Volunteer charity relocates to new home in city centre

A charity which was at the forefront of co-ordinating the volunteer effort during the coronavirus pandemic has relocated to a new city centre base managed by Connect Derby.

Community Action Derby has moved from Charnwood Street to the Shot Tower, in Albert Street, which has been part of the Connect Derby managed workspace scheme since 2015.

The charity provides support and guidance for voluntary and community groups across the city.

It offers a brokerage service for potential volunteers and organisations and supports all those organisations that engage with volunteers.

During the first lockdown in March 2020, Community Action Derby joined forces with Derby City Council and other statutory organisations, local community organisations and volunteers, to create the Derby COVID Community Response Hub in order to help the most vulnerable people in the city.

The Shot Tower joined the Connect Derby portfolio following a £1 million refurbishment to transform it into a virtual business hub to encourage people from disadvantaged communities to set up their own business and support not-for-profit groups, start-ups, graduates, and other people considering self-employment.

In 2018, the building was taken on by an expanding business, but was eventually vacated due to the pandemic.

Kim Harper, chief executive of building at Community Action Derby said: “Moving to the Shot Tower will bring a variety of opportunities for Community Action and our hub partners.

“The building will provide a welcoming open space that will allow us to provide all of our services from a central and accessible environment.”

Councillor Matthew Eyre, the city council’s cabinet member for place and community development, said: “The Emergency Community Response Hub was created to support the infrastructure of our city’s VCSE sector and community response, bringing together staff and partners, and crucially Community Action Derby, into one vibrant team.

“I’m delighted that this arrangement is to continue, and in fact strengthen, as the new Community HUB moves into the Shot Tower in the city centre.

“This move reflects their success, safeguards this new way of working, and provides the perfect platform to continue to build stronger and safer communities.”

Ann Bhatti, head of Connect Derby, said: “The Shot Tower is a fantastic building in a great location, and it is great to see Derby City Council property services and Connect Derby working together to provide them with the space they need be able to carry out their services at time where help is needed by many.

“We are pleased to see Shot Tower continuing to be used for the purposes it was originally intended and we look forward to supporting the Community Action Derby team as they continue to grow and support the people of Derby.”