Jan and Tony have been involved in Derby County Community Trust for many years and have continued to be heavily involved throughout lockdown. 

Tony talks about how the Trust's virtual Extra Time Hub sessions and other online social meetings have helped both him and his partner during the pandemic...

"Myself and Jan have been coming to the Extra Time Hub since it started in 2019 and were involved in numerous ways: welcoming people to the sessions, getting them settled with a brew and making quizzes for everyone to take part in.

Since April last year it was an obvious challenge to take the hub virtually but I worked with Luke, Chris and Garry Chadwick to get it ready and we haven’t looked back since. 

Jan has taken the Knit and Natter group online and the ladies meet weekly and sometimes no knitting takes place – it’s just a good place to chat. They have made some fantastic things for local charities and groups including knitted hearts in the first lockdown which were distributed to patients at the Royal Derby Hospital. 

There is also a Book Club that we run and that’s been great for people to come and take part in something virtually that wasn’t an offer before and again a perfect place to come and get away with what’s going on out there currently. 

For us both it’s a chance to get people more socially active and connecting during this period. We are not in this to win and medals but felt it was only right to give back some time to help others feel connected."

Jan’s Knit and Natter groups take place:

Every Thursday, 3pm - 4pm

Book Club runs:

Every Tuesday, 7pm - 8pm

To attend any of the classes mentioned above or browse other virtual sessions, click below:

Virtual Timetable