Member News

A volunteer with a passion for people says helping out in a charity shop gives her the perfect opportunity to make friends and stay physically and mentally active. Ann Seaman gives up Thursday afternoons and every Sunday to support East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). She volunteers in Norwich’s Bowthorpe Road shop and has been part of the fabric there since December 2019. Ann would recommend it to anyone and assures new recruits they will be given a warm welcome at any EACH store in the city – Bowthorpe Road, Aylsham Road, Plumstead Road and Unthank Road. “I love it because it keeps me active – physically but also in terms of keeping my brain ticking over,” said the 74-year-old. “I enjoy the mental stimulation and having to think about things. “I always find it satisfying seeing how many steps I’ve done at the end of my day. “If I was at home, I’d sit around more but here there isn’t the opportunity and I enjoy that. It’s good for me and I feel it keeps me young. “I do a bit of everything but particularly love tagging and sorting donations. I’ll also go on the till. “It makes me feel brighter and happier and I find it rewarding, giving something back to the community.” Ann, who lives with husband Geoffrey in Costessey, loves the social aspect of volunteering and is a self-confessed “people person”. During her working life she took visitors around the former Rowntree Mackintosh chocolate factory in Norwich, which closed in 1994. She also worked in the shop there, in addition to spending many years working for Norwich Union. “My husband often jokes that if something moves, I’ll talk to it,” said Ann. “I’m a real people person and it was something I enjoyed during my working life. “I love chatting and meeting new people and always think that if you can’t be pleasant, why bother?” Ann, who has a daughter and a granddaughter, volunteered in the Bowthorpe Road Arthritis UK shop before EACH moved into the premises in February 2018. She took a well-earned breather before coming back and helping out just before Christmas 2019. “I missed it and would definitely recommend it to others,” she said. “It gets you out and about, around others, and I’d definitely advise anyone to give it a try. “People think it has to be a huge commitment but that isn’t the case and just a morning or afternoon a week can make such a difference. “There are a range of roles and all help is gratefully received. We’re pleased to hear from people and can fit in around their busy lives.” EACH supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions. It has three hospices, including The Nook, in Framingham Earl. The charity relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income and this year alone needs to raise £6.5 million from its Retail operation, which includes stores across the region in addition to a busy Retail Distribution Centre, in Thetford. To find out more about volunteering in Norwich, speak to a member of staff in-store or call 01603 301475 (Aylsham Road), 01603 732874 (Bowthorpe Road), 01603 438105 (Plumstead Road) or 01603 613058 (Unthank Road). You can also contact volunteer services on 01223 205183. Alternatively, email volunteerservices@each.org.uk There are other ways to support EACH, including helping its facilities, events, fundraising and administration teams, or being part of the charity’s Help at Home service. Image credit – EACH

Chantry Place Norwich is teaming up with fashion retailer H&M in February to host a free talk on ‘Conscientious Fashion – a Sustainable Journey Within a Modern Trading Environment’ as part of Norwich Science Festival. From 12pm to 1pm on Friday 17^th February 2023, Paul McCarthy, general manager at Chantry Place, and Molly Ajeto, visual merchandiser at H&M, will be at Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form College in Norwich to discuss their journeys to a more sustainable future. A lot has been done to make Chantry Place as sustainable as possible, from reusing coffee grounds to installing solar panels, with Paul sharing the Centre’s journey so far. Molly will cover H&M’s sustainability goals and ambitions and share examples of fashion campaigns in H&M that use sustainability ‘innovation campaign’ and ‘metaverse campaign’. Paul McCarthy comments: “We all need to play our part in tackling climate change where we can, and Chantry Place is working towards being carbon neutral by 2030 across our whole operation and any new developments. Our free talk with H&M will appeal to anyone interested in sustainable fashion and who wants to know how we can all work together to do our bit. We are also playing host to a Museum of Plastics exhibition at Chantry Place during February Half Term featuring a Fantastic Plastic Litter Arcade, where families can explore the interactive exhibits, and contribute potential solutions to the plastics problem.” The Conscientious Fashion talk is free to attend, but tickets need to be booked in advance via: https://norwichsciencefestival.ticketsolve.com/shows/1173637153 Chantry Place is one of the sponsors of Norwich Science Festival. To find out other exciting free activities taking place at Chantry Place, visit: www.chantryplace.co.uk

