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People living in Swanton Morley and Dereham are the latest to benefit from enhanced bus services thanks to money received from the Department for Transport (DfT) to improve bus services across the County.

The Fab 4 service operated by Konectbus will begin a brand-new Sunday service on Sunday 19 February with the first bus leaving Swanton Morley at 7:40am. The service runs every two hours until 15:40 and stops at Dereham, East Tuddenham, Longwater, Cringleford and Norwich. The last bus back from Norwich is at 16:14 to Swanton Morley and at 17:25 to Dereham.

There are also two extra journeys which operate from Swanton Morley to Dereham at 8:40am and 17:35pm.

For the rest of the week (Monday to Saturday) the Fab 4 service will benefit from the following extra evening journeys:

• 19:30 & 21:10 Norwich to Swanton Morley (last bus was previously at 18:25)
  • This provides a 19:45 and 21:25 pick up at the NNUH useful for those working later shifts.
• 18:25 & 20:00 – Dereham to Norwich (last bus was previously 17:10)
• 18:10 & 19:45 – Swanton Morley to Norwich (last bus was previously 16:55)
• 20:45 & 22:25 – Swanton Morley to Dereham (last bus was previously 16:55)

Cllr Graham Plant, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: “Providing later services is something many residents asked for when we developed our bus service improvement plan – so being able to deliver these services to those who wanted them is exactly what the money secured from the DfT is for. Having buses run into the evenings and on a Sunday means more people can make the choice to leave the car at home and use their local bus service – which is key to us achieving our net-zero ambitions.”

A single trip on the services will cost just £2 between January and March as Konectbus are one of the local operators taking part in the fare cap promotion funded by HM Government as part of their Help for Households campaign .

Gavin Smith, Managing Director of Go East Anglia/Konectbus said; “ Konectbus are delighted to have been involved with the BSIP funding project, from initial public consultation to drawing up proposals for bus service enhancements, new services, and improved connections with other transport services across our region. This enhancement is great for people living in Dereham and Swanton Morley and with stops at many key areas of employment such as Longwater retail park and the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital it means more people can choose the bus to get to work.”

This is just one of a number of service enhancements which are being funded by the £49.55 million funding which Norfolk County Council was successful in securing from the Department for Transport (DfT) to use on improving bus services across the County over the next three years.

Approximately £12 million of the funding has been allocated to provide new or expanded bus routes and increase service frequencies on key routes, including more evening and weekend services.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said; “People up and down the country deserve a clean, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided Norfolk County Council with almost £50 million to boost its bus services.

“Supporting Konectbus with providing more frequent services is great for local residents, who will now benefit and be able to make the most of the fantastic work, business and leisure opportunities Norfolk has to offer.”

Full details of the new enhanced service can be found at: https://www.konectbus.co.uk/fab4

Hatch Brenner is pleased to announce the addition of two promotions to its family team.

Sophie Key and Carly Sullivan have been promoted to Senior Associates.

Sophie joined Hatch Brenner in 2021 and has a wealth of expertise supporting clients relating to the dissolution of marriage and civil partnerships. Since gaining her accreditation, Sophie has been providing advice to clients in Norwich and Norfolk.

Carly graduated in 2006 and began working for Hatch Brenner in 2017. Carly specialises in children’s law, focusing on both private and care concerns relating to children.

The effort and thought invested in the process reflects their dedication.

Shield Health & Safety are now able to offer Abseil Escape from VNA/Man up/MEWPS

“Trucks that are designed to elevate the operator position more than 3000mm above ground level shall be provided with means by which the operator can reach the ground safely in the event of the operator position becoming fixed in the elevated position”

In an emergency situation it is important for your staff to have the correct knowledge & training to escape from working at height equipment as safely as possible.

Some of these machines are already equipped with a rope evacuation system, where this is the case, regular practical training is necessary on the correct use of the system.

Our courses cover an introduction to the specific equipment as fitted to your machine followed by controlled escapes and descents from increasing heights until your staff are happy and proficient in the use of the equipment.

