Community Groups

50+ Forum - Contact: Andrea Cooke 01335 345269 or Peter Bishop 01335 346294.

Ashbourne Partnership – Town Hall Yard, Ashbourne, Contact: Sarah Wolfe, www.visitashbourne.co.uk

Town Crier – The post of Town Crier remained vacant for something like 15 years after the last incumbent passed away. In 2009, it became evident that the Town might benefit from the resurrection of the position especially in view of the thriving tourist industry. Following a letter to the Ashbourne News Telegraph about the lack of a Town Crier, I was persuaded to apply for the post. I am a retired teacher and moved to Ashbourne in 2008. I duly approached the Town Council who proved to be very receptive to the idea and promptly took me on in the post. An appropriate uniform was provided but I have since replaced this with something more eye-catching. I receive no financial remuneration for appearances but I do ask those who request my services to make a donation to local charities and in particular the Mayor’s Charity Fund.

There are no set duties as yet and all appearances are on an ad hoc basis. Appearances so far include the annual Festival of Antiques in the Street, the Heritage Open Day, the Mayor’s Civic Service of Worship and Thanksgiving and the various Christmas Celebrations.

SERVICES

Because I work on an entirely voluntary basis, I will provide my services only in Ashbourne Town. Provided that it falls within the guidelines laid down by The Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers, I will consider any proclamation requested by businesses, organisations, charities, events and individuals given the appropriate details. Events will be proclaimed in the traditional way and can include weddings, births, engagements, birthdays, etc., as well as coffee mornings, fund raising events, business openings. The list is endless as long as sufficient notice is given. A minimum donation of £10 does not seem unreasonable but this is negotiable. Bona fide charities are free.

BOOKING

The preferred method is by e-mail at ashbournetowncrier@googlemail.com but contact can also be made by contacting the Ashbourne Town Hall on 01335 342 291 and leaving your details or, less reliably on mobile number: 07790 911489.

Ashbourne & District U3A – Ashbourne & District U3A is a learning co-operative of older people which enables members to share many educational, creative and leisure activities, and presently has 10 groups within it. A general meeting with outside speakers is held monthly (see Events list on this website for details). Anyone interested is welcome at a General Meeting for more information before joining. Website: www.ashbourne-u3a.org.uk

Ashbourne Arts Ltd Ashbourne Arts is a not-for-profit company whose volunteers prime aim is to organise and execute the Ashbourne Festival which takes place annually in June and July. The company also organises other events during the year. Contact: Mrs Ann Rosser (Vice-Chair) Tel: 01335 348707 Email: info@ashbournearts.com Website: www.ashbournearts.com

Ashbourne Shire Horse Society - The society organises the Ashbourne Show on the 3rd Saturday in August and also holds various functions throughout the year. We meet occasionally at the Shoulder of Mutton, Osmaston. Contact Andrea Adams Tel: 01889 597497. Website: www.ashbourneshow.co.uk

Service Groups

Round Table – Ashbourne & District 326 Contact Neil Holloway 01335 345474

Rotary – Ashbourne Rotary Club Contact John Hallam 01335 348046

Inner Wheel – Inner Wheel Club Contact Mrs Val Edge 01335 348466

Ladies Circle – Ashbourne Ladies Circle is a social group for women aged 18-45 years. We meet in Ashbourne on alternate Wednesdays. Contact Karen Cox Tel: 07890 733478

Lions - Asbourne & District Lions Club Contact Doug Greenaway Tel: 01335 344932 Website: www.ashbournedistrict.lions105e.org.uk

Soroptomists Contact marionmerkens@btinternet

Tangent Club – A club for ladies who may have been in Ladies Circle. We have a monthly dinner meeting with occsional speakers and trips out. Contact Sandra Lewer Tel: 01335 324404

41 Club – A club for gentlemen who may have been in Round Table. Contact John Hammond Tel: 01335 342899

Women in Rural Enterprise Meeting. Local network for women in business, who feel they or their business have a connection with the countryside. Contact: Jane Stretton, Dove Farm, Mill Lane, off Dove Street, Ellastone, Ashbourne, DE6 2GY, Tel: 01335 324357, Email: info@dovefarm.co.uk, Website: www.dovefarm.co.uk

Support Groups

ACTIV (Ashbourne Club For Those With Impaired Vision) Club for visually impaired people which meets generally twice monthly at Town Head Sheltered Housing Unit, Cokayne Avenue. (Outings in summer). 1st & 3rd Wednesday afternoons 2.30 – 4.00 pm of each month. Contact: Jeannette Turpin 01335 300242

Age UK - Derby & Derbyshire Housing Options. Providing specialist information and advice on housing needs and options. Based at the Town Hall, Matlock. Tel. 01629 761285

Alzheimers Society – Dementia Cafe, Cornerstones Cafe, Church Street, Ashbourne, Tel: 01335 208845, Contact: Jacqui Marsh, First Wednesday each month at 10am, www.alzheimers.org.uk

Derbyshire Association for the Blind - Based in Derby and Chesterfield, covers the Derbyshire area. Tel: 01332 292262 or 01246 551727. Website: www.dab.org.uk

Cafe Connect – is a support group for bereaved persons. They provide a warm and welcoming service. Held at the Cornerstones cafe, Church Street, Ashbourne the sessions are on the first and third Monday in each month frpm 7pm-9pm and on the second and fourth Tuesday from 2pm-4pm.

Care Line – St Oswalds Hospital, Clifton Road, Ashbourne, DE6 1DR, Tel: 07970 679190. A service for lonely or bereaved people that provides a free telephone call every day of the year to check that all is well, to provide a friendly contact with the outside world and to give advice and information.