We’re Celebrating Women in Business this International Women’s Day4th – 11th March | The Place Discover King’s Lynn, the town centre’s Business Improvement District, is acknowledging International Women’s Day this March with a short programme of events designed to recognise, celebrate and empower women in business in King’s Lynn. Vicky, BID Manager, says: We have a huge pool of talented and experienced women in business in King’s Lynn and we want to celebrate them and learn from their career experiences. All too often we look outside for advice and inspiration, yet we have a wealth of expertise and knowledge right here in King’s Lynn. Many of our independent businesses are led by women, several or our large national retailers have women at the helm, and there are a host of female directors and partners in our law and accountancy firms, not to mention a female CEO of the Borough Council and our largest housing association, Freebridge. International Women’s Day provides a great opportunity to pause and applaud their achievements and draw on their experiences to inspire and encourage younger women. An event being held on the 8th March – IWD itself – will bring together a panel of these talented women and allow attendees insight into their experiences of the workplace. Hear their stories, ask for their advice, and together discuss how workplaces are doing – or can do – right by their female employees. The IWD panel event will be held in The Place from 12:00pm – 2:00pm. The Panel will commence shortly after 12:00pm followed by a light lunch and networking at 1:00 pm. If you’d like to join in and celebrate our town centre’s female talent, please RSVP: info@discoverkingslynn.com. In addition to the event on 8th, we will be hosting a celebration of local, female entrepreneurs and micro-business owners. On the 4th March, inside The Place, you’ll find a range of businesses showcasing their handmade wares, including local, female beekeepers, chocolatiers and crafters. Pop in between 10am and 4pm to browse a lovely selection of food and craft items and chat to these women about their unique business stories and experiences. Another IWD event falls on the 7th March at 12:30pm, and will again be hosted in The Place. This short breathwork session being led by local mental health nurse-cum-yoga teach, Toni Markham, has been organised with town centre workers in mind, and offers participants a window of relaxation in their otherwise hectic schedules. The easy-to-practice breathing techniques shared by Toni will help attendees to calm their minds and nervous systems, setting them up for a more focused and productive workday! Come alone or bring a colleague,                                                                        please RSVP to:info@discoverkingslynn.com. International Women’s Day provides the perfect opportunity to not only celebrate women’s achievements in the workplace, but to showcase exemplary employer initiatives and support too. In the build up to Discover King’s Lynn’s events, and over the course IWD week, the BID will be asking local women about their experience of work. They’ll collect responses anonymously via a digital form with the hopes of collating a short report on what King’s Lynn business do well in supporting their female colleagues, and feasible areas of improvement. Vicky says: As a BID, our role includes supporting Town Centre businesses to be the best that they can be, so we’re keen to hear what our businesses do well to support women in the workplace and hear if there is scope to do things differently and maybe better. We will collate responses and share good practice examples. If you would like to contribute, keep an eye on our social platforms! The International Women’s Day celebrations will end with a pop-up event hosted in The Place by Soroptimist International on the 11th March, from 10am – 4pm. Along with a display of inspirational women from King’s Lynn History, the Soroptimists will be joined by a range of other businesses and community teams. If you would like more information about any of the events mentioned in this press release, please visit our website www.discoverkingslynn.com, or email us at info@discoverkingslynn.com.

Join the discussion at our next Masterclass. Wednesday February 22^nd Most of the time our focus is on the current environment – what is happening in the economy, in politics and in the markets in the short-term. At Chadwicks we’re equally interested in the long-term ‘mega-trends’ that will shape our future regardless of what is happening in the short term. This session takes a step back to look at the bigger picture and consider how we might meet the challenges presented by the long-term mega-trends. 5 years ago we deep-dived into the long-term demographic, environmental and technological trends driving change in the world. A pandemic, war, Brexit, and few other events later, we’re diving again to see how they’ve changed (if at all). In this session, Radostina Dencheva reflects of the findings from her 2018 paper and brings us up to date before handing the baton to Dr Saul Humphrey who will look at ways the effects of these long-term trends are being addressed in the built environment. While these are important issues for investors, they are, arguably, existential issues for all of us. Date:                      Wednesday 22^nd February Time:                      6pm – 8pm Venue:                   The Enterprise Centre, UEA, Norwich. NR4 7TJ (light refreshments & superb cake will be served) Register your place: Latest Masterclasses (chadwicks.co.uk)