All of our training is risk assessed, carried out to a safe system of work and uses back-up support systems where necessary.

All our training is conducted ‘on-site’ as this is the real environment that your employees will be using on a day-to-day basis. We can deliver training and assessment courses, including periodical re-assessment or re-training where necessary.

please visit https://www.shieldhealthandsafety.co.uk/ for more info

Anglian Waste Recycling are teaming up with TROX UK to provide ongoing waste management solutions for their 155,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility and offices in Thetford, Norfolk. As a leader in the development, manufacture and sale of components, products and systems for indoor air conditioning and ventilation, TROX UK together with its parent company TROX GROUP have developed a long-term sustainability strategy with the core aim to achieve climate neutrality across global operations by 2040.

The Anglian Waste team will be working alongside TROX to provide bespoke wheelie bins that have been retrofitted with forklift socks to assist with the moving and tipping of bins. Anglian will also be providing collections for general waste and wood for processing at the Attleborough facility just 16 miles away.

Ryan Marshall, Senior Environmental & Waste Manager for Anglian commented:

“Anglian are delighted to be working with such a prestigious and global organisation such as TROX UK. We are looking forward to developing the partnership and supporting TROX with improvements in their already impressive environmental achievements. We will be providing the TROX team with detailed waste data through our regular waste audit reports, which will further assist us in reducing waste, improve recycling performance and reduce vehicle miles.”

Kerry Parrott, EHS Advisor at TROX UK commented:

“We are pleased to have appointed Anglian Waste Recycling for our Thetford manufacturing facility, as we look to build further on our sustainability achievements in recent years, and deliver our interim sustainability goals for waste management performance and reporting.”

Photo Caption: Left to Right – Kerry Parrott, EHS Advisor at TROX UK with Darcy Raven, Field Sales Executive at Anglian Waste Recycling.

Alan Boswell Group (ABG), a leading insurance broker and financial services provider, is pleased to announce the return of Zoe Kerswill, an experienced insurance executive to its Norwich-based commercial broking team.

Zoe is returning as a commercial insurance broker, where she will continue to provide exceptional support to both old and new clients.

“We are thrilled to welcome Zoe back to ABG,” said Adrian Rayner, Commercial Director. “Her expertise, dedication, and deep understanding of our clients’ needs make her an invaluable asset to our team. We are confident that her return will further strengthen our position as a leading provider of commercial insurance solutions.”

Zoe Kerswill brings 30 years of experience in the commercial insurance industry, having successfully managed diverse portfolios while maintaining a client-focused approach. Her comprehensive knowledge of the market, coupled with her commitment to delivering tailored insurance solutions, has made her a trusted adviser to numerous businesses.

“I’m excited to be back at ABG. ABG’s unwavering commitment to clients sets it apart from its competitors,” said Zoe. “I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received, and I am eager to reconnect with our existing clients and build new relationships.”

Zoe’s return underscores Alan Boswell Group’s dedication to fostering talent and maintaining enduring relationships with its employees.

For more information about Alan Boswell Group and its comprehensive range of insurance and financial services, please visit www.alanboswell.com or call 01603 218000. To contact Zoe, please call her on 07769 736710 / 01603 214292 or zkerswill@alanboswell.com.

10^th-24^th February 2024

Chantry Place Norwich is hosting a free family ‘Under the Sea Trail’ from Saturday 10^th February to Saturday 24^th February as part of Norwich Science Festival 2024.

Local artist, Beth Lester, is creating the illustrations for the self-led trail, based around ‘Great Britain’s Barrier Reef’ – the Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds. Families will discover eight amazing animals and plants, including seals and starfish, that make this 100-million-year-old chalk reef, and its surrounding environments, their home.

Free trail maps can be picked up from Langleys in Chantry Place, or from The Forum, and families can do the trail daily in Centre opening hours between 10^th and 24^th February. Once the trail has been complete, families can enter a competition to win a £100 Langleys gift card courtesy of Chantry Place.

