Derwent Hall

30/08/2026

Good morning everyone!

As we approach the end of another month, our wonderful staff and volunteers will be taking a well-earned rest this Bank Holiday Monday.

Please note that Derwent Hall will be closed on Monday 31st August only, but we’ll be back open and raring to go on Tuesday 1st September and we’ll look forward to seeing you all again then!

We hope that everyone enjoys the Bank Holiday, whatever you may be doing, and that you have a relaxing and enjoyable day.

Just a little reminder of what we’re all about…

Derwent Hall is here to encourage friendship and socialising and to help combat loneliness and isolation within our over 50s community.

We know that taking that first step through our door can sometimes be the most difficult one. If you’ve been considering joining us, please feel confident that you’ll receive a very warm welcome. There’s no need to feel nervous - come along, meet some friendly faces and see what we’re all about.

LUNCH CLUB
Our lunch club begins at 12 noon prompt every weekday, excluding Bank Holidays.

£5 cash only for a delicious two-course meal.

AFTERNOON CLUBS
We also run afternoon clubs from Monday to Wednesday, please see the list for details.

POP-IN CAFÉ
Our small pop-in café is open Monday to Thursday, 10am–1pm, providing a lovely opportunity to call in, enjoy a drink, a light snack and a chat.

Whether you’re a regular visitor or someone thinking about coming along for the first time, you’ll always be made very welcome at Derwent Hall.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

23/08/2026

Good afternoon everyone!

We hope everyone who joined us for our afternoon tea on Friday had a lovely afternoon and enjoyed the occasion as much as we did.

If you weren’t lucky enough to get a ticket this time, don’t worry, we would love to welcome you to one of our lunches next week or to one of our afternoon clubs.

Coming along is a great way to meet others, enjoy some company and find out about future events, activities and trips out. You never know, you might even hear about our next special event before the tickets go on sale!

We’d love to see you soon!

We are open from Monday - Friday, why not join us for lunch and a chat, call in to our pop-in cafe (Mon - Thurs 10am - 1.30pm) or come along to one of our afternoon clubs that currently run from Monday - Wednesday?

The lunch club for Darwen’s over 50 community, are served at 12 noon prompt each weekday (excluding Bank Holidays).
Cost is £5 (cash only) for each two course meal.

If you have any dietary requirements, please ring 01254 702259 to discuss.
All ingredients are sourced locally where possible.

23/08/2026

On Friday afternoon, we stepped outside our comfort zone and set out to create something a little different for Derwent Hall and rather special for some of our wonderful older friends in the community.

The response was incredible, tickets sold out in no time, and we even had a reserve list!

A huge thank you to our fabulous team of staff and volunteers, including those who generously gave up their own time to come along and help on the day. You all worked together like a well oiled machine, creating a beautiful Afternoon Tea that was something to be proud of.

Most importantly, it was wonderful to see so many smiling faces and know that the afternoon was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who attended.

Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a special afternoon including everyone who contributed to the raffle in any way.

16/08/2026

16/08/2026

Good morning everyone and a very warm welcome to our new followers!

We’re delighted to have you here and hope it won’t be too long before we have the pleasure of welcoming you in person.

Whether you fancy joining us for lunch, one of our afternoon clubs, or both, you can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, make new friendships, enjoy some lovely company and perhaps even re-acquaint yourself with friends from years gone by.

There’s always a friendly face and a warm welcome waiting for you, so why not come along and join us? We would love to see you!

We are open from Monday - Friday, why not join us for lunch and a chat, call in to our pop-in cafe (Mon - Thurs 10am - 1.30pm) or come along to one of our afternoon clubs that currently run from Monday - Wednesday?

The lunch club for Darwen’s over 50 community, are served at 12 noon prompt each weekday (excluding Bank Holidays).
Cost is £5 (cash only) for each two course meal.

If you have any dietary requirements, please ring 01254 702259 to discuss.
All ingredients are sourced locally where possible.

AFTERNOON TEA – FRIDAY 21ST AUGUST

A huge thank you to everyone who has bought a ticket for our Afternoon Tea. We’re delighted to say that the event is now FULLY BOOKED!

It promises to be a lovely afternoon, with great food, music, a raffle and lots of fun and laughter. We’re really looking forward to seeing you all and enjoying a wonderful afternoon together!

09/08/2026

Good morning everyone!

What a busy week it’s been at Derwent Hall!

A huge thank you to Nat and Susan for all the extra work, time and effort you put in last week. Of course, a big thank you to everyone else who has played their part behind the scenes and throughout the week. Without everyone’s combined effort, support and teamwork, none of it would happen. We may not mention everyone by name, but please know that every contribution is noticed, valued and very much appreciated. Thank you all!

Also, thinking of our lovely Lana and sending you lots of love at this difficult time. We’re all thinking of you and hoping you’re taking care of yourself. Please know that you’re very much cared about by everyone at Derwent Hall

Once again, a big thank you to Pat and Brenda for arranging another very successful trip to the Elgin Hotel in Blackpool. Between the Monday and Wednesday Afternoon Clubs, a fantastic 50 people went along and, by all accounts, a wonderful time was had by everyone! There was entertainment, great food and, most importantly, good company and friendship.