A new community shop is being set up in Norwich to help people who are struggling financially or at risk of food or fuel poverty. The shop in Earlham is being established as part of the Nourishing Norfolk Project, with funding from Norfolk Community Foundation, and has been set up as a community interest company with the help of regional accountancy firm, Larking Gowen. One of the founders, Carole Jacques, who is Head Teacher at Earlham Nursery School, said the NR5 postcode the shop will serve is an area of very high deprivation, and there’s a pressing need to help local residents with food security. “When lockdown came, there was a big focus on access to food from a number of groups, including students, families, working people and retired residents. Since the cost of living crisis, food poverty has just escalated,” Carole said. “When we started looking into setting up the shop, we realised that to get funding we’d have to become a community interest company. Fortunately, we were able to get help from Larking Gowen, and without that support we wouldn’t have been able to get set up. “They helped us with the paperwork and gave us clear guidance about our roles and responsibilities,” she continued. The community shop will be in a room at the nursery school which is currently used as a staff common room and has separate access. People in need of support will join as members. They’ll have access to cheaper food and professional help in a number of areas including employment, health and budgeting. “We see the impact of food and fuel poverty every day from our children at the nursery, even though they’re very young. This has been our motivation to set this up,” Carole said. Giles Kerkham, head of the Not for Profit Team at Larking Gowen, said: “This project is about getting food and support to people in Norwich who need it. We were delighted to help by setting up the community interest company. “It’s been about discussing the intended benefits for the community and how they achieve them, while keeping the wording of their documentation simple, usable and effective. Having the community interest company will protect the committee members and give confidence to supporters and funders. “As an independent regional practice, our role in supporting the wider community is extremely important to us. As part of this wider commitment, we’re proud to be one of the founder members of Norfolk ProHelp, the network of professional firms who commit to providing free, quality advice to the not for profit sector. We were very pleased to be able to accept this project to make sure that the community shop is set up in the best way to ensure its sustainability.”

Love West Norfolk Day returns on 14 February and people are being asked to highlight why they’re proud to live, work or visit here. Also, what their favourite spot is and why.

The sixth Love West Norfolk Day will provide an opportunity to highlight online the natural beauty of West Norfolk as the theme remains celebrating and protecting our beautiful west Norfolk environment. Cllr Sam Sandell, Cabinet member for People and Communities, said:

“We’re giving residents and the many people who visit here the opportunity to put a spotlight on what they love about our beautiful part of the world by keeping the green Love West Norfolk theme this year. “I hope to see people, organisations and businesses get involved online on 14 February by showcasing the best of our area, the need to protect it and what makes it so special. Don’t forget to use the hashtag #LoveWestNorfolk.”

What’s your favourite spot in West Norfolk and why do you love it? It could be a green space, garden, walk, sunrise or more. This Love West Norfolk Day, people are being invited to share their images of beautiful west Norfolk scenery and to tell us about it through social media channels. It is your chance to showcase our area to the rest of the world. King’s Lynn Park Run participants will show their support with their #lovewestnorfolk park run on Saturday 12 February. Judith Berry, one of the Park Run Directors, said:

“Over 200 people come to the Walks to take part in the weekly event, we certainly appreciate the green space we have here in town.”

Pictures of the runners will be included on Love West Norfolk social channels. People can also join in by taking ‘one step’ towards protecting their local environment, such as by picking up one piece of litter. And, anyone wishing to organise a community litter pick on Love West Norfolk day can – subject to availability – access Love West Norfolk litter pick kits from the borough council. It is be hoped that once again social media will be filled with the #lovewestnorfolk hashtag on Love West Norfolk day as people join in the celebration and share pictures and comments. Organisers are keen to hear from both individuals and organisations who also may wish to highlight why where we live is so special. A Love West Norfolk day engagement pack is available online with all the ways that people can join in with this year’s Love West Norfolk Day. The Love West Norfolk campaign is organised by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and is supported by other local organisations. Anyone wishing to find out more about the day, including getting involved, can follow the Love West Norfolk social media channels:

• Twitter: twitter.com/lovewestnorfolk
• Facebook: facebook.com/LoveWestNorfolk/
• Instagram: instagram.com/love_west_norfolk/

And here’s how you can get involved:

• Follow and get involved via the social media channels. Tell us what you love about west Norfolk using the hashtag #lovewestnorfolk
• You can also share your pictures and what you love about west Norfolk across our social media channels using the hashtag #lovewestnorfolk
• Get involved in Love West Norfolk day on 14 February, an opportunity to celebrate west Norfolk across social media. During the day, we want you to share your views, your pictures and your stories about west Norfolk using the hashtag #lovewestnorfolk
• We are also looking for good news stories and case studies which we can share. If you would like to get involved, please contact us via one of our social media channels

The resource pack is available to download from here: https://www.lovewestnorfolk.co.uk/love-west-norfolk-resource-pack/

Written by Lee Hart, Head of Knowhow Energy Overview What does this mean for me? Headlines: ✓ Gas and Electricity Wholesale prices have fallen further. ✓ EU Gas Storage levels are a reduced 70% full. ✓ More LNG shipments should be available from February with Freeport due to reopen. ✓ EU Gas Storage levels are 96% full. As of the 6th of February, Gas and Electricity Year Ahead Wholesale costs were lower, when compared to last month’s report and back to levels seen in 2021. Oil struggles to find price direction and has fallen from $82 to $81 per barrel, hitting a high of $88. It is thought the members of OPEC+ are unlikely to change the current productions levels, in an attempt to inflate the price. Although EU Gas Storage levels have reduced from 84% to 70% over the last month, it remains a positive position compared to the concerns through 2022, when it was feared restrictions on use may need to be enforced. Thoughts are already turning to the requirements for winter 2023/24. LNG deliveries continue to be made and can now be shipped direct to the new German facilities. Additional supplies are also expected soon as the US Freeport LNG terminal is due back online shortly, following the fire last year. Gas is an expensive form of Electricity generation and sets the Wholesale price, despite the high contribution of much cheaper Wind. A market review is looking at how Renewables could be priced separately, but in the meantime has seen the government increase Green generator’s tax, to help fund some of the support measures in place. The Met Office forecast is for seasonal norm temperatures and regional windy conditions at times in February. Read the full report below

