VE Day: Activities funded by South West LAC

The 8 of May 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). We launched a small grant scheme offering funding of up to £300 to groups who wanted to host community activities to celebrate. A total of £5,136 was awarded to 14 groups who hosted a range of activities. 

Grant recipients 

The following groups received funding for their celebrations:

• St Johns Lunch Club, Abbeydale – VE Day Party
• Dore and Totley United Reformed Church – Band Concert
• MHA Communities – Intergenerational Afternoon Tea  
• Westminster Tenants and Residents Association - VE Day Celebration  
• Hallam Methodist Lunch Club – Tea Party
• Methodist Homes (Fairthorn to Dore) – Garden Party and BBQ  
• Broomcroft House Care Home – Visit from Petting Animals
• Friends of Whirlow Brook Park – VE Day Themed Event
• Banner Cross Neighbourhood Group – Themed Event
• Hallam ’89 Theatre Club – Themed Production
• Age UK – Afternoon Tea Party
• St Johns Church Ranmoor – Afternoon Tea
• St Luke’s Hospice – Visit from Petting Ponies
• St Timothys Lunch Club – Indoor Street Party 

Feedback from groups

We asked each group to complete a monitoring form and send us some pictures of their events so that we could showcase the range of activities that took place. Some of the feedback we received included: 

“It was very successful as a wide range of patients, families and carers attended." 

“There was a wide mix of people of different ages; there were people with disabilities who loved being able to enjoy a musical evening.” 

“Our lunch club has very many members who remember the original VE Day 1945. They enjoyed sharing their memories of that day. Everyone joined in singing war time songs led by the entertainers.  A lady with dementia was enlivened by the music, sang along with all the songs and went home happy still singing.” 

“Our VE day was an opportunity to bring together our patients and their families to have an enjoyable afternoon and forget about their troubles.” 

“Some of our residents don’t normally come into the communal areas and socialise, but on this occasion every resident joined in. Everyone was laughing, singing and chatting."

“Our event was a really great day. We held the party within our lunch club. 15 pupils from King Edwards secondary school came and helped to set up the room. We had a street party style buffet with a singer getting everyone singing songs from the 40's."