It’s lovely to see what our clubs are all about, bringing people together, making new friends, enjoying a good laugh and creating happy memories along the way.

Here at Derwent Hall, there’s always something going on. From our regular lunches, where good food and good company go hand in hand, to our social clubs, activities, trips and get-togethers, we’re all about creating a welcoming place where everyone can come along, enjoy themselves and feel part of the community.

So, whether you’re joining us for lunch, coming along to one of our afternoon clubs, heading off on a trip or simply popping in for a chat and a brew, there’s always a warm welcome waiting for you.

We are open from Monday - Friday, why not join us for lunch and a chat, call in to our pop-in cafe (Mon - Thurs 10am - 1.30pm) or come along to one of our afternoon clubs that currently run from Monday - Wednesday?

The lunch club for Darwen’s over 50 community, are served at 12 noon prompt each weekday (excluding Bank Holidays).
Cost is £5 (cash only) for each two course meal.

If you have any dietary requirements, please ring 01254 702259 to discuss.
All ingredients are sourced locally where possible.

02/08/2026

Hello everyone! We hope you’re all keeping well!

A warm welcome to everyone who has joined us recently, we hope you’ve enjoyed spending time with us. It’s always lovely to see new faces alongside our regulars.

Just a little update from us…

As of last Friday, there were just two places remaining for our Afternoon Tea on Friday 21st August. The final preparations are now all in place, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone for what promises to be a lovely afternoon.

Last week it was wonderful to welcome Tony, Nat’s Dad, back again to continue helping with our garden transformation. It’s really starting to take shape, and we’re so grateful for all the time and effort he’s giving.

We are hoping to have a little stand of rooted cuttings etc soon, available for a small donation. If anyone has any small, rooted cuttings they’d be happy to donate, we would be incredibly grateful.

Also, we’re delighted to say we now have a fully tuned piano! We hope the gentle tinkling of the ivories will become a wonderful addition to our menu of activities and bring even more enjoyment to everyone who visits.

Finally, we’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of our incredible staff and volunteers. Your dedication, hard work, and commitment to our community are at the heart of everything we do. The positive improvements we’re seeing today are a reflection of your passion and the support of everyone who believes in what we’re building together. Thank you for helping us create a stronger, more welcoming place for our whole community.

As always, thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you all soon!

We are open from Monday - Friday, why not join us for lunch and a chat, call in to our pop-in cafe (Mon - Thurs 10am - 1.30pm) or come along to one of our afternoon clubs that currently run from Monday - Wednesday?

The lunch club for Darwen’s over 50 community, are served at 12 noon prompt each weekday (excluding Bank Holidays).
Cost is £5 (cash only) for each two course meal.

If you have any dietary requirements, please ring 01254 702259 to discuss.
All ingredients are sourced locally where possible.

29/07/2026

Plinky Plonky is making a comeback at Derwent Hall!

For far too many years, our poor old piano has been sitting quietly out of sight, gathering dust and waiting patiently for someone to play it. Well… its wait is finally over!

Our Manager, Nat, has decided it’s time to give the old girl a new lease of life, and this Friday she’ll be brought back into action.

A huge thank you goes to these two wonderful ladies, Pat and Brenda, (pictured). As long-standing Derwent Hall Committee members, they also generously volunteer their time running our Monday Friendship Group and Wednesday Darby and Joan Club.

Not only do they give so much of their time, they’ve also very kindly donated £100 to cover the cost of having the piano professionally tuned. We’re incredibly grateful to Pat and Brenda, and to everyone who continues to support these much-loved groups.

Now all that’s left is to see whether Nat can find the time to tickle the ivories between everything else she does around Derwent Hall! We have a feeling our newly revived piano is about to become the happiest (and noisiest!) resident in the building.

29/07/2026

A huge thank you to Tony (aka Nat’s Dad) for all the hard work and care he’s putting into transforming the little garden at the front of our Daycare.

Tony has been busy removing some of the old overgrowth, planting beautiful new shrubs, and creating a garden that will be much easier to maintain for years to come. His generosity, time, and effort are very much appreciated, and we can’t thank him enough.

This wonderful transformation will make such a positive difference for our staff and visitors, creating a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.

We hope Tony’s fantastic community spirit will inspire others to get involved in the future and help us continue making Derwent Hall an even more inviting place.

Thank you Tony, for everything you’re doing. Your kindness and hard work are making a real difference, and we’re incredibly grateful!

28/07/2026

Our daycare has been bursting with creativity this summer!

Our wonderful daycare users have worked so hard to create this beautiful summer wall frieze, and we’re so proud of the finished masterpiece.
It has been lovely to see everyone getting involved, sharing ideas, and enjoying the creative process together.

You can now see the frieze proudly displayed on the back wall of the hall, so next time you call in for lunch or attend one of our clubs, do take a moment to have a look!

A huge thank you goes to our amazing Activity Co-ordinator, Michelle, for organising this fantastic project, and to our lovely carers, Susan, Kirsty and Lana for all their help.

Swipe through to see not only the finished frieze, but also some of the special moments of our users working together to bring it to life.

Well done everyone, you’ve created something beautiful!