High Sheriff helps charity mark 25 years

More than 80 friends and supporters enjoyed the celebrations which included tours of the house decorated for Christmas, dinner, a raffle and auction.

The High Sheriff of Derbyshire Elizabeth Fothergill, shared with the room her excitement at recently discovering Village Aid’s work and her admiration for the role it plays in engaging the people of the Peak District in global issues.

Guests were inspired by speeches from Alan Davies, Village Aid’s chairman.

Alan said: “From the start, Village Aid has been about bottom-up development, working with and through small local organisations and listening to people in the communities that we support. It has been about empowering them to take control of their own future, building a culture of self-determination not one of dependency or entitlement.”

Village Aid founder Andrew Kingman added: “It is so important to shine a light on the efforts of folk in places like Bakewell to reach out to people in another continent and say we are your friends, we are with you.”

The auction, hosted by Bagshaws’ Alastair Sneddon, was a huge success with guests entering fierce bidding wars to take home prizes that included an original piece entitled ‘The Splash’ by renowned local artist Pollyanna Pickering. Other local companies who donated prizes and experience days included the Private Chef Company, Forest Gin, Cathy Bower Photography, Hope Cement, Wheeldon Trees Farm, Peak Ales, Thornbridge, The Rutland Arms Hotel, Matthew Parris, The Cock & Pullet, Hassop Hall, Judith Duvall, Casa hotel, Derbyshire Dales District Council, Andrew Humphries, and QUAD Derby.

Village Aid thanked all guests and donors for their generosity.