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<p s episode with Oliver Paul, co-owner of Suffolk Food Hall.

We are delighted to introduce you to our new Junior Designer, Bella Elsworth. A recent graduate from Norwich University of the Arts, she tells us about her passion for interior design and the challenges of starting a new role during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Organisations across Norfolk are being asked to sign up to a countywide campaign to help victims of domestic abuse

The Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence Group in Norfolk (DASVG), which involves councils, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Norfolk (OPCCN), police and health organisations, launched the HEAR campaign for White Ribbon Day on 25 November 2020 and the 16 Days Against Domestic Abuse that followed.

The campaign asks organisations to pledge their support and make simple changes to policy which will help any employees who might be suffering domestic abuse.

So far some 35 organisations including Norwich City Football Club, Norfolk County Council, the UEA, the James Paget Hospital, Norfolk Constabulary as well as a number of smaller companies including Phoenix Events, Norfolk Community Law Service and Moore Networking, have signed up to the pledge representing more than 23,000 employees.

Companies and employers have an important role to play in helping to prevent domestic abuse where it impacts on the workplace – and when a victim’s work, productivity and safety are affected – whether working at home or in the office and more organisations are being urged to take part.

Gavin Thompson, Chair of the DASVG and Director of Commissioning, Policy and Communications at the OPCCN, which has also signed the pledge, said: “White Ribbon Day is a crucial way of raising awareness of domestic abuse while helping victims and survivors know where to find support.

“However, we must work together to prevent abuse and make sure our communities and homes are safe for everyone 365 days of the year.

“With more people having to work from home due to the pandemic, it is incumbent upon us as employers to ensure those at risk of abuse know they will be heard and help is out there.

“I would encourage organisations, no matter how large or small, to sign up to the HEAR pledge, together we can all help make a difference by saying #NoToDomesticAbuse.”

HEAR stands for Help, Educate, Awareness and Respond, with organisations being asked to pledge to:

• Help

Every employer has a duty to provide access to organisations who can help employees: We will ensure colleagues affected by domestic abuse are given access to the right specialist support.

• Educate

Every employer should ensure the right training is provided: We will make sure the right training is provided to staff to know what steps to take to support colleagues.

• Awareness

Every employer has a responsibility to be aware of domestic abuse: We will not tolerate domestic abuse in any form and will provide a supportive workplace for colleagues who experience such abuse.

• Respond

Every employer should ensure the right policies are in place to respond to domestic abuse: We will review our policies and processes and ensure they are implemented correctly.

Norwich City Football Club was one of the first organisations to have signed up to the campaign.

Zoe Ward, Norwich City Football Club’s Business and Project Director, said: “Domestic abuse is occurring every day in our community and the pandemic means that victims are having an even harder time accessing the support they need.

“Employers have a responsibility to create a safe and supportive environment and, by committing to educate and raise awareness amongst our colleagues, we can play our part in tackling domestic abuse together.”

Mandy Proctor, Chief Executive of the domestic violence and abuse services charity Leeway, added: “This is a very important campaign, raising awareness of domestic abuse and encouraging organisations to take an active role in tackling it.  

“We all have a part to play to stop domestic abuse and to break the silence that so often surrounds it.

“By signing up to the pledge, employers will ensure the wellbeing of their staff, helping them to access support at an earlier stage as well as highlighting their commitment to tackling domestic abuse.” 

Employers can sign up to the HEAR campaign here>> Sign up to the HEAR campaign

In England and Wales, Hestia, providers of refuges for victims of domestic abuse, estimate a cost to employers of £14m per year due to reduced productivity and lost output due to time off work.

During the pandemic in Norfolk, and particularly during lockdown, victims/survivors of domestic abuse are more likely to be vulnerable. At the moment, some vulnerable children and adults may be particularly isolated, meaning the family, community and professional networks they usually rely on may be unavailable or harder to access.

At the same time, any restrictions in place may increase the pressures that can contribute to abuse. This inevitably impacts on work and colleagues as well as the victims themselves.

On signing the pledge, a campaign toolkit is available for employers to download with information on help and support for staff, guidance on drafting policy about domestic abuse, internal communications and a campaign poster.

Ashtons Charitable Trust, the charitable trust set up by law firm Ashtons Legal seven years ago, has recently donated £11,000 to ten charities and causes across the Eastern region and one in Leeds where the firm also have a team trading as Heslop & Platt.

The money was raised in the main in the 2019/20 year through Ashtons Legal branded corporate and charity fundraising events, but also through staff supporting internal activities such as bake sales and social events. The highly regarded Cambridge Treasure Hunt was the last fundraising event to take place on 26th February 2020 before the national COVID lockdown was imposed.

