Durham Days - 10 years of celebration..

We are excited to be celebrating Durham Days this year during Durham Global Week. Durham Days was first introduced as a concept in 2014, at the time known as Dunelm Days. Since then, the programme has gone from strength to strength with hundreds of events planned and organised by alumni, for alumni, around the world. Let’s look at how it all began…

In 2014, Durham alumni from around the world took part in Dunelm Days – worldwide celebrations of what is means to be a graduate of Durham University, the importance of university connections and maintaining them, while also providing an opportunity to catch up with old friends, make new friends and build the Durham alumni network.

In the beginning

Dunelm Days officially began on Saturday 31 May 2014, the anniversary of the formation of the first Durham alumni group, Durham University Society in 1866. Since then, Durham alumni have generously volunteered their time to plan and organise just under 300 events spanning five continents for fellow alumni and friends of the University. Activities have ranged from Durham-inspired formal dinners to casual gatherings over a bite to eat and drink, from guided museum tours and riverboat cruises to a traditional Viennese Summer Ball and exclusive receptions at British Embassies.

Connecting online

In 2020, we marked Dunelm Days in a different way that still brought alumni and friends together, while celebrating the spirit of support and everyone’s connection to Durham. The Covid-19 pandemic made us rethink our plans, so in a united celebration of International Volunteer Day on Saturday 5 December 2020, we partnered with Durham University’s Student and Staff Volunteering Outreach team to invite alumni, students and staff to connect with each other from the safety of their own home.

We created an online social media group for the community to share happy Durham memories, to offer support and to exchange their volunteering contributions. The group was a busy hub of activity and attracted 500 members from around the world. It encapsulated the spirit of support and community that the Dunelm Days programme was known and loved for. All members connect with each other and shared throwback photos, fond memories and the impact they make through their incredible volunteering efforts.

The return of in-person events

We were delighted to see the return of in-person Dunelm Days events following the pandemic. In 2022, we were back to seeing hundreds of alumni, supporters and friends coming together to renew their Durham pride and take a trip down memory lane. According to feedback from attendees,75% felt that their relationship with their local alumni community and the University had been “strengthened” by the Dunelm Days celebrations.

Looking to our global future

We want to continue building on the success of Dunelm Days and think now is a good time to take stock at how far we have come over the years and introduce some small changes. We are excited to announce that Dunelm Days will be renamed Durham Days and the next celebration will align with Durham Global Week from Saturday 1 March – Sunday 9 March 2025.

By aligning with Durham Global Week, we will bring even more value to our global alumni community. These events will be part of a global movement and occasion that intends to celebrate Durham’s international reach, influence and connections. There will be celebrations here in Durham and, we hope, with your support, countless occasions across the world.

Thank you to you all

We would like to thank all volunteers who have helped us keep our global alumni community connected over the years through the organisation of memorable events. This programme could not be possible without their dedication and passion. Thank you!

With over 230,000 alumni and supporters around the world, you will never be too far from someone who shares a Durham connection. If you are interested in planning an alumni event and want to know more, please get in touch with the team at alumni.volunteer@durham.ac.uk. We can offer a range of advice, from booking a venue, catering and promoting your event. We can also help you connect with relevant alumni for your event through our database.

Read more about Durham Global Week