We were so lucky this year to be partnered with Vaillant Live, the new venue in Derby. They helped raise money for our Christmas appeal, allowing us to be on their marketing and also in the venue collecting money during the Elf shows.
In total we raised £813.69 from people attending the shows and from supporters, which is absolutely amazing. During the campaign Vaillant UK said they would match fund the total, taking the total raised to £1627.38 which will make such a difference to the vulnerable young people and children we support.
We cannot thank Vaillant Live, Vaillant UK and everyone who donated for all their support this year!
On Monday December 22nd we held our breakfast with Santa event at the Blue Jay Pub.
We had over 25 children attend with their families. They enjoyed a hot breakfast, wrote letters to Santa, decorated Christmas decorations and made some reindeer food. We were also visited by Santa Claus and Mrs Claus who spoke to all the children, gave them all a gift and then read a story and answered questions at the end of the breakfast.
It was a brilliant morning and we cannot thank Santa and Mrs Claus enough for spreading Christmas joy. We couldn’t have done it without the support of the Blue Jay pub for all they did and for our kind sponsors Albatross Cars and Cosy who gave so generously so families could attend.
We hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and it was great to see all the smiles from the families who attended.
Yesterday we hosted our charity Festive Smile Luncheon and what a truly wonderful turnout it was!
The atmosphere was filled with warmth, laughter and generosity, making it a day to remember for everyone who joined us. From the beautifully prepared food to the fantastic company, every moment felt special. Our raffle added an extra touch of excitement, with brilliant prizes that brought plenty of smiles, and the speeches throughout the afternoon reminded us exactly why we come together for events like this.
A heartfelt highlight of the day was hearing from our guest speaker, Baasit Siddiqui, whose work in education continues to make a meaningful difference. His talk on supporting young people was not only insightful but also full of humour, leaving the room inspired and uplifted.
We want to extend our deepest thanks to Morley Hayes for hosting us in their stunning, festive venue — the décor alone made the event feel magical. Huge appreciation also goes to Claire Twells and the Smith Partnership for their generous sponsorship and unwavering support. Thank you to Baasit Siddiqui for his engaging talk, to our dedicated trustees, patrons and staff, to Ajit Atwal, the Mayor of Derby for joining us, to Milly Wigley, our incredible founder, and to every single guest who came along and filled the afternoon with warmth and community spirit.
Thank you so much to Jaguar Land Rover, Dobbies, MoveFit, Pictoria, Brooks, Swarkestone Nursery, Hands for Healing and Stefanie Meakin for the incredible raffle donations! Your generosity means so much to our charity!
Events like this remind us how powerful it is when people come together to support a cause, and we are already looking forward to hosting more charity events in the near future. We would love to see even more of our supporters at the next ones — your presence truly makes all the difference.
Please join us at our upcoming events, which you can find here
And don’t forget to follow us on our social media channels to keep up to date with everything happening in our community!
Welcome to another month of our newsletter! Read through what’s been going on this month
This month was Mental Health Awareness. At Children First Derby, we believe that emotional wellbeing is just as important as physical health — especially for children and families navigating difficult times.
Through our family time service, family support service and mentoring service, we will help ensure:-
You’re not alone, you’re supported, you’re valued. Let’s stand together for a brighter, healthier future.
We are happy to announce that our positive parenting programme is back! Helping parents with techniques to help with positive parenting.
Please contact fiona.rogers@childrenfirstderby.co.uk for more information
Thank you so much to Louise Webb and everyone who hiked for 3 charities, including ours! We are so grateful for the support and to everyone who donated and took part. We attended the Networking for Charities event where we presented with the cheque, a great monthly event with a great cause.
A huge thank you to @pladisglobal who generously donated 200 biscuits to our charity! Such an incredible and generous donation that we know the children will enjoy!
Raise free donations for Children First Derby when shopping online with easyfundraising.
It won’t cost you a penny extra. All you need to do is:
2. Install the app and Donation Reminder extension.
3. Activate your donation before shopping online and the retailer will automatically donate to us for free!
Thank you for your support!
