Welcome to our DD Day 2025 10th anniversary project
Child voice caption: "Like this charity has actually done something good. I think it's actually a very good experience for us." Featuring sounds created in workshops over the last 10 years.
Made possible thanks to National Lottery players, this 10th anniversary heritage project celebrates Delia Derbyshire Day as a small cultural heritage organisation and the communities who drive and take part in our work. This investment gives us an opportunity to consolidate our achievements and strengthen our future with consultancy, training and public events. Interacting with the Delia Derbyshire and Delia Derbyshire Day’s heritage, new creative digital heritage will be shared.
A team of younger volunteers will produce a DD Day event in Manchester (Central Library, 22 Nov, 2-5pm) where the public can interact with and be inspired by the heritage. Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, project partners include Manchester Central Library, North West Sound Archive, John Rylands Research Institute and Library (home of Delia and DD Day archives), Manchester Histories, Full of Noises and Reform Radio.
Caro C, DD Day instigator and Project Manager:
“We are so grateful for this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. We are pleased to have survived the last 10 years and look forward to identifying how we can be of best service for the next 10 years!”
Mark Ayres, Delia Derbyshire Day trustee and Doctor Who Archivist said:
“The work of Delia Derbyshire Day has ensured the archive is a rich source of inspiration and education and has helped with its preservation and access. This anniversary is an opportune time to celebrate the achievements and community of Delia Derbyshire Day, to plan for another decade of empowering underrepresented people.”
Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“We are delighted that thanks to National Lottery Players we are able to support the work of Delia Derbyshire Day to allow young people to explore the heritage of the electronic music pioneer and uncover the influence her work had on television and media, including the iconic Doctor Who theme.”
Our main focus for this project is involving a wider range of people in heritage and building organisational resilience. Activities will include:
- 6 month younger volunteer career development programme where young people (age 18-30) can develop skills in the cultural heritage sector.
- Podcast series (6 episodes) exploring the DD archive and DD Day anniversary, co-produced with our trustees & team of younger volunteers.
- 3 x audio-visual collaborative creative commissions involving/representing our community of volunteers and artists.
- Reform Radio show for DD Day 2025 curated and hosted by younger volunteers.
- External expertise to publish a social impact report and strategic consultancy to renew our purpose and focus. Plus training for our staff to ensure we’re keeping up to date with best practices.
- Cultural heritage event at Manchester Central Library on 22 Nov, 2-5pm, curated by our team of younger volunteers.
- A touring event with Full of Noises, Cumbria, 29 Nov 2025, taking the heritage to rural areas (Delia lived in Cumbria in 1970’s).
With many thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and our project partners Manchester Central Library, John Rylands Research Institute and Library, North West Sound Archive, Reform Radio, Full of Noises and Manchester Histories.
Graphics Credit: Andrea Pazos
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST AND SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS TO GET ON BOARD THE DD DAY 2025 TRAIN!
We are a growing organisation with no core funding so if you are able to, you can support our work via our donations page and get your own Delia-n merchandise from our shop.
