Dunston Primary Academy

The Young Journalist Academy has begun working on an exciting project with the Chatsworth House Trust charity and Dunston Primary Academy, Chesterfield.

The project will provide YJA training for pupils. Following training, the team will produce 50 oral history recordings with staff and volunteers behind the scenes at Chatsworth before summer 2026. The project will be centred around Chatsworth’s Celebrating the Cascade project, which will restore the historic Cascade and create a major new learning and audience development programme for the Chatsworth Garden.

The Cascade is a Grade I-listed water feature of national and international importance. Built over 325 years ago, it is recognised as a significant feat of engineering and nature-inspired design that has delighted generations of visitors to Chatsworth. The water has been shut off due to urgent repair needs resulting from severe water damage and structural deterioration. The cost of the repairs is estimated to be £7.5 million.

The Celebrating the Cascade project is made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which awarded the Chatsworth House Trust charity a grant of £4.6m. Thanks to National Lottery players, this project is enabling essential restoration and conservation work urgently required to save and restore the Cascade, and is engaging a much wider range of people with Chatsworth, ensuring they can see, feel, and take part in the Chatsworth story.