets Festive

On Saturday December 5th the Buxton Festival Fringe celebrates the opening of the 2016 Fringe to entrants with an open-to-all party featuring Derbyshire carol singing at the Green Man Gallery.

The traditional singing of Derbyshire Village Carols has had a revival in recent years and the Buxton Festival Fringe in partnership with the Green Man Gallery is keen to give everyone in Buxton a chance to get to know these amazing songs.  

Learning for Leisure Launched at Derby College

Derby College has launched a new programme of taster courses designed to introduce local people to new skills and hobbies.

Special pre-Christmas sessions are being held every week from £10 at the Roundhouse in Pride Park in the run up to Christmas for making festive cards, baubles and craft prints as well as sessions to learn basic DIY plumbing skills needed during the winter months.

Two-hour introductions to conversational French and Spanish are also held at the Roundhouse.

MP Praises Derby College Employer Academy Programme

Derby North MP Amanda Solloway has praised an initiative to boost young people’s job opportunities and meet the recruitment needs of local employers.

Mrs Solloway recently visited the Hodgkinson Brickwork Academy at Derby College’s Ilkeston campus to find out more about the initiative to link students with local employers to address current and future skills shortages.

Wathalls Collect Lifeline Gifts For Children Worldwide

Derby and Ashbourne family-owned funeral directors G.Wathall & Son Ltd have collected more than 650 shoeboxes of Christmas gifts, hygiene and school supplies which are now being shipped around the world to children in need.

The funeral directors have been involved with Operation Christmas Child run by charity Samaritan’s Purse for the past five years – collecting and storing shoeboxes at its offices in Macklin Street, Derby, and Union Street, Ashbourne, and then delivering to the charity’s local warehouse.

Memorial Service Gives Families Time To Remember Loved Ones

Around 600 people are expected to attend a special memorial service at Derby Cathedral on Thursday December 10 – organised by Derby and Ashbourne family-owned funeral directors, G.Wathall & Son Ltd.

Wathalls hold the memorial service every year – inviting families who have lost loved ones during this and past years as well as representatives from local churches, hospitals and nursing homes.

December Half Price Special Offer !

Introductory Course to Natural Perfume Making with Buxton Spa Aromatics

This special offer is for any Natural Perfume Course in 2016 taking place at No.6 The Square Tearooms and The Old Hall Hotel, reputed to be the oldest hotel in England. The special invitation to the course come in comes in a beautiful black box presentation box.

The offer is on a first come basis and ends at midnight on Sunday 20th December 2015.

Sinfonia Viva Showcases Musicians’ Talents

The East Midlands’ professional orchestra, Sinfonia Viva will start 2016 with a concert at the recently refurbished Derby Cathedral on January 22.

The concert marks the first anniversary of Principal Conductor Duncan Ward’s appointment with the Orchestra.

It will also feature soloists and Viva players Adam Mackenzie (Bassoon) and Emily Pailthorpe (Oboe).

Duncan Ward said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year as Sinfonia Viva’s Principal Conductor. 

New post on Poem a Month

As winter approaches we're sure Derbyshire will provide a few beautiful snow filled days with moments such as these captured by Jenny Fox in her crisp, concise poem The Hungry Fox.  With best wishes  for the Festive season -Ali & Priscilla 

A couple of years ago, the snow stayed for a while. One day I happened to look out of our bedroom window, down the hill, and there was a very thin fox, standing very still.  It struck me as a very beautiful, almost haunting moment that I'd been allowed to experience - so I wrote about it. - Jenny King