Recently, the mother of a child we support mentioned her child’s bike was broken and was struggling financially with their bus fare to school.
We contacted a bike project in Derby called ayup.bikes – Ay Up are a company who provide support with fixing bikes who kindly gave us a discounted fee to help mend the child’s bike. Thank you so much for your support! https://www.ayupbikes.co.uk
Community Action Derby celebrated an incredible milestone this week – 50 years of supporting local communities!
It was an amazing event that we were honoured to be a part of. We were able to meet lots of people from different charities and hear about what they do and talk about what we do.
We heard great speeches from many people, including Dr Amol Raju who spoke about his journey with Community Action Derby. The event ended with a fun dance from Poss+Abilities dance group which was a fantastic reminder of the power of creativity and inclusion in our communities.
A huge congratulations to Community Action Derby on their 50th anniversary, here’s to many more years of making a difference!
Over the festive season, Vaillant Live are going to be raising funds for the Children First Derby Christmas Appeal.
Donations will go towards giving a present to each one of the children and young people this Christmas. The charity supports children from age 0-18 years so need a variety of toys but also gift cards and toiletries for the older children.
Vaillant Live will be donating tickets for the children to enjoy during the festive period, and our venue sponsor, Vaillant UK, has agreed to match the total donations raised as part of the Vaillant Live campaign!
Christmas can be a tough time for so many people, so if you’re able to, your donations would be greatly appreciated.
We have lots of fun events this year for Christmas that we’d love to tell you about! Please see below.
This Christmas, we are holding a Charity Luncheon to help raise money for vulnerable children, young people and families. With special guest speaker and motivational speaker, Baasit Siddiqui from Gogglebox. Tickets include a 2 course meal, welcome drink and an inspiring afternoon!
What’s included with your tickets?
Adults will receive a breakfast cob and a drink.
Children with receive a mini breakfast with a Christmas present from Santa and festive activities to keep them occupied and happy!
The Blue Jay are also holding a Christmas Market with fun stalls, please join us! The details are below.
Looking for some festive fun? Why not sign up to run for a good cause!
Join the Derby Santa Run and help support Children First Derby, a local charity dedicated to supporting vulnerable children, young people, and families across our community.
Every step you take helps provide vital support services, mentoring, and family interventions that make a real difference in children’s lives.
Please support vulnerable kids this festive season but donating unwrapped gifts for children aged 0 – 18 years.
Here are some gift ideas that could help us:
Gift vouchers (Love2Shop, restaurants, cinemas, shops etc.)
Stationary
Toiletries
Activity books
and many more! Make a child happy this Christmas! We appreciate all of your help and support.
Looking to support a good cause? We would love your help!
With all of our events coming up, we need support from volunteers to help us. If you are interested or you know someone who is, please contact – bethan.eddy@childrenfirstderby.co.uk
Here is something to add to your calendar, all of our events in one place.
We look forward to seeing you at our events!
If you would like any further information, please contact – bethan.eddy@childrenfirstderby.co.uk
Welcome to our September update! From meaningful events to exciting milestones, we’re thrilled to share the latest highlights from our charity this month.
This month we said bye to Bella and welcomed Bethan, our new Fundraising Co-ordinator, which you can read about here.
We attended the Networking for Charities event at the Harrisons Hub at Pride Park, it was great to hear from local businesses and charities about work happening in and around Derby.
Louise and Joshua Webb and others walked 75km to raise money for 3 charities, including ours! A massive well done and thank you to all who participated as this is no easy task. We are beyond grateful for the support.
The Baton of Hope Derbyshire event at Darley Park was a brilliant day that we were happy to take part in. Thank you for inviting us and for the opportunity to meet with the incredibly inspiring Richard Whitehead
Oaklands FC recently donated 55 stationary packs to our charity! We thank them for such a generous donation that many children can benefit from.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to @avison_young_uk and RTC Business Park for their incredibly generous donation of food and toiletries. Their thoughtful support makes a meaningful difference, not only to our charity but to many others working to assist those in need. Thanks to contributions like theirs, we are able to continue providing essential items and support to individuals and families facing difficult times. We are truly grateful for their compassion and commitment to the community
One of our mentees – Josh Lowe’s story about bullying was featured in Derby Telegraph, read the article here.
