With the advent of winter and the loss
of the Winter Fuel Payment, older
residents may be looking for ways in
which to keep warm and active.
Fortunately, we live in Sedgefield and
there is a wide range of activities
aimed at the older person to fill your
days. At your first visit to any of these
groups, you may not know anyone but,
I’d like to guarantee that you will have
made at least one new friend by the
time you leave!
The WI is possibly the longest running
women’s group in the village and
offers a fun-filled mix of education
and entertainment at their monthly
meetings on the first Wednesday of
every month in the Parish Hall at
7:15pm. For information contact
Christine on 07813 831082.
The Pop-in meets on Tuesday
mornings (10-noon), Wednesday
mornings (10-noon), and Thursday
afternoons (1:30-3:30pm) in the
lounge at Ceddesfeld Hall.
A time to
catch up on all the latest news and
gossip. Book a place at the regular
lunches, afternoon teas or seasonal
trips out and enjoy a warming drink,
delicious biscuits and the occasional
home bakes. Information from Wendy
on 07843 896333.
If you like painting or would like to
learn a little about it, an Art Group
meets in Ceddesfeld Hall on
Thursday mornings from 10-noon.
The SCA Craft Group meet on the
second and fourth Tuesday of each
month in Ceddesfeld Hall at 7:30-
9:30pm and learn new skills as well
as supporting each other with works
in progress.
The u3a is another organisation
focused on sharing skills and
increasing knowledge and their
various groups work in a supportive,
encouraging and fun way to fulfil
their motto of Laugh, Live and Learn.
Monthly meetings with an interesting
and informative speaker are held on
the first Friday of each month 2-4pm
in the Parish Hall, while groups meet
regularly each month. See their new
website for up-to-date details or call
Maxine on 07774 690433.
A Bridge group meets in Ceddesfeld
Hall on Monday afternoons (1:30pm-
4pm) where members meet for
instruction and to learn new
conventions and practice play of predealt
hands. More experienced
players meet on Tuesday evenings to
play deal-and-play hands. Both of
these groups play in a noncompetitive
and social way.
Information from Pat 01740 620607.
We are so lucky to have the
wonderfully supportive Memory Cafe
in Sedgefield, too. This group, which
meets in the Methodist Church Hall
on the third Tuesday of each month
at 10:30-noon, aims to offer support
and motivation to those suffering
with dementia and their carers. They
organise activities, host speakers,
and enjoy meals out. Information
from Dorothy on 07773 286743 or
Carol on 07843 983071.
For the more active there is the
weekly Balance Class on
Wednesdays from 10-11am in the
Parish Hall.
A fun, relaxed and
friendly group who use chair
exercises and simple equipment to
keep functional movement going as
long as they can to maintain a good
quality of life. This is followed by a
Pilates class for those of you who
are looking to maintain your
flexibility or to increase your core
strength.
Carpet Bowlers, new or more
experienced, are very welcome to
attend the sessions on Tuesday and
Thursday afternoons from 1:30-4pm
in the main hall at Ceddesfeld.
DIDO (Days in, Days out) hold
regular dance sessions during their
meetings in the Parish Hall on the
second Monday of each month from
1-3.30pm. They organise an action
packed programme of events which
include game days, competitions,
quizzes, karaoke, bingo, live
entertainers and regular trips out.
It’s
always a happy and relaxed
afternoon when 50-60 women get
together to enjoy a cuppa and a chat.
More information from Brenda on
07597 116847.
The S-milers is a local walking
group which meets each Tuesday to
enjoy walks of varying lengths
organised by the members
themselves. Often they follow local
pathways and routes but they
occasionally travel further afield to
tackle longer or more complex
tracks. For more information,
contact Gene Dobson on 07493
425142.
The Bloom Group meet on
Wednesday mornings and work
extremely hard to plant and maintain
the superb flower displays for which
Sedgefield is so well known.
Although the season is now drawing
to a close they still require members
to tidy and clear summer planting,
collect fallen leaves and generally
oversee their areas throughout the
year. Contact Marie on 07764
194607.
I do apologise if I have missed any
other interesting groups. If you, too,
have a group are aimed at the older
resident then please submit an item
for the next Sedgefield News to
publicise your group.
We are so lucky to have all these
wonderful, supportive organisations
on our doorstep. Just turn up at any
of the meetings or groups and I
know you will get a very warm
welcome.