What’s On in Chesterfield
January 2026
Thursday 22nd January
Chesterfield
10:00am – 2:30pm
Blend Youth weekly Sessions
WellBeing Journey Learning Curve, Chesterfield
Overcoming Challenging Teenage Behavious
Preparing for Extreme Weather:
Practical Steps for Stronger Communities
Thursday 29 January, 7pm (online – register here)
Flier Emergency planning webinar Jan 2026
Monkey Park, Chesterfield
Compassionate Voices: JANUARY
Alcohol Awareness session with DAAS Monday 12th Jan 6:30pm
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Sorbo January Coffee gathering Wednesday 14th Jan with Live Life Better Derbyshire
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Online safety with Sarah from the Derbyshire Cyber Crime Unit Monday 19th Jan 6:30pm
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/
Overcoming Challenging Teenage Behaviours
Following the success of the Understanding Gangs, Knife Crime and Criminal Exploitation workshop in October, several people have asked for further support around engaging teenagers, particularly those often described as ‘hard to reach’ or whose behaviour can present challenges.
In response, I’ve worked with Drew from Chesterfield Football Club Community Trust, Anton from Guiding Minds, and Gavin from Remedi to create an evening session focused on practical strategies to help break down barriers and improve engagement with young people who may be facing significant difficulties or displaying behaviours that can feel hard to manage.
We’ve all had that moment of hesitation when approaching a group of teenagers who appear guarded, reluctant to talk, or who make us question how the interaction might go. If you experience these challenges in your work or club, this workshop could be of real value.
The poster below outlines the session in more detail. It’s a great opportunity to spend time with professionals, other clubs, and organisations who work every day with young people facing adversity. I also want to emphasise that behaviour is not a child’s identity—it is usually an expression of what’s happening in their lives. When I use words like ‘challenging’ or ‘hard to reach,’ it is never to blame the young person, but to acknowledge the difficulties professionals sometimes face in connecting with them.
I’d also like to share a powerful statement from Dr. Helen Beckett (Bedford University), written during her doctoral research into looked-after children and contextual safeguarding:
“Professionals should not dismiss the abusive nature of such situations just because a young person does. The statutory responsibility to safeguard these young people and uphold the law is not dependent on their desire to be safeguarded.”
I share this because so many young people I’ve worked with have minimised their own harm or abuse in order to ‘fit in’ or out of fear. They may not want help—or may not feel able to ask for it—and so their experiences often surface through behaviour.
This workshop aims to equip you with tools to better understand those situations where you sense something isn’t right, but barriers prevent disclosure. It will also help you interpret behaviours more effectively and offer strategies that support engagement with the young people who may need it most.
Date: 20 January 2026
Venue: Chesterfield Football Stadium (details on poster – the HUB at the back of the stadium)
Time: 6:00–8:00pm
Free parking is available, and we’ll provide some snacks given the timing of the session.
Places will be limited – so please book if you want to attend using this link: Overcoming Challenging Teenage Behaviours
Volunteer Passport
Location: online
Cost: Free
Starting: Tuesday 20 January 2026
Duration: 5 sessions over 5 weeks
Time: 6.30pm -8.30pm
Helping others is one of the five ways to wellbeing. These are 5 steps you can take to help improve your mental health and wellbeing. The others are connect, be active, take notice and keep learning. Volunteering is a great way of doing most of these. Volunteers are important. They support people in Derbyshire in a variety of different ways. You might want to help with a youth group, sports club, befriending service, day centre or local community group.
The Volunteer Passport is a free course delivered by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service (DACES). It can be run over several weeks. It looks at key topics all Volunteers should be aware of these include:
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Responding to Incidents
Keeping yourself and others Safe
Teamwork and Customer Care.
Who is this course for?
You could be an experienced volunteer who already gives several hours a week. Or you could be thinking about volunteering for the first time. You don’t need any qualifications to come on a course.
How will I learn?
You will learn informally in a virtual classroom within a small group. You will be encouraged to take part in activities and group discussions to share your ideas. You will complete an evidence booklet as part of the course. Your tutor will help you to progress at your own pace.
What will I need?
You will need access to a laptop or tablet and you will need to use Microsoft Teams. You will be provided with instructions on how to do this prior to the start of the course.
To book a FREE place visit DACES T25OC2204 Volunteer Passport
Or contact [email protected]
Location: online
Cost: Free
Starting: Monday 19 January 2026
Duration: 1 session over 1 week
Time: 6.30pm until 8.30pm
Description
This free Career Planning session helps you to chart your career path with guidance on identifying opportunities, setting goals, and creating a roadmap for success.
Who is this course for?
This course is for anyone who would like some guidance to support them to have access to the future routes and pathways that are right for them.
How will I learn?
You will learn informally online with a small group.
Your tutor will support you to progress at your own pace.
What will I need?
You may want a pen and notebook so that you can make your own notes during the workshop. You will need to be able to access Microsoft Teams to enter your online workshop. You will receive an email with instructions on how to do this prior to the start of your course.
Time and duration
Start Date: 19 January 2026
Start Time: 6.30pm
Day: Monday
First Lesson Duration: 2 hours
Total Weeks: 1
To enrol visit: DACES T25OC2205 Careers Workshop – Career Planning
or email [email protected] or call 01629 531241
Further Careers Workshops are listed on our website: