Wellbeing Newsletter An Autumn Miscellany
In this latest wellbeing newsletter, we offer a range of items: funding to help set up warm places and warm spaces in places that do not currently have them; some to help you save energy; some to persuade you to get out and enjoy the treasures that our county has to offer; and some to be prepared to counter those who would sow dissent and discord among neighbours.
Community Hot-Spots
In our last newsletter we talked about funding that was available to support communities that wanted to set up places for people to go over the winter, where they could meet up, socialise, learn new skills, share experience and expertise etc.
Norfolk Community Foundation (NCF) has just launched a new source of funds to support these types of initiatives. Grants of £2,000 are available to contribute towards the cost of running or establishing a Community Hot-Spot that gives a warm welcome to the whole community, in particular reaching those who are vulnerable or have been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.
They are particularly looking to fund areas where there may not be any other warm room type activities and are willing to find projects which may be in an unexpected venue – a pub, a café, a laundrette – you name it! As usual they will look to fund VCSE groups or parish councils, so a partnership arrangement will need to be in place between an eligible group and a venue (if it is not owned by the group applying). More details are in the guidance on the website.
NCF will give support and guidance to any groups that need it, you just need to get in touch.
Energy Advice Sessions from Community Action Norfolk this Winter.
As part of their Big Energy Saving Network partnership with Citizens’ Advice, Community Action Norfolk will be holding free energy advice sessions for consumers and frontline workers. Sessions will last around an hour, and Emily Robertson and Bob Dye from CAN will be on hand to offer advice or assist with referrals to Citizens’ Advice or the Ombudsman.
We understand that the upcoming winter is a time of concern for many, so CAN are looking to offer support to people by hosting training sessions which include the following.
| Practical energy saving advice and tips. Local and National support available. Discussions on issues around fuel poverty and poor health in cold homes. Advice and the opportunity for Q&As after the session. |
Please contact either:
Emily.robertson@communityactionnorfolk.org.uk or bob.dye@communityactionnorfolk.org.uk via email for more information, or to book your free session.
National Energy Action
National Energy Action (NEA) are the national fuel poverty charity, working to ensure that everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is warm and safe at home.
Available in England and Wales, NEA’s WASH Advice Service is a free support service providing advice to householders in England and Wales on their energy bills and keeping warm and safe in their home. We can also help with benefits advice and income maximisation.
It offers advice workshops direct to householders and training to frontline staff.
They can help you with
Benefits advice and income maximisation
Support with gas and electricity accounts including fuel debt
Switching suppliers
Energy efficiency
Trust fund applications
Water rates
Warm Home Discount and Priority Services Register information
More information
Advice leaflets and videos with BSL interpretation can be found in our Advice Resources section.
Our phonelines are currently operational Monday to Friday 10.00am to 12.00 noon.
We know it is a difficult and worrying time for people at the moment, we are getting extraordinarily high volumes of calls and emails coming through which may mean we can’t answer or get back to you as quick as we would like to. We really appreciate your patience. Take a look at our Additional Help page for details of organisations who may be able to offer assistance.
the above offer includes a BSL Interpreter contact option.
https://www.nea.org.uk/get-help/wash-advice/?parent=get-help
Kind regards,
Pathmakers – Walk Norfolk Festival
The inaugural Walk Norfolk Festival launches at the end of September, proceeding a month-long programme of events, walks and talks throughout the region that showcase some of the best of Norfolk’s landscapes, characters and communities.
A celebration of Norfolk countryside, beaches and urban environments, the 27 events in October take place in locations such as Sandringham across to Great Yarmouth, with a number taking place in the region’s city hub, Norwich. The eclectic festival schedule of wildlife walks, poetry workshops, networking groups and historical discoveries have been designed to be as accessible to as many people as possible.
A first instalment of a new annual event, the Walk Norfolk Festival has been organised by Pathmakers, a charity dedicated to improving access to the Norfolk Countryside for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Pathmakers primarily works with organisations and communities to help run, facilitate and support walking projects that improve countryside access.
For the festival, Pathmakers worked in partnership with Norfolk County Council to devise a series of unique events that are suitable for all, including those often excluded from accessing the countryside; wheelchair users and those with less mobility, families with pushchairs and those in the community who rely on public transport.
Each week of the festival has a specific theme, with participants encouraged to capture images that bring the chosen topics to life.
The weekly themes are:
- Theme 1 (1st-6th October) – Walking
- Theme 2 (7th-13th October) – Autumn
- Theme 3 (14th-20th October) – Joy
- Theme 4 (21st-26th October) – Wildlife
- Theme 5 (27th-31st October) – Skies
Further information about the Walk Norfolk Festival and the photography competition can be found on Pathmakers newly launched website:
Getting ready for flooding this winter
The Norfolk Strategic Flooding Alliance working with the Norfolk Resilience Forum would like to make sure that we are all as ready and prepared as we can be for any flooding that might occur this winter.
We are looking to collect as much information as possible about community assets that would be available to deal with any flooding incidents. As part of collecting this information we would like to recruit “community champions” to seek out that information in their area. If you are interested in taking part contact Pete Strange at Norfolk ALC.
Communities Prepared Online Hub launch
Communities Prepared are holding a launch event for their online community resilience hub – the new learning platform on their website, www.communitiesprepared.org.uk, which will be live from the end of this month (end of Sept).
Prevent and Community Cohesion
Prevent is about safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults from people who may target, groom, and radicalise them into extremist ideologies and ultimately manipulate them into committing terrorist acts.
In Norfolk, authorities and communities work together to deliver the Government’s Prevent strategy through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk. The strategy is set up to challenge all forms of terrorism, including the influence of far-right extremists.
On this website you can find more information, access training and download resources to help in the battle against extremism
Webinars
Norfolk ALC are pleased to be hosting 2 fascinating webinars in the coming weeks.
Oct 5thNorfolk’s Treasures by Foot and Cycle
19.00 – 20.30 Discover glorious Norfolk treasures this autumn.
Find out how you and your community can access the best that the Norfolk countryside has to offer this autumn.
Oct 12thGetting on with Numbers
19.00 – 20.30 Discuss Multiply – a scheme to develop number skills
Discuss with NCC how funding for numeracy improvements could be used in your community to improve people’s skills.
Comments are closed