DARSHAM RESPONSE TEAM

Part of RURAL COMMUNITY RESPONDERS (Reg. Charity No. 1103206)

We cover Darsham, Middleton, Westleton and Yoxford and rely on public donations to purchase our equipment. Any donations will be used only for those areas for which they were given, for example any money received for the Darsham Group will only be used to purchase equipment etc for use in the four villages shown above.

Rural Community Responders are a group of volunteers trained in Basic Life Support who are called by the East of England Ambulance NHS Trust to attend 999 calls in the Suffolk coastal area. This is a particularly rural area with a limited road network which impedes ambulance response times. The Suffolk coast also has an increased population during the summer months due to its popularity as a tourist destination.

The East of England Ambulance NHS Trust aims to reach 75% of 999 calls within eight minutes, however historically this has been difficult to achieve in this area due to its rural nature. Responders living and working in the Suffolk coastal area are available to attend 999 calls within minutes and arrive on the scene before the ambulance.

Rural Community Responders provide life-saving treatment, such as CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation) and the use of a defibrillator to restart a person's heart after suffering a cardiac arrest. There are many people alive today who would not be here wothout the work of the responders!

For more information please contact: info@rural-responders.co.uk

http://www.rural-responders.co.uk

DARSHAM CRAFT DAYS

These popular events take place twice a year; they are so popular that we have to take bookings 12 months in advance. People travel to the craft days from as faraway as Hampshire. The idea is that you choose two crafts that you would like to try, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, there are usually 14 different craft classes to choose from. All proceeds are shared equally between the Parish Church, Methodist Church and the Village Hall.

If you would like further information please contact Jo Kirby (TBA)

DARSHAM CARPET BOWLS CLUB

Members of the Heritage Coast League, with a team in Division 2. Also members of Suffolk Carpet Bowls Association.

Practice meetings on Thursdays from 7.30 to 9.00pm, in the Village Hall. New members always welcome.

Contact: heather@darsham.plus.com

DARSHAM HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Three "open" Shows a year for flowers, vegetables and domestic entries. These are held in early April, middle of July and middle of September in the Village Hall.

Contact Show Secretary for more information: heather@darsham.plus.com

Darsham Tuesday Exercises - Preventing Falls

We meet at 10.30 am. so that we can begin exercises promptly at 10.45 am, and finish before 12.15 pm. At 12.15 we hope we will be serving fresh baked rolls and home-made soup for £1.50 to anyone in Darsham (or surrounding villages) who would like to come and join us.
(Attendance at the exercises before is not a pre-requisite ….! – we’d just like to see you, chat and catch up on news.)

The exercise session is mainly chair-based and consists of a warm-up, followed by mobility exercises, stretching, flexibility, strengthening, endurance (!), and co-ordination – though not necessarily all in one session or in that order. The emphasis however, is on being aware of, and improving, balance through posture, breathing and targeting specific muscles in order to build up resistance and reduce the risk, and consequences, of falling. There is some standing/balance work involved (using chairs for support) and the exercises are performed are in accordance with the latest postural stability guidelines, and National Service Framework for Older People. Simple equipment is often used to enhance movement (and fun!), initial functional assessment measurements recorded as evidence based practice(i.e. that it actually all works!) where appropriate, and we finish with a time of dynamic, physical relaxation – as the skill improves so the time is lengthened.

There is a cost £1.00 a time (for the hire of the hall, heat and light), and just turn up when you can. It’s all very flexible…. But we’d love to see you, regular attendance will definitely bring benefits to health – your health is your responsibility. Please check with Linda Ginn before arriving.
Linda Ginn, Postural Stability Instructor, Extend

DARSHAM LOCAL HISTORY ARCHIVE

We have a large and ongoing collection of material about Darsham Past & Present.

Our Local History Recorder always welcomes photos and items of interest to add to the parish archive and we always copy and return all material promptly.

If you would like help with researching your Darsham family history, or if you have a story to tell about Darsham or Darsham people we would be pleased to hear from you.

Please e-mail: ronaldreeve@aol.com 

Darsham Womens' Institute was formed in November, 1920 and has had a flourishing membership over the years.  Members meet in the Darsham Village Hall at 7.30.pm., on the first Wednesday each month, except  January and August.  Visitors and new members are always welcome.

The president for the year 2007/8 is TBA.