There will also be an ‘Under the Sea Selfie Station’ on the lower ground floor at Chantry Place.

Paul McCarthy, general manager at Chantry Place, said: “Norwich Science Festival helps educate families in a really fun and interactive way about nature and science, and we are looking forward to hosting this trail, which has been designed exclusively for us by Beth. It is fantastic that families can learn more about the incredible sea life on our doorstep at Cromer, and discover some fascinating plants and wildlife that call it home in our ‘Under the Sea’ trail.”

Norwich Science Festival’s Marketing Manager, Danie Hadley, said: “We’re so pleased to be collaborating with Chantry Place for 2024 to provide an engaging, free trail for families to enjoy in the half term. The Festival is not only a celebration of science, but also a celebration of Norwich and Norfolk – from the ground-breaking research taking place in the city to the unique wildlife that makes our county its home. We hope families and children will be wowed by the fact that harbour porpoises and the Parpal Dumplin’ sponge live just off our coast!”

Beth Lester is a recent graduate of Illustration from Norwich University of the Arts. Beth focuses on nature and natural history and has illustrated matchday programme covers for Norwich City Football Club. Beth said: “It has been a great opportunity to work with Norwich Science Festival and Chantry Place on this fun and educational project. I really look forward to seeing our hard work be enjoyed by families in Norwich and hope it sparks a long term interest in nature for the visitors. Many of the creatures depicted are at risk of decline caused by human interaction, and this trail will highlight the beautiful environment on our doorstep and how important it is to protect it.”

The Under the Sea trail is free and requires no advance booking.

The full programme for Norwich Science Festival can be found, here: https://norwichsciencefestival.co.uk/whats-on

For more information on Chantry Place visit www.ChantryPlace.co.uk

Photo credit – Chantry Place. Photo 1 L-R: Danie Hadley (NSF), illustrator Beth Lester, Paul McCarthy (Chantry Place) and Samantha Joyce (NSF) at Chantry Place

With a mission that no one should face things alone, Norwich Samaritans is appealing to those who want to make a real difference in people’s lives to consider this impactful leadership role.

“What if your next leadership role changed someone’s darkest day?” That’s the question the charity is asking potential applicants—especially those with experience in areas such as finance, HR, fundraising, law, marketing, IT, or community engagement.

“We rely on our trustees to guide our strategy, ensure strong governance, and help maintain the long-term sustainability of our work,” said Jane Brown, Director and Chair of Trustees at Norwich Samaritans. “We’re particularly keen to hear from people who bring professional expertise, lived experience, or a passion for supporting underrepresented communities.”

Trustee Role Details:

• Location: Primarily Norwich-based (St Stephen’s Square), with hybrid meeting options available
• Time Commitment: Approx. 8–10 hours per month
• Application Deadline: Sunday 31 August 2025, 11:30pm
• Contact: Anna McNeil – admin@norwichsams.org.uk

No previous trustee experience is necessary. Training and ongoing support will be provided. Applicants from all backgrounds and identities are warmly encouraged to apply.

What Trustees Will Gain:

• A meaningful opportunity to support suicide prevention in the local community
• Experience in charity governance and leadership
• Personal and professional development
• A welcoming and supportive team environment

To apply, candidates should submit a CV (no more than two pages) and a completed application form outlining their interest and relevant experience. Applications should be sent to vacancies@norwichsams.org.uk. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an informal interview with current trustees.

For further details, including how to apply, visit https://www.samaritans.org/documents/3212/Norwich_Samaritans_Trustee_Recruitment_Pack_2025.pdf for a copy of the Norwich Samaritans Trustee Recruitment Pack or contact Anna McNeil admin@norwichsams.org.uk for an informal conversation about the role.

Note

Founded in 1964, Norwich Samaritans has been supporting our local community and people across the country day or night, 365 days a year.    Norwich Samaritans is a self-funding branch, which means we do not receive financial support from the central Samaritans charity or the government.