THANK YOU to all those who have topped up the Crich Community Pantry over the past weeks, it has sorely been needed by families and individuals.

With the glut of Harvest from our gardens coming in we are also receiving Runner Beans, Cucumbers, Potatoes, and Courgettes. I am sometimes asked for cooking instructions or hints!

One family told me; "This [the pantry] makes a difference to us, especially while the kids are on holiday. It pads out our meals meaning we can just about get by."

If you can't give anything like tins, packets or fresh produced but want to help just pop some money in through the Vicarage door marked pantry. It'll make a difference.

Rev Ian Whitehead

At the start of the first Covid lockdown Dawn Harper, a professional caterer from Fritchley, started preparing hot meals for some of the more vulnerable people in the parish. These included members of the Luncheon Club who could no longer meet at the Glebe and others who were having to isolate due to health issues which could have exacerbated the impact of the Covid virus. During the busiest period she was cooking over 30 hot two-course meals a day. These were willingly delivered to the homes of the recipients by a team of volunteer drivers, ably coordinated by Cathy Bowness. The volunteers had originally come forward through the Crich Area Covid 19 Mutual Aid initiative.

Nearly 18 months on as the restrictions lift, she has still been providing meals twice weekly for a small group of older people who are largely housebound and/or living alone. A magnificent effort carried out quietly and efficiently by a dedicated group of people. But she has now decided to stop the service and focus on other ventures.

To celebrate, and by way of a busman’s holiday, Dawn once again went into catering mode and hosted a barbeque for the drivers and their partners. This was hugely appreciated by all and allowed a long awaited social where several of the volunteers were able to meet each other for the first time!

Dawn can be seen second from the left, with Cathy on the far right of the picture.

 

Community Group Grants 2021/22 - now open for applications

Each year the Parish Council sets aside a small fund to help local community groups within Crich Parish.

The Council is aware that this has been another difficult year for all community groups, with Covid-19 continuing to impact on activities and funding. If you run a community group, or belong to one, have you considered applying for a grant – it might make a little difference to what you can do going forward?

Perhaps there is an item that your group would like but cannot afford, perhaps you need help with running costs, or you want to organise a Covid-19 safe activity? – a Parish Council Community Grant could be the answer.

Closing date 31 October 2021

Find out more and how to apply

 

Crich Standard is happy to bring some celebratory news that a valued member of our community, Serena Hancox, has been recognised for her hard work during the pandemic by being presented with a Derbyshire Beacon of Hope Award on Monday 9th August 2021.

The Award was recently launched by Derby City Council, the High Sheriff and the Lord-Lieutenant and seeks to recognise those across the county who have played a key role in responding to the pandemic in their communities.

Art Share Crich, formed in 2020 to encourage everyday creativity for people who live and work in the Crich Area has been encouraging people to turn their hand to writing this spring.

Following on from the huge success of the Autumn Community Art Sharing, held at The Glebe Centre in Crich last October, the group have created the Rhymes and Lines project to give people an outlet for writing about subjects that matter the them and in turn, sharing these with the local community.

Clare Limb from Art Share Crich has been collating the poems throughout the Spring says ‘it has been truly inspiring to read all the poems and stories sent to me from a wide range of contributors from the Crich Area. These include children from Crich Junior School and members and volunteers from the Crich Luncheon Club, who have had inspirational poetry readings online from Martyn Offord as well as reading their own poems to each other’.

Submissions include a poem about a pig that flies, an introduction to a gothic story and a poem about the effects of coronavirus on the community.

The sharing will take place between 14  -  16 May In the windows of The Old Black Swan pub on Bowns Hill, Crich.

Art Share Crich would like to express their thanks to everyone who has supported the project in the Crich Area, and a special thank you which goes to Rachel and Steve Palin from The Old Black Swan, who kindly agreed to host the sharing prior to the pub opening on 20th May.