Derby Theatre became a hub of creativity and courage as young people from Children First Derby’s Mentoring Service Youth Forum unveiled the journey of their eighteen-month Anti-Bullying Campaign.
We are proud to show our screening of the Anti Bullying campaign, which you can watch and read all about here.
Are you looking to improve your CV and give back? We are currently looking for volunteers to help and support us in the upcoming months! Please email bethan.eddy@childrenfirstderby.co.uk for any further imformation.
Our charity has some exciting events coming up in the last few months of the year.
We are excited to announce that we will be hosting a Christmas luncheon on the 26th November 2025! With a speech from Gogglebox star and educational speaker Baasit Siddiqui. Please scan the QR code to purchase tickets.
The Christmas Appeal is back this year! We kindly ask that if you would like to donate any gifts for children ages 0-18 years old that they are unwrapped and dropped off at our address.
13 Leopold St, Derby, DE1 2HE
We thank you for your generosity and support. Please email bethan.eddy@childrenfirstderby.co.uk for any further information.
Derby Theatre became a hub of creativity and courage as young people from Children First Derby’s Mentoring Service Youth Forum unveiled the journey of their eighteen-month Anti-Bullying Campaign.
We are proud to present our screening of the Anti-Bullying campaign that our mentoring service and Youth Forum have worked so hard on.
The special screening brought together families, educators, and community groups to see how young campaigners turned personal experiences of bullying into a powerful city-wide movement. A highlight was their portable “Zero Tolerance” sculpture, already touring local schools to inspire action.
The campaign began after mentoring staff noticed a rise in bullying. In response, the Youth Forum created art, film, and resources to empower young people and promote a united, year-round stand against bullying.
“We are incredibly proud of our young people. They are tenacious, resilient individuals who have courageously joined together to find a solution that contributes towards standing against bullying“
“With the fantastic support of Children First Derby, the courage these young people have shown – turning pain into a calls for change – is inspiring. Their work reminds us that everyone, from parents to policymakers, has a role to play in creating safe spaces for every child so we can stand up to bullying.”
“This campaign shows the strength of Derby’s young people and the importance of listening to their voices. By standing together—schools, families, community groups and incredible charities like Children First Derby – we can make zero tolerance to bullying more than a slogan; we can make it reality.”
“It was an excellent event and really demonstrates the brilliant work the young people are doing.”
Another attendee said the following:
“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the invite last night. I felt truly honoured to share the space with such incredible individuals. The work you and your team do is fantastic, and I was genuinely moved to tears.”
Thank you to everyone involved and to everyone who attended to make the evening successful. We appreciate your support!
With a background in local government and fundraising, Bethan brings valuable experience that helps her ease seamlessly into this role. She has a strong focus and passion for the health and wellbeing of young people.
Bethan enjoys being part of the community and is committed to building strong relationships and supporting local people.
In her free time, she loves spending time with her daughter, staying active, and enjoying days out.
We’re excited to welcome Bethan to the team and look forward to the skills and energy she brings to the role!
Welcome to our August update! Let’s dive into all the exciting updates, events, and milestones our charity has been part of this month.
Our Reach for Wellbeing workshop was a success! To read about it, please click here
A huge thank you to Trystan and his amazing team at UPS for their incredible support in transforming the garden of a family, a grandmother and her two teenage grandsons, who are supported by our mentoring service.
Thanks to their hard work and generosity, the family can now truly enjoy their outdoor space — a much-needed source of comfort and joy. The transformation has made a significant difference to their lives and is a real relief for them.
Improvements included repairing the gate, fresh painting, planting, and much more — all done with care and dedication. The garden is now ready for them all to enjoy!
In response to the increasing number of service users experiencing physical, verbal, social, and cyberbullying, members of the Mentoring Service Youth Forum launched an Anti-Bullying Campaign.
