U3A Day June 2nd 2021
An opportunity to learn more about the opportunities and new experiences that come from being no longer in full-time employment or bringing up children. See what amazing and diverse things that our members get up to and challenge preconceptions of what being an older adult means.

The 2021 event will be enhanced by the multitude of projects, activities, outcomes and new approaches to communication that have emerged as a consequence of the 2020 Pandemic Lockdown period. Check out the National Website or see what is happening on your doorstep by visiting the local Sedgefield and District u3a website for lots of information and contact details for forthcoming events.

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Love Exploring Space Walk
Blast off at Hardwick Park with a brand new space walk. Download the 'Love Exploring' app, find the augmented reality planets and complete the themed quiz questions on this fun, interactive walk around the park. The app is available on Apple and Android devices.

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Get outdoors and enjoy weekly walks
As part of National Walking Month, we are promoting Walk Durham, a programme which covers the whole of the county. Walk Durham offers a variety of opportunities for people interested in walking, supporting people to take those first gentle steps through to weekly wellbeing walks.

As many people may not have been active during lockdown a series of short walks to help build confidence and fitness levels will be offered. Leaders have been fully trained and will ensure that no-one is left behind. The programme will see the return of four volunteer-led walks in Spennymoor, Witton Gilbert, Beamish and Annfield Plain from Monday 24 May.
Meet new people. All walks are being held in line with current coronavirus restrictions in the interest of public safety.
Find out more at www.durham.gov.uk/walkdurham

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Sedgefield Baby & Toddler Group
Sedgefield Baby & Toddler Group have returned to Ceddesfeld Hall operating on Tuesdays from 9.30am - 11.00am.

Additional measures will be in place including one entrance, one exit, social distancing & face masks for adults. A reservation system will be in place as we can only have 15 adults in at one time. Unfortunately, refreshments will NOT be available as there is no access to the kitchen, please bring your own snacks/drinks.
£3 per family.
Please join the Facebook page for further updates or to ask any questions: "Sedgefield Baby & Toddler Group". Looking forward to seeing everyone soon Maddie, Deborah & Lynsey

Sedgefield Library

Check with the club for COVID-19 updates.
Usual Opening Hours:
Wednesdays: 9:30am-12:30pm
Thursdays: 10am-6pm
Fridays: 1pm-7pm
Saturdays: 9:30am-12:30pm

Thursdays 10:30-12:30: Basic computing, tailored to your needs.
Thursdays 2.15pm: 'Boogie Beat' Pre-school session. Booking reqd.
Craft Group: 1.30pm 2nd & 4th Friday
Book Circle: 2pm 3rd Friday. New members welcome. Browsing will be limited to 20 mins and only 4 visitors allowed at a time, so you may be asked to queue patiently outside. See www.durham.gov.uk/libraries for updates and information and to updated with any service changes. Also the Facebook page CountyDurhamLibraries is absolutely full of interest. We recommend following them. Summer Reading Challenge: Space Chase, limited spaces, please book

Tel: 03000 269521

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The Hub

Sedgefield Community College
Closed due to COVID-19.
New Dance Generation: Monday U9s 5-5.45pm. Over 9s 5.45-6.30pm
Clubbercise:Tue 6.00pm
Zumba: Tue 6.30pm & Thurs 7pm
Blade Taekwondo: Sat 10.30am
Call 01740 617882 for all enquiries

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Sedgefield Community Association

Ceddesfeld Hall is closed with immediate effect. In line with Government advice, relating to Coronavirus, COVID-19, Ceddesfeld Hall is closed from Tuesday 17th March, initially for two months. All SCA events up to mid July have been cancelled. Very best wishes to all members and patrons of Ceddesfeld Hall.

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Sedgefield Social Club

Check with the club for COVID-19 updates. Usually Entertainment every Saturday. Telephone Number: 01740 620591

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St John Fisher Catholic Church

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. Wed & Fri mornings, 9.45am. Sunday 10.45am with Children's Liturgy in term time. Adoration on Thursday at 7pm. Legion of Mary meeting Friday mornings after Mass. To contact The Parish Office, email parishsecretary1961@btconnect.com

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New Generation Church

Check here for COVID-19 updates.

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One Step Forward Bereavement Support Group

As Panny Pighills left the village some time ago, the first port of call for bereavement support is now Sue Archer.
You can contact Sue on 07779 093386 or 01740 239278 or go to our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/onestepforwardsedgefield Unfortunately we can only offer telephone support at the moment, but we hope to be back at St Edmund’s on Thursdays (15:00-17:00) before too long.

Sedgefield Methodist Hall Non-Profit Playgroup

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. Mon, Wed & Thurs 9.30am - 11.30am in term time. For children aged 2 to 4. Contact Barbara Smith 01740 620923 or Jane Jones 01740 620893.

