Latest Platinum Jubilee Awards

Recent recipients of 2022 Platinum Jubilee Norfolk Challenge Awards are the 3rd Thetford Brownies (pictured above).

Examples of the activities they undertook to complete their Award are:

Being Active in Norfolk

Walking grandparents’ dogs twice a week;
Outdoor gym and yoga session;
Beach rounders;
2km Race For Life.

Protecting our Environment

Litter Pick in Thetford;
Gardening Badge.

Learning Legacy

Local History Badge (“Explore the history of your area (your street, neighbourhood, village, town or city) to find out what makes it unique”).

Celebrating the Jubilee

Submitted pictures to be part of Charles Burrell Centre artwork;
Made red, white and blue paper chains to decorate the Church;
Took part in celebrations at school and in town.

Although the Platinum Jubilee Awards are now closed, late entries will be accepted until 31 December 2022.

We also very much hope to announce in due course an ongoing Award programme based on the principles we have established:

For the young and young at heart;
Inclusive;
Caring for and celebrating our county.

Tom Ryves Hosts a Ukrainian Family

Councillor Alun (Tom) Ryves, Independent Councillor for Methwold Ward, describes his experience welcoming a family from the Ukrainian war zone.

Our Guests from Ukraine

We were delighted to be able to be host family for a family of four from Ukraine – Katy (71) her daughters Hannah and Luda and her son-in-law Kyryl. Hannah and Kyryl had been on holiday when the war started (they lived in Kiev) and her mother and sister are from Kharkiv, which is now out of the front line.

Throughout the process, the support received from the Borough and County Councils has been outstanding. Very soon after arrival, the younger members of the family started jobs, whilst mother took over the chickens and vegetable garden and through a strategy of bribery gained the hearts of our three dogs. Typically, the family works from 6am through until 10pm at local factories and in hospitality.

As good English speakers, Hannah and Kyryl have been able to help other families as they arrive, and guide them through the processing necessary to ensure that all guests get the complete support they might need.

All have realised that their world has changed for ever — they have lost friends and had property damaged in the war; and there is the realisation that not having been in Ukraine, they will be outsiders when they return.

The older sister — Luda — has returned, as she missed her daughter, dog and husband, who is in the army. It has caused much heartache for mum. They talk every day and recently, with renewed bombing of Kiev, morale is low.

Community Book Pledge Mission

The Community Book Pledge Mission Fundraiser Days were set up in Cromer at the beginning of 2022 to support the aim of local supply teacher Miss Kay, who runs Miss Kay's Bookstore online, to donate £200 worth of brand new Usborne books to different groups in the locality every month.

So far, they have donated to:

Care homes
Toddler groups
Pre-schools
Nurseries
A youth club
A high school
A campsite
A community cafe

Miss Kay says of her Fundraiser Days:

“All the profits they raise go towards this great cause and enable me to get a beautiful range of high quality books out into our part of the world, to inspire and entertain our readers and - in the words of Usborne, ‘spark curiosity’ in our children and young people.”

Their fundraiser at Cromer Parish Church on 22 October will include “a selection of stalls, some brilliant fundraising games, a colouring competition and delicious refreshments for you along with some fantastic entertainment!”

Green Village Refills

“West Norfolk’s own eco refill station” stocks a range of cleaning solutions, personal hygiene products and sustainable household alternatives for modern-day living. They can be found on the Downham Marketplace every Saturday 8am-3pm and also run a local delivery and mobile refill service.

Here are the instructions:

How do refills work?

Fill, Weigh, Pay, Repeat

Fill your container/jar/bottle
Weigh the contents of the item *
Pay for what you take
Bring it back again when empty!

What do I need to bring?

Anything watertight or able to hold a powder, eg plastic shampoo/washup bottles, takeaway containers, plastic jerry cans, glass jars or bottles, plastic spray bottles.

Please ensure all are thoroughly cleaned before use and old product labels removed.

*Weight of container will be deducted from total

110,000 Trees

In 2019 North Norfolk District Council declared a Climate Emergency and as part of their response, pledged to plant 110,000 trees - one for every resident in North Norfolk – by April 2023.

Covered Market Project

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has requested that UK Power Networks relocate an existing power cable to allow for the construction of foundations for the final phase of the market building.

£97,000 for Community Projects

Renovating sport club pavilions, offering free sign language classes, supporting a debt advice centre, helping wild meadows flourish and funding garden transformations for vulnerable residents are just some of the schemes being supported through Breckland Council grant funding.

(Photo: Weeting Parish Council)

Council Agrees Net Zero Target

Broadland District Council has pledged to be Net Zero by the end of this decade, 20 years ahead of the government’s national target for the UK. The council’s actions over the last twelve months have already had a huge impact, reducing carbon emissions by over 70%. Work already planned for next year will result in a further reduction of at least another 17%.

Simon’s Table

South Norfolk Council are celebrating “the brilliant producers in our district” on Twitter. On Tuesday (11 October) they posted about local producers Simon’s Table, based in Roydon.

Baby Loss Awareness

Tonight (15 October), King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council will be joining communities around the world for the “Wave of Light” as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week. The King’s Lynn Corn Exchange will be lit up in pink and blue.

Christmas Switch On

Norwich City Council will be providing free, festive fun for the whole family when the city is illuminated with Christmas lights on Thursday 17 November. Returning after a three-year absence due to the pandemic, the Christmas Switch On will provide an early glimpse of Father Christmas, live entertainment and a magical light show on City Hall.