News from producers around Derbyshire

Accessible Derbyshire are delighted to announce that Dave Berry and his two friends successfully completed the 35 miles of the Golden Miles walk raising much-needed funds for Accessible Derbyshire!

Gillian Scotford, one of the Co-Founders of Accessible Derbyshire said: "We are so very grateful to Dave, Jeff and Chris for undertaking the walk on our behalf. The funds they have raised will help us to improve the life of disabled people in our area so that they too can enjoy our beautiful part of the country to the full."

Limited spaces are available on some of the vocational courses offered by Derby College at its campuses in Derby, Morley and Ilkeston.

For learners who meet the entry requirements, there are some spaces in Sport and Public Services as well as the Land-based study programmes at Broomfield Hall.

The Ilkeston campus has limited spaces available on the Construction and Early Years courses and the Joseph Wright sixth form centre has capacity on some of the Art & Design, Music, Performing Arts and Applied Science courses.

An innovative creative project, which celebrated the life and times of acclaimed artist Joseph Wright, has been shortlisted for a Derbyshire Heritage Award.

‘The Enlightenment Comes Alive’ was created by Déda Producing – the outdoor events arm of Déda, the creative centre for Dance, Contemporary Circus and Outdoor Work in Chapel Street – in partnership with QUAD and artist and digital projection specialist Barret Hodgson as part of The Grand Tour 2015.

Work created by mature learners at Derby College’s Ilkeston campus is due to be exhibited at the DH Lawrence Birthplace museum in Eastwood.

Learners on the Access to Teaching and Access to Social Sciences programmes, which are pathways for adult learners to progress onto Higher Education and a wide range of careers, visited the museum recently to gain inspiration for a creative writing project.

Rail Minister Paul Maynard MP has welcomed the launch of a new Rail Employment and Skills Academy in the East Midlands. The new Rail Employment and Skills Academy brings together Derby College, one of the UK’s largest further education colleges, and the Rail Forum East Midlands, which represents over 150 rail related businesses across the East Midlands.

The Animal Care team at Derby College’s Broomfield Hall are holding two short courses to help local people care for hedgehogs and other wildlife this Autumn.

On Saturday October 15 between 9.30am and 11.30am children and young people aged 16 and under are invited to a ‘Hug a Hedgehog’ session where they can meet Broomfield’s resident hedgehogs and learn more about the animals from suitable feeding to making a garden more hedgehog friendly.

Derby College’s Broomfield Hall campus in Morley will be open to the public on Sunday September 25 where Horticulture students and lecturers will share their knowledge of how to grow a wide range of plants.

The Plant Fest between 10am and 4pm is the latest in a series of events throughout the year focusing on different aspects of gardening skills.

A late surge in entries saw 627 cycling enthusiasts setting out from Markeaton Park on Sunday to tackle one of three different distances in the annual North Derbyshire Challenge Sportive.

Generous customers of Croots Farm Shop have raised around £500 for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre following a range of fundraising efforts.

The donation includes a percentage from the sales of the farm shop’s Rio sausages – designed especially for the Rio Olympics.

Staff at local independent funeral directors G Wathall & Son will be holding their own ‘Bake Off’ competition to crown the star baker at the family-owned firm and then raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.