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Youth Club

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. Monday Evenings in Term Time. Parish Hall. Juniors (50p) 6-7pm, Seniors (£1) 7-8:30pm. Table tennis, Xbox, Playstation, tuck shop and more. For info email natalie@Sedgefieldtowncouncil.gov.uk

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Sedgefield Tea Dance

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. For information, call Joyce 01740 622601 or Ann 01740 629070

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Fishburn Art Group

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. Fishburn Art Group is looking for new members. The group meets every Monday from 9.30am till noon. Anyone interested is welcome to visit to see what goes on and meet members. For further info call Julie Underwood on 07770 972 988 or email underlogs@talktalk.net

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Sew Easy Sessions

Check with the contacts for COVID-19 updates. Mon 6.30-9pm & Wed 1-4pm. Venue: Parish Hall Boardroom

Sedgefield U3A Book Club

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The book is a series of connected individual stories and Olive is the link through them all. This collection of complete stories is about the neighbours, students, people that Olive knows, their hopes, aspirations, mistakes and successes.

Olive is a "bulldozer" of a woman, she's brusque, difficult to like and rarely shows any compassion for others or understanding; apart from three occasions: a suicidal boy, an ex-student; an anorexic girl; and the young man who holds a group of people, including Olive, hostage at gun point in the hospital. Sadly, but not surprisingly, Olive has few friends. Her lack of understanding has caused a chasm to develop between her and her son. This difficult, prickly relationship led to some considerable discussion in the group.

Olive is difficult to like, fascinating to analyse and, as her husband Henry says, she has never, ever apologised!

What we did all agree upon, was Elizabeth Strout's wonderful writing. The descriptive passages took the reader along the roads Henry was driving along. The superbly evocative descriptive sections of the coast were wonderful. The characterisation was detailed and intense; how else could we learn so much about this prickly awkward person and dislike her so much, but also understand what made her tick?

Several criticisms were made about the negativity in the book, is true life really that sad and lonely? One member commented "There is nothing uplifting in the book." This was contentious book choice; the final scores ranged from several tens down to a four; with an average of 6.4.

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The Witham Art Gallery

Two exhibitions of local artists will be hosted during June at the Witham, Barnard castle, both celebrating the nature and landscapes of Co. Durham & the North East, but in totally different ways. Simon Pell moved to Barnard Castle in 1987 after having studied at the Slade & worked as a set designer for the Castle Players, staging Shakespeare at the Bowes museum.

His exhibition at the Witham is an exploration of the local landscape in vivid colour, employing a combination of techniques to create vibrant brilliant renderings of nearby scenes he has photographed. Gill Kopka works mainly in pencil & watercolour, and represents nature much more faithfully. Her work will be exhibited from 16th June-13th July.
https://thewitham.org.uk/exhibitions/

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Hardwick Hall Events

Hardwick Hall is of course a fantastic venue for outdoor music events like Hardwick live, which is returning to Sedgefield in August (tickets available now at hardwickfestival.co.uk) but live music is returning to the grounds long before that.

On Friday the 11th June a mass karaoke sing-along event called 'Kroud Karaoke' will be held. Tickets are sold by the table (of 4 or of 6), and catering is available hardwickhallhotel.co.uk/events/kroud-karaoke-night.

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Local Theatre Returns

Northern Stage theatre company has launched several outdoor performances to local audiences on our doorsteps. The initiative, entitled, Out On The Toon will be totally free & will visit Durham, Consett & Stockton among other venues throughout June.
Visit www.northernstage.co.uk/Event/neighbourhood-events for venues & times.

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Sedgefield Lyric Singers Update

Sedgefield Lyric's Youth Choir has been working with Ed Carter, the Artist In Residence at Hardwick Park. They are creating a performance piece based on an old poem about the Park. The Lyric Singers will also be working with Ed over the next few months to create their own Hardwick based composition.

It is hoped that these works will be performed in The Park as part of a Spring festival in 2022. Singers eagerly await further Government clarification as to when large group indoor singing will be permitted.

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Poems in a Pandemic

Sedgefield's Marie Barrigan and Angela Richardson of Hetton-Le-Hole have compiled an anthology of art & poetry journaling the experiences of social care staff and those they supported during the COVID crisis.

Poems in a Pandemic is a collection of over 100 poems and 10 pieces of Art offering insights into the most beautiful and painful moments of the pandemic, as experienced by carers and cared-for in social care.

Contact marie@acetraining.uk to order a copy. The volume costs £25 +P&P. Ace training is a not for profit company, dedicated to the supporting social care sector.

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Nightingale Niceties

Spennymoor's new arts & crafts outlet Nightingale Niceties has announced a programme of workshops during June both for kids & adults. The store opened in 2019 but unfortunately was forced to close its doors by government edict within 6 months. Newly reopened, it offers unique gifts & homeware as well as fun and informative workshops, both for adults and for children, while also supporting 25 local traders.

Workshop numbers are still limited & are filled early so please book well in advance. Visit www.nightingalesniceties.co.uk for full programme of events & to browse the store.

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Falling On Your Feet

Helix Arts, in partnership with Durham County Council, has launched a fantastic initiative to get people up and dancing both at home and at Eastlea Community Centre, Seaham. The programme, aimed at those over the age of 65, offers weekly classes with professional dancers while encouraging mobility, combatting the risk of falls, and benefitting the mental health of participants.

Classes in June run each Thursday morning 11:00-12:30 from 10 June to 22 July. Technical support is available if any software issues arise. Book places online at www.helixarts.com/foyf.php

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