On Saturday 5th September 2026, we brought together families, staff, trustees, volunteers, supporters and friends to celebrate 40 years of Umbrella Derby & Derbyshire at Derbyshire County Cricket Club.
What an incredible day!
It was amazing to see so many familiar faces from across the Umbrella community together in one place. Families who have been part of Umbrella for many years, alongside newer families, staff, volunteers and supporters, all came together to enjoy the afternoon and celebrate what Umbrella means to so many people.
It was a day full of celebration, laughter and inclusivity, with something for everybody to enjoy.
Alongside all of the fun, our wonderful Family Support team were there to speak to families and offer advice and support, while our sensory circuit provided a space for children and young people to explore and play.
We were also incredibly lucky to have Paul from Magical Mayhem joining us for the day. Paul was fantastic throughout the event, entertaining children and adults with his magic and bringing plenty of laughter to the celebration. He really helped make the day special, and we are so grateful for the time and energy he put into making sure everyone had fun.
There were lots of opportunities to get creative too. Saturday marked the beginning of a creative project with Artcore, a community-made mosaic which will eventually be displayed proudly outside our Annie Hall Centre. Families were able to contribute to the artwork, creating something together that will become a lasting part of our 40th anniversary celebrations.
The creativity didn’t stop there, we also worked together to create a scarecrow for the Duffield Scarecrow Trail, where this year’s theme is “When I Grow Up”. Matilda the Scarecrow is inspired by the dreams, ambitions and “When I Grow Up” aspirations of people across our Umbrella community. Everyone was invited to share what they would like to be when they grow up, helping to make Matilda a celebration of the different dreams and possibilities within our community. She will be proudly displayed at the Duffield Scarecrow event between 16th and 20th September 2026.
We were joined by Derbyshire County Cricket Club, who kindly ran an accessible tabletop cricket game, giving people the opportunity to enjoy cricket in a way that could be adapted to different abilities.
We were also delighted to welcome Derbyshire’s Male Voice Choir, who have recently fundraised for Umbrella. It was lovely to have them join us and be part of our wider community coming together to celebrate 40 years of Umbrella.
One of the most meaningful moments of the day was hearing from our Deputy Youth Mayor, Anselmo, who accessed Umbrella’s services from the age of five. Having Anselmo, someone who has grown up with Umbrella’s support, speak at our 40th anniversary celebration was incredible. It was an empowering reminder of the difference that the right support, opportunities and encouragement can make as children and young people grow into adulthood.
“It was really special to see so many people who have been part of Umbrella’s story come together to celebrate 40 years. For me, the day captured so much of what Umbrella is about. Hearing Anselmo talk about his journey from coming to Umbrella as a five-year-old to becoming Derby's Deputy Youth Mayor was a wonderful reminder of why we should always encourage children and young people to dream big and believe in their potential. That’s exactly what Matilda the Scarecrow represents too – all those different dreams and ambitions for the future. And I love that our mosaic is being created by our whole community, because friendships, connections and belonging are such a big part of Umbrella. As we look to the future, Umbrella will continue to create opportunities for the children and young people we work with to grow, build their independence and achieve as much as they possibly can, surrounded by people who believe in their potential"
And, of course, there was cake! Aramark kindly donated our 40th anniversary cupcakes, which were enjoyed throughout the day. A huge thank you to Aramark for providing such delicious treats.
A huge thank you also goes to Cosy, who sponsored our 40th Anniversary Celebration and helped make the event possible. We are incredibly grateful for their support.
Above all, the afternoon was about the people who make up Umbrella. Seeing so many faces from our community together, enjoying activities, spending time with each other and celebrating 40 years of support was a brilliant way to mark this milestone.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, helped make the day possible and continues to be part of the Umbrella community. We cannot wait to carry on celebrating 40 years of Umbrella together throughout the rest of our anniversary year!
