Darlington Voluntary & Community Sector Support Service

01/09/2026

📣 Darlington Lecture Association – New Season Begins!

Founded in 1844, we’ve been bringing inspiring speakers to Darlington for over 180 years, meeting every month from September to April at The John Caden Hall, Carmel College.
Parking is free, well‑lit and right outside the venue.

🎤 Next Lecture: “Tan Hill Tales”
📅 Monday 7 September 2026
🕢 7.30pm – 8.45pm
📍 Carmel R.C. College, The Headlands, Darlington DL3 8RW

Join award‑winning speaker and author Neil Hanson for a hilarious and fascinating look at his time running Britain’s highest inn in the 1970s and 80s complete with eccentric locals, naturist weekends, lock‑ins, police raids and even a famous TV advert shoot.

🎟 Admission
• Adults: £7
• Under 18s/Students: £2
• Membership (all 8 lectures free): Adults £30, Under 18s/Students £10

No need to book — just turn up and pay on the door.
We’d love to welcome new faces from across Darlington.

30/08/2026

Can you help? We are short of science fiction, fantasy and horror books. We have lots of fans for this section, but not as many books as we would like. You can drop any donated books at 23 Blackwellgate, opposite Binns in Darlington town centre, two shops from Boyes. We are open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday, except Bank Holidays. .

30/08/2026

30/08/2026

There are only a couple of stalls left for our Autumn and Christmas Fayres.
If you have already received a booking form but not yet returned it please be aware that we can't reserve your stall place until we receive the booking form.

If you would like to book a stall please contact us on 01325 362 832 or email: [email protected]

30/08/2026

Looking for a friendly place to meet others, learn something new or simply enjoy a cuppa? Age UK North Yorkshire & Darlington has a fantastic range of activities taking place at Bradbury House in Darlington.

Throughout the week there’s something for everyone, so why not come along and get involved? Take a look at the attached poster, or call 01325 362832 to find out more.

30/08/2026

Did you know?

We provide a room booking service for community centres and village halls, responding to phone and messenger enquiries seven days a week, so you don't have to rely on volunteers. The service is very cheap to buy and also includes business management support (we maintain your cashbook so the treasurer only needs to provide oversight), and we help you apply for grants, free of charge.

The service more than pays for itself. The graph below shows the impact at Linthorpe Community Centre in Middlesbrough: a significant rise in groups, services and activities benefiting the community, achieved in under 18 months.

16/08/2026

What do you think of Darlington town centre?

As part of the refresh of the council’s town centre strategy, they are keen to hear your views.

They want to know what’s important to you and what isn’t; as well as understanding how you would like to use your town centre, be it for work, leisure, education, or socialising.
This is an opportunity to get involved and shape how your town centre will look, feel, and be used for many years to come.

Take the survey and check out a list of summer events: https://ow.ly/YqSY50ZySPA