The Ashtons Charitable Trust was set up in 2014 with the aim of giving something back to the communities which the firm’s staff live and work in. By way of grants and donations, the Trust supports charitable causes and community groups in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Leeds (where Ashtons’ have offices). These charities and causes are supported in two ways – by staff nominating and voting for their Charities of the Year who receive an annual donation, and by direct applications from charities and groups which are considered once a year in the Autumn.

The six chosen Charities of the Year for 2020 were East Anglian Air Ambulance, Zoological Society of East Anglia, Inspire Suffolk, Suffolk Mind, Sunflowers Care Limited in Cambridge and St George’s Crypt in Leeds. Collectively, they received a total of £8,800 from the Trust with the remaining £2,200 being split between four direct applications from Star Throwers, a cancer charity in Wymondham, Norfolk, Maggie’s Cancer Centre in Cambridge, Something To Look Forward To, another cancer charity in Cambridge and Norfolk SEN Network.

The Ashtons Charitable Trust, following an overwhelmingly positive vote by staff, has decided to continue to support our Charities of the Year for a second term throughout 2021.

Chairperson of the CSR Committee, Janette Wand, said: “Due to the pandemic and the huge loss in only what can be described as a time of crisis for most charitable organisations in the UK, it is more important than ever to offer our support to the charities and causes that our staff chose. We all therefore felt it was vital we shared existing funds and we really hope to be able to fundraise to support these causes again in 2021.”

In this weeks episode Mark and James discuss the booming self help industry and the promises it makes to solve life’s problems. Looking back on their own experiences, they come up with 3 top tips, and along the way they name check the Dalai Lama, Mark Manson and Mark’s growing library.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Whilst you are there, please like us, and leave a comment. We would love to hear what you are enjoying about the podcast, and it helps others to find us!

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A workshop designed to equip managers to support employee mental wellbeing in the workplace is set to take place this April.

The ‘Mental Health for Managers’ course, run by The Engaging People Company and Bamboo Mental Health, will take place on Thursday 19th April at Open in Norwich.

Through the workshop, which builds on the success of an earlier session in 2016, attendees will be able to identify and recognise the signs of poor mental health, and understand the impact of mental wellbeing within the work environment.

 Michelle Gant, Director of The Engaging People Company said:

 “Managers have an absolutely critical role in supporting and promoting wellbeing within the workplace but conversations about mental health can be daunting.

 “By the end of this course, attendees will feel confident to have better conversations with their direct reports, leading to improved manager-employee relationships, better wellbeing and, ultimately, increased engagement and satisfaction.”

Attendees will also be empowered to have safe and effective conversations around mental health, and identify the support they can offer. The session will also look at legislation, and how to build a practical wellbeing support plan.

Tom Oxley, Director of Bamboo Mental Health said: “Companies who want to make a difference will train their managers. It’s an effective way of putting support through the organisation and reaching those who need it. Managers who leave the course will be confident to take on those complex conversations – to help their team and the employer.”

 The course is suitable for small and large employers from all sectors and feedback from the previous session included: ‘The workshop was excellent, and I came away feeling empowered.’

 Visit here to find out more or contact Michelle Gant on 07834 578872.

• The Hopestead Community Champions initiative is open to anyone in East Anglia who has been making a difference during the pandemic;
• People are invited to nominate their friends, family, neighbours, or themselves;
• Nominations can be made in a number of ways, including on social media with the hashtag #HopesteadChampions

A new initiative is set to spread some positivity this winter as it celebrates the fantastic efforts of individuals within their communities.

The Hopestead Community Champions initiative has launched today to recognise, celebrate, and thank people in East Anglia who have made a positive difference in their communities during the challenges of the last year.

Nominations are open for anyone in the region who has gone the extra mile in their communities during the challenges of the last year. And, people in Norfolk are being encouraged to nominate their friends, family, neighbours, or themselves.

The initiative has been set up by Hopestead, which launched in 2020 with the aim of ending homelessness in the East of England.   It comes after the charity ran its hugely successful Christmas appeal, collecting donations worth thousands of pounds to help grassroots organisations and charities across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridge.

Marie-Claire Delbrouque, Managing Director of Hopestead explained:

“At Hopestead, we believe in community and we were so inspired by the community spirit and generosity that was so evident in our Hope at Christmas appeal and by the stories of the nominees in the Stars of Norfolk awards for which we were honoured to judge the Community Hero award. And we know that so many people have been doing great things in their communities.

“As we start this new year full of hope, we want to recognise, celebrate, and thank our Hopestead Community Champions. This is our opportunity to share incredible stories of support and shout about the efforts of those who have made a difference at such a difficult time.”

Nominating is simple, and can be done by emailing Weare@hopestead.org  or by visiting www.hopestead.org. Alternatively, people are also encouraged to post pictures and their nominations on social media with the hashtag #HopesteadChampions

The deadline for nominations is Sunday 14 March and all nominees who have been making a difference in their communities will be recognised and rewarded. Hopestead will also seek to announce and feature the Hopestead Community Champions on their social media channels.