Childline – Ashbourne, Tel: 0800 1111

Citizens Advice Bureau – Cornerstones Cafe, 36 Church Street, Ashbourne, DE6 1AE, Tel: 01335 346873, Monday at 10am, www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Also advice sessions at Clifton Road surgery every Tuesday between 9.30am and 12.30pm on an appointment only basis for patients of that surgery.

Crisis Support Line – a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week, crisis support line is operated by trained staff who will speak to you in confidence. Telephone 01332 364444 for this service. This Services is operated by Derby Samaritans.

Crossroads Caring for Carers – Tel: 01629 812664

Campaign for Tackling Acquired Deafness – CAMTAD -
Brailsford Clinic, Brailsford, Ashbourne, Tel: 01332 258143, every 2nd Thursday at 2pm
Henmore Centre, King Edward Street, Ashbourne, Tel: 01332 258143, every last Thursday at 1pm

Derby Breast Cancer Support Group. The Group offers support, counselling, information and befriending to all women and men with breast cancer, their families and friends. The Group meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7.30pm at The Mackworth Hotel, Ashbourne Road, Mackworth, Derby. DE22 4LY.

Ashbourne Diabetes UK Self help Group – St Oswalds Hospital, Clifton Road, Ashbourne, DE6 1DR, Tel: 01335 324437, every 2nd Monday at 7.30pm

Handyvan Derbyshire Handy Van service makes it safer for older and vulnerable people (usually over 60) to live in their own homes. There is a fleet of eight vans and a dedicated team of handy staff. Telephone 0845 8508013.

Henmore Centre, King Edward Street, Ashbourne. Day care on Thursday for people of any age with disabilities. On Friday the Community Mental Health Team hold day care group.

NSPCC – Ashbourne, Tel: 0808 800 5000

Parkinsons Disease Society – Townhead, Cokayne Avenue, Ashbourne, Tel: 01335 344803, Contact: Val Robinson, every 3rd Thursday at 2pm

Readycall – Volunteer Centre, Dig Street, Ashbourne, Readycall provides befriending and practical support to help elderly, disabled and vulnerable people to continue to live independently. Tel: 01335 348600, Contact: Penny Smith

Save The Children – Ashbourne Branch – Tel: 01335 342566, Contact: Jackie Nicholson, www.savethechildren.org

Ashbourne Stroke Support Club – Bowls Club, Wyaston Road, Ashbourne, Tel: 01335 345518, Contact: Valerie Dickson, alternate Tuesdays at 2.30pm, www.stroke.org.uk

Umbrella Family Support Group - Cornerstones, Ashbourne, Tel: 01332 785658, every 4th Wednesday 1pm-3pm, Contact: alison-williams@umbrella.uk.net, www.umbrella.uk.net

Victim Support – Derbyshire Dales Victim Support Group offers support to victims of crime, Wirksworth, Tel: 01629 825864. www.victimsupport.org.uk

Voluntary Car Scheme – volunteer drivers provide a door-to-door transport service for elderly, disabled, and vulnerable people who live in the villages of the Southern Derbyshire Dales and the towns of Wirksworth and Ashbourne. We provide a supportive and responsive service, ensuring that the client gets to their appointment in good time – and meeting them afterwards to take them safely home. Our Car Scheme Coordinator Lynn Gratton handles the requests for transport, matching the drivers according to their location and availability. The transport can be very local, perhaps to a health or day care centre, or further afield – to a specialist hospital or clinic. Transport requests can be for a regular journey or for a one-off appointment. Journeys undertaken include: Medical and Hospital appointments, attendance at Day Care Centres, Support Groups and Therapeutic Activities and also visits to see a close relative in hospital or residential care.

Volunteer Centre Derbyshire Dales – 01335 348602. All around the Derbyshire Dales, volunteers are helping make life in our communities richer and happier. Volunteer Centre Derbyshire Dales works to promote and support that volunteering activities.Volunteer Centre Derbyshire Dales operates to help volunteers find the right opportunity – and to help organisations find the right volunteer. We also run two schemes of our own. The Voluntary Car Scheme takes vulnerable people to hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, and other medically-related appointments in the Southern Derbyshire Dales.

Readycall undertakes befriending and practical tasks for vulnerable people in the Southern Derbyshire Dales

Welfare Rights – Clifton Road Surgery (for patients of that practice), Ashbourne, Tel: 01335 300588, Wednesday morning by appointment

Providers

Encore Re-use – Henmore Trading Estate, Mayfield Road, Ashbourne, DE6 1AS, Tel: 01335 300907, affordable furniture and training, www.encorereuse.org.uk

Derbyshire Carers Association – White House, Slack Lane, Ripley, DE5 3HF, Tel: 01773 743355, www.derbyshirecarers.co.uk

Community Transport

Ashbourne Community Transport – King Edward Street, Ashbourne, DE6 1BW, Tel: 01335 300670, Ashbourne Community Transport offer a variety of services on a door-to-door basis for the local community but particularly to elderly people; those with mobility needs; those who cannot access bus services or do not have regular public services; and for community groups. Our objective is to provide accessible transport within the boundaries of Hartington, Doveridge, Clifton and Hulland Ward taking in all the villages and the town of Ashbourne. ACT currently has ten vehicles varying in seating capacity from three to sixteen seats, all of which are fully accessible. The office is open Monday to Friday from 08.30 – 17.00 and we have four members of staff who will try to answer any enquiry you may have about our services. Our fully trained drivers, passenger assistants volunteers are available to assist you on your journey and have received full training and CRB cleared. Contact: info@ashbournect.org.uk, www.derbyshirect.co.uk