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.