Marie-Claire Delbrouque added: “At Hopestead, we believe in the power of community and we know that individual acts can add up to a big difference. By working together with each other, we can help communities to thrive.

“We can’t wait to receive people’s nominations and we’re excited to recognise, celebrate, and thank those who have been making difference in their communities during the pandemic.”

Pest Control company Abate Pest Management from Morley near Wymondham, has recently passed their BPCA (British Pest Control Association) quality audit with flying colours.

In order to maintain professional standards throughout the pest control industry, full Servicing companies who are with the BPCA must meet a set of criteria.

By choosing a BPCA assessed member like Abate Pest Management you can be assured that the services you receive are from a fully trained, insured and trusted company that meets the strict membership criteria.

The criteria which companies like Abate follow are:

• A suitably trained and qualified expert, committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and have been subjected to the BPCA audit and assessment process to ensure services are delivered to the highest of standards.
• Determined to adhere to the Industry Codes of Best Practice.
• Committed to providing detailed advice on pest prevention measures and provide comprehensive reporting systems covering all treatment aspects.

Jon Blake, Managing Director of Abate Pest Management said “this is a great achievement and we are very proud to retain our BPCA membership. The whole team work extremely hard to make sure everything in this very controlled environment is spot on. We win contracts and job work on many occasions based on the detailed risk assessments, treatment reports and providing the best possible advice and solution.”  

Abate continues to grow with new contract customers in various sectors but has recently seen a significant increase in housing association work, logistics and businesses within the food chain. Recently Abate has increased service operations in Essex, the Home Counties and across to Luton. 

Please visit Abate Pest Management website to find out about all their services.

• Rodent Control.
• Bird Control.
• Insect Control.
• Woodworm Control.
• Specialist Hygiene Services.

A £1.4m landmark renewable heating project for housing association Flagship Homes, part of Flagship Group, in Felixstowe has dramatically cut heating bills and carbon emissions for more than 100 homes. The new six-phase communal ground source heat pump system – the largest in the region – has been installed by Norfolk-based renewable heating expert Finn Geotherm in partnership with East Anglia’s largest heating company, Gasway Services, also part of Flagship Group.

Key features of the project:

• Reduced heating bills by 70%
• Cut carbon emissions by 70% compared to storage heaters
• System will last in excess of 30 years – more than three times a conventional boiler
• Encourages customers to heat their homes, positively impacting on their health and wellbeing

Managed by Flagship Homes, the 113 houses, flats and bungalows on Runnacles Way in Felixstowe, plus two private residences, had previously been heating their homes by expensive and inefficient electric storage heaters. Having successfully completed two other award-winning district heating schemes for Flagship, Finn Geotherm was appointed, alongside Gasway, to undertake its largest heat pump project to date, to transform the way residents heat their homes and receive hot water.

Finn Geotherm installed six large scale district heating schemes for this project. The schemes each use a central ground source heat pump system to generate all the heat and hot water required for one section of the estate – around 20 homes. Heat is collected from the ground using bore holes – a total of 14,000 metres was carefully installed by Finn Geotherm underneath parking and grass areas in the estate. Finn Geotherm also installed underground, highly insulated primary distribution pipes to the individual houses. Gasway then connected each home to the primary distribution and installed the new radiators. Each phase of the project has a standalone plant room, which enables the heat pump system to be monitored and serviced centrally, without the need to disturb any of Flagship’s customers.

By installing this renewable energy heating system, customers at Runnacles Way are now enjoying cheaper energy bills – costing around 70% less than before. Energy use has also been cut by 70%, making a significant impact on carbon emissions and providing a more affordable and efficient living environment for Flagship customers.

In addition, the installation qualifies for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), a Government scheme which assists with the project’s capital cost by providing quarterly payments for 20 years, allowing Flagship to roll out the much-improved heating systems for more customers in the future.

Madeleine Jefferies, Head of Housing at Flagship Homes said: “Last year was challenging for everyone and we know that many people really struggled to pay their energy bills. Fuel poverty is a serious issue which can affect the wider community, and we’re always looking at ways to make our customers’ homes more affordable and giving people some breathing space when things get tough. Our customers in Felixstowe have already seen a difference in their prices and we’re delighted that we can help to make a difference.”

Megan Gonsalves, Energy and Sustainability Manager at Flagship Group said: “As a Group we’re embracing a greener, cleaner approach to our homes and across our business, to improve the future for our customers, and our planet. This has been a fantastic project; we’ve made progress in reducing our carbon footprint and we’re hoping to continue to improve heating systems in the communities that we serve.”