As part of the campaign, Catherine Atkinson and Baggy Shanker visited the Youth Forum members and extended a special invitation to visit the Palace of Westminster. This was a truly memorable experience for the young adults. Not only was it their first time visiting the Palace, but it was also an incredible opportunity to explore one of the world’s most iconic buildings and learn about the work of the UK Parliament.
Thanks to East Midlands Railway, who kindly provided complimentary return train tickets to London, the group boarded the train at 8:06 am and made their way to Westminster. During their visit, they explored the dramatic history of the Palace of Westminster and gained insight into the UK Parliament’s role and relevance today.
The young adults found it particularly valuable to learn how they could get involved and actively participate in the democratic process. Highlights of the day included visiting Central Lobby, St Stephen’s Hall, Westminster Hall, the House of Commons, and the House of Lords.
A young adult shared their thoughts on the experience:
“It was my first time going to London. My dad told me that London was a bad place, so I was unsure what to expect. I was surprised – it didn’t seem bad to me at all. In fact, I actually really enjoyed the day. It was great – the staff, the tour, sightseeing – I saw Big Ben! Our lunch, experiencing the day with the others, was enjoyable. And I still cannot believe that the King’s throne in the House of Lords is 23 carat gold!”
Thank you to East Midlands Railway for your generosity! The day was a success and we look forward to more days like this.
Recently, our Family Support Team enjoyed a fantastic day out with parents and children at the National Forest Adventure Farm.
Everyone had a wonderful time exploring the farm – from meeting the animals and navigating the giant maize maze, to enjoying the indoor soft play areas, outdoor adventure zones, and the fun-filled beach party with paddling pools.
It was a great opportunity for families to relax, connect, and make special memories together.
Here’s what some of the parents had to say:
“Thank you once again for a great day out – we all really appreciate you guys!”
“We all had a great time. The children especially loved the giant maze. Thank you!”
“The children really enjoyed the beach party and paddling pools – they had such a lovely time!”
Our Silent Disco last week was so much fun!
Families had a blast as kids enjoyed a range of fun activities – from bracelet making and sweet treats to trying their luck at the tombola… and of course, dancing their hearts out at the silent disco!
It was the perfect mix of fun for the little ones and a chance for parents to sit back, relax, and soak up the good vibes.
Thanks to everyone who joined us – we loved seeing your smiling faces and happy feet!
We had the pleasure of attending the Networking for Charities event at Derby County Community Trust’s Harrisons Hub, hosted by Kings Office Supply.
It was a fantastic afternoon, featuring inspiring talks from both a charity and a local business. A brilliant opportunity to connect with others who are passionate about supporting great causes.
We invite you to support Louise & Joshua Webb who are undertaking a sponsored 75km (50 miles) walk through the night in the Derbyshire Peaks to raise money for 3 charities this year, Children First Derby, Derby & Burton Hospital Trust and Derby County Community Trust, all monies raised with be split equally between the three charities. Your support will help us raise funds for three local charities that make a significant impact in our community.
Together, we can create positive change and ensure that these vulnerable children have access to the resources they need to thrive. Let’s step forward together! Get involved today and help us support these vital causes. Every contribution counts, and we appreciate your generosity!
Please scan the QR code to donate and share!
As always, we appreciate and thank you for your constant support with our charity!
We recently delivered a 8 week programme at our charity. The Reach for Wellbeing workshop offers a holistic approach to addressing the mental health and wellbeing needs of parents and carers. It provides guidance on general health and wellbeing, develops practical skills, and helps establish social support networks.
A quote from a parent who attended the course – “An amazing group. Michael is engaging and so real. I felt like he really cared and understood. I now have a better understanding of my mental health and how to stay well”
A quote from Michael the facilitators – “Another reach for wellbeing programme wrapped up- and what an incredible group it has been! I truly feel lucky to do what I do. Working with individuals who are open, eager to learn, willing to share, and unafraid to be themselves is nothing short of inspiring. Wishing each of them all the very best for the future!”
We are excited to have more programmes like these to help benefit others and learn more about mental health.
