The Birth of Derby in Need

In January Kevin, now our Managing Director, created a Facebook Group - Derby in Need and with a group of committee members set the path for 2014 with three goals known as our ‘Christmas Project’.

All events were to be arranged and paid for through fundraising events and donations received.

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The Christmas Project begins
Starting with nothing, plans were made for three events and also for fundraising events to cover costs. Part of the planning process was to find suitable venues for the events, who had an understanding and shared our goals. When we sat back we realised we had a daunting task ahead of us, but through hard work and determination we achieved our goals, which included:

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 1 - Pre - Christmas Family Meal

We invited 52 guests to join us at the Blue Peter in Alvaston on Saturday 13th December.

All guests received a free 3 course meal and Santa joined us to hand out presents donated by friends and local businesses.

​2 - Christmas Day Lunch 

The Lunch was held at an OAP complex in Normanton, Derby on Christmas Day 25th December. 63 invited guests attended and were served a 3 course traditional Christmas Lunch with the help of volunteer cooks and committee members as serving staff.

​3 - Family New Year’s Eve Party 

This event was hosted at Chellaston Working Men's Club in Chellaston, Derby with 28 guests all of whom enjoyed a free buffet, disco, fun and games plus a free taxi home.

All the food was donated by local businesses and the disco was donated 'free of charge to a good cause' by a local DJ (who wishes to remain anonymous).

Thank you.​

All three events costing £512 were paid for via fundraising events, kindly hosted by the

102 Club in Derby throughout the year and donations received from group members along with local businesses including The Waterfall who donated the food for the 3 course Christmas Day meal, Bembridge Convenience Store donated the treats, mince pies, Christmas cake, chocolates and some gifts, whilst the the residents of the OAP complex rallied to obtain gifts for Santa to distribute on Christmas Day.
All events were free for our invited guests.
Café Din Din Begins
In addition to the Christmas Project, our catering arm, Café Din Din, catered for a number of parties providing hot and cold buffets plus we hosted a Halloween Party for the residents of the OAP complex which included a cold finger buffet with desserts.