Guy Ransom, Commercial Director for Finn Geotherm, said: “We are delighted to complete this installation that demonstrates district heating schemes using ground source heat pumps can be installed for existing housing stock without having to first undertake massive changes to the housing infrastructure such as putting in additional insulation. This has been our biggest and most challenging project to date but we are so pleased with the result, which proves just how smart and effective district heating schemes are. We hope that more housing associations will follow Flagship’s excellent example.”

Tony Hunt, Renewable Projects Manager at Gasway, said: “We’re really proud of this project because large heat networks of this scale can really benefit customers, as well as having a positive impact on the environment. We’re keen to continue to deliver projects like this across the East, to help create sustainable communities.”

For more information on ground and air source heat pumps and details on Finn Geotherm, visit www.finn-geotherm.co.uk.

Barry McGougan reflects on 20 years of successfully building his practice with TaxAssist Accountants.

For Barry McGougan, franchising has been a real success story, enabling him to build a substantial practice, close to his home in Galston in Western Scotland, which his daughter Lisa Foster has joined, with the aim of taking over later in the year.

“When I look back to 2001, starting out as a fresh faced 47-year-old, I would have found it hard to imagine that I would, in 2021, be running such a successful business and looking forward to a well-earned and comfortable retirement in the near future.

“Getting to where I am now has required hard work and commitment and the patience and support of my family,” explains Barry, “but the fact that the practice has grown so well, is testament to the proven business model provided by TaxAssist and without which, I know I would have struggled to achieve what I have.”

Barry operates his practice from two shops in Galston and Kilmarnock, and services around 360 clients with the assistance of Lisa and two members of staff.

“My experience has been, and continues to be, a positive one, and TaxAssist through their on-going training and support have truly ‘walked the talk’. If you follow the model then with hard work and dedication to make the business what you want it to be, it will provide you with the lifestyle you want – proving that franchising really does work.

“I’d like to thank the Support Centre team for the beautiful Champagne presentation case they sent to mark the occasion and for their guidance and assistance over the years. I’ve made some good friends in the network and in Norwich, and I shall forever be glad I joined the franchise.”

If you are interested in joining the TaxAssist Accountants network, regular Virtual Discovery Days are being held, where you can find out more about the technical, marketing and business development support on offer. Call 0800 0188297 to register your interest.

Love West Norfolk day is taking place this coming weekend and people are being urged to get involved virtually and say ‘thanks, west Norfolk.’

This year’s Love West Norfolk Day – on 14 February – is set to be a collective moment of reflection and gratitude after the challenges of the last year.

The day will be an opportunity for people to share their thanks across social media and recognise the difference that friends, family, neighbours, and organisations have been making during the pandemic.

It’s so easy to get involved, with people encouraged to share their messages of thanks online using the hashtags #lovewestnorfolk and/or #thankswestnorfolk.

David Pomfret, College of West Anglia Principal, said:

“This year’s Love West Norfolk day has given us the opportunity to say thank you to those who are making a difference during these challenging times. There have been so many who have gone above and beyond to help others in the community as a whole this year.

“I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank our amazing staff team and our outstanding students for their kindness, dedication and passion during this time. Thank you!”

Other ways to get involved on the day include:

• Send in your thanks: tell Love West Norfolk who you want to thank and why via the contact form on their website www.lovewestnorfolk.co.uk Fifty messages of thanks will be displayed on a virtual ‘wall’ on the Love West Norfolk website, and they will also be shared on social media on 14 February.
• Download and send a Love West Norfolk thank you card: Love West Norfolk will be making available some Love West Norfolk ‘thank you’ cards for you to share online – email one to someone you would like to say thanks to, or share with them on social media.
• Children’s thank you pictures: youngsters in west Norfolk can get involved too. Download and colour in the pictures that will soon be available from the Love West Norfolk website and display in your windows to say thanks west Norfolk. Or, design your own thank you pictures – and don’t forget to share them on 14 February on social media with the hashtags #lovewestnorfolk and / or #thankswestnorfolk.
• A moment of thanks: at 6pm, on Love West Norfolk Day, Love West Norfolk will be sharing a special ‘thanks west Norfolk’ film on their channels. Why not join in a moment of reflection and gratitude as we say: ‘thanks west Norfolk’.

This year’s Love West Norfolk day – the fourth such day – has also been supported by the Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk Lady Dannatt MBE, Liz Truss MP, and James Wild MP, as well as leaders across the district.

James Bagge, Love West Norfolk’s Ambassador said: “There have been so many incredible acts of kindness and generosity across west Norfolk over the last year, efforts which have made a difference and shone a light into the lives of so many during such a dark time.

“Now, it’s time for us to reflect and show our gratitude, collectively saying ‘thanks, west Norfolk.”

Follow the Love West Norfolk social media channels to get involved: Twitter: @LoveWestNorfolk Facebook: Love West Norfolk and Instagram: love_west_norfolk