We are an independent charity based at the Weston Centre in the middle of Duffield. Our object is to ‘To relieve the needs of older persons in Duffield and the surrounding area in particular by the provision of a day centre’.
We run activities and social events for the over 60s in a place where they can find a warm welcome, company and friendship. There is no membership, instead we welcome people to drop in to our coffee mornings each Tuesday to Friday (except bank holidays) or join in our other groups, activities, minibus trips and events.
We owe our existence to a generous bequest from the Estate of Richard James Weston of Hazelwood Road who died in 1959. His aim was to benefit the older residents of Duffield. The legacy from his will was supplemented by donations from Duffield Parish Council, Duffield Community Association, the Parish Church and money collected from village residents all of which funded the Weston Centre which was built and opened in 1990 to provide daytime facilities for the over 60s of the village.
The charity first operated as a Trust and transferred to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in 2020. Our registered charity number is 1188669.
We are financially self-sufficient, generating our own funds largely from hiring the Centre. We have secured limited grant funding from the National Lottery Community and Local Connections Funds, the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner’s Vulnerability Fund, and Duffield Parish, Amber Valley and Derbyshire County Councils to expand our services. We are also lucky enough receive donations from village organisations.
For our latest Annual Report and Accounts click here.
Key people in the charity
Trustees:
David Zydzienowski
Chair of Trustees
Oversees minibus and alcohol licence holder
Kate Busman
Trustee and Treasurer
Sandra Zydzienowski,
Trustee, Lead volunteer for coffee mornings and afternoon film club.
Barry Clarke,
Trustee
Jan Thompson
Trustee
Robert Crowder
Trustee
Bernadette Roberts
Trustee
Staff:
Emma Morrison
Weston Centre Manager
Our key volunteers include:
Jean Crowshaw
Monday Lunch Club Lead Volunteer
Our facilities
The Weston Centre is a well-appointed single storey building located in the middle of Duffield close to the A6 and bus stops. There is free parking for centre users in the charity’s four identified parking spaces adjacent to the building. Other spaces can be used free of charge until 4.00pm. Please note that after this time parking in other spaces is only for diners at The Viceroy Restaurant.
The Centre is wheelchair accessible. We have several aids to help people get from their vehicle into the centre, including a walker and a collapsible wheelchair . Both toilets are wheelchair accessible, one has a baby change unit.
We have a large kitchen with two ovens, hobs, a fridge, freezer, microwave, kettles, cutlery, crockery and glassware.
We have a digital projector, screen, TV, DVD player, audio system and hearing loop.
We have a licence to serve alcohol at our own events. Hirers wishing to do so should be prepared to apply to Amber Valley Borough Council for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN).
The minibus is a Mercedes long wheel-based Sprinter with automatic transmission. It seats 17 with the capacity to remove some seats to add wheelchairs. It is fitted with a wheelchair lift.
