Community groups across County Durham are celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee thanks to funding from believe housing.
The County Durham-based housing association offered grants of up to £500 to host one-off Jubilee events.
More than £8500 has been awarded to almost 20 events throughout the bank holiday weekend.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the following events as part of their Jubilee celebrations:
Monday 30 May
- Coundon and Leeholme Community Centre children’s party, noon to 3pm. Ticketed event.
Wednesday 1 June
- An intergenerational jubilee jamboree with traditional games and food at Woodhouse Close Church and Community Centre, in Bishop Auckland, from 10.30am to 2.30pm.
Thursday 2 June
- The St John’s Hall, in Meadowfield, will take part in the traditional lighting of the Queen’s Beacon, alongside 1500 organisations across the country and the Commonwealth, from 7.30pm. Light refreshments will be available as well as entertainment from Brandon Carrside, who are studying music at Newcastle College.
- Henknowle Queen’s Jubilee Celebration at Henknowle Community Centre, Cumbria Place, Bishop Auckland from noon to 3pm- organised by Wear Valley Action Group with crafts, face painting and bingo.
- Dance through the decades at Trimdon Village Hall, 3pm to 8pm, during an evening of singing, dancing and remembering the decades passed since the Queen’s coronation. All welcome and free to attend.
Friday 3 June
- Trimdon Community College Association will host a party for the platinum jubilee, from noon to 4pm. There will be a family fun day with bouncy castles, jubilee themed crafts and an afternoon tea party for older members of the community, at Trimdon Community College, 64 Elwick View, Trimdon, TS29 6JU.
- Dalton-le-Dale Queen’s jubilee celebration will have events in and around St Andrew’s Church. This community event will include a children’s fancy dress competition, a parade, street lunch, art display, historical photos and is open to all, from noon.
Saturday 4 June
- Queen’s jubilee community get together at West Auckland Memorial Hall, 1pm to 4pm. An afternoon celebration with music and food. Ticketed event.
- Coundon and Leeholme Community Centre are hosting an afternoon tea, from 2pm.Ticket event.
- Witton-le-Wear Primary School will hold a jubilee fete, from 2pm, with traditional games, bouncy castles and refreshments.
- Friends of Addison Park will host a family jubilee event with bouncy castles, face painting, balloon modelling, mascots and hot food at Addison Park, Browney, Meadowfield DH7 8GX, from 1pm to 3pm (open to local residents only).
- A jubilee community fun day held by Hesleden Residents Association at Hesleden Working Men’s Club will include a bouncy castle, outdoor games, food and entertainment, from 1.30pm to 5pm. Open to all and free to attend.
- Family fun day at Howden-le-Wear Village Hall from 9:30am to 5pm, including children’s entertainment and bouncy castles.
Sunday 5 June
- West Rainton and Leamside Village Partnership’s Queen’s platinum jubilee big lunch community celebration. There will also be a celebration to thank local community volunteers and workers who have given so much over the years. St Mary’s Churchyard, 1pm to 3pm.
- Esh Winning Residents Group’s jubilee family event will include inflatables, face painting, a band, quizzes, at Woodlands Hall, Woodlands Road, Esh Winning, DH7 9JJ, from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
- Durham’s Haven jubilee family fun day with a craft fair, tombola, raffles, children’s games and live music, at The Hut, Chestnut Grove, Ushaw Moor, 11am to 5pm.
- Wheatley Hill Scout Hut jubilee celebration is a garden party open to all, from 1pm.
- A special service will be held at St Andrew’s Church, Dalton-le-Dale, at 5pm.
Tuesday, 7 June
- Queen’s platinum jubilee party from Parkside and District Community Association. A variety of celebrations for people of all ages at Parkside Community Centre, Seaham, from 9am to 8.30pm.
Anne-Marie Parkin, Community Investment Coordinator for believe housing, says: “The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is an important national milestone that we’re looking forward to celebrating.
“It’s also the perfect time to bring communities together to mark this special occasion. That’s why we were delighted to fund so many events across our county for the Jubilee. So people can enjoy this moment in history together after being apart during the pandemic.”
To find out more about believe housing’s community investment programme, click here.