A new community shop is being set up in Norwich to help people who are struggling financially or at risk of food or fuel poverty. The shop in Earlham is being established as part of the Nourishing Norfolk Project, with funding from Norfolk Community Foundation, and has been set up as a community interest company with the help of regional accountancy firm, Larking Gowen. One of the founders, Carole Jacques, who is Head Teacher at Earlham Nursery School, said the NR5 postcode the shop will serve is an area of very high deprivation, and there’s a pressing need to help local residents with food security. “When lockdown came, there was a big focus on access to food from a number of groups, including students, families, working people and retired residents. Since the cost of living crisis, food poverty has just escalated,” Carole said. “When we started looking into setting up the shop, we realised that to get funding we’d have to become a community interest company. Fortunately, we were able to get help from Larking Gowen, and without that support we wouldn’t have been able to get set up. “They helped us with the paperwork and gave us clear guidance about our roles and responsibilities,” she continued. The community shop will be in a room at the nursery school which is currently used as a staff common room and has separate access. People in need of support will join as members. They’ll have access to cheaper food and professional help in a number of areas including employment, health and budgeting. “We see the impact of food and fuel poverty every day from our children at the nursery, even though they’re very young. This has been our motivation to set this up,” Carole said. Giles Kerkham, head of the Not for Profit Team at Larking Gowen, said: “This project is about getting food and support to people in Norwich who need it. We were delighted to help by setting up the community interest company. “It’s been about discussing the intended benefits for the community and how they achieve them, while keeping the wording of their documentation simple, usable and effective. Having the community interest company will protect the committee members and give confidence to supporters and funders. “As an independent regional practice, our role in supporting the wider community is extremely important to us. As part of this wider commitment, we’re proud to be one of the founder members of Norfolk ProHelp, the network of professional firms who commit to providing free, quality advice to the not for profit sector. We were very pleased to be able to accept this project to make sure that the community shop is set up in the best way to ensure its sustainability.” Image provided by Larking Gowen

In December 2022, the Charity Commission published details of the new charity Annual Return that will apply for financial years commencing on or after 1 January 2023. For most charities, that means it will apply for the first time to December 2023 year end onwards. Most of the information collected in the Annual Return is not made public, but is used by the Charity Commission to fulfil its oversight responsibilities, and to support charities. The content is therefore interesting, as it provides insight into the areas that the Commission considers current issues, and higher risk. Highlights of the new return Donations – charities with income over £100,000 will need to disclose the value of the highest value donation received from a corporate donor, and an individual, and to confirm whether this was from a related party. Grants making – the value of grants made will need to be split between individuals, other charities and other. There’s also a requirement to confirm whether any charity grants were made to related parties. Trustee payments – there’s a new question asking what, if any, payments to trustees were made for, and whether any trustees resigned to take up employment with the charity in the year. Overseas activities – income from overseas must be split per country and source, to the nearest £100. How this income was received must also be confirmed, although the requirement is only to tick from a selection of options. There’s a similar approach for overseas expenditure, with the need to split the expenditure between countries, and to confirm how the funds were remitted. There’s also a need to identify the countries where the charity delivers activities. Governance – there’s a new question that asks a charity to identify which, from a list of 14 policies and procedures, it has in place. Area of interest to the Commission, and therefore perceived higher risk

• Interactions with related parties, including trustees
• Overseas activities and influence
• Governance

Details of the new Annual Return can be found here. Need help? If you have any concerns regarding the information discussed in this article, or have any other questions, please get in touch with your usual Larking Gowen contact or look for contact details in the Our People section of the our website. Alternatively, call 0330 024 0888 or email enquiry@larking-gowen.co.uk. Chris Yeates © Larking Gowen LLP

A steely fundraiser is pulling on his walking boots for a mammoth 135-mile trek along the Norfolk and Suffolk coastline. Ricky Clarke, from Ipswich, is starting his energy-sapping challenge on 29^th April, in support of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). The 46-year-old will be setting off from Hunstanton and plans to walk the coastlines of both counties before finishing in Felixstowe. He will be wild camping along the way and expects his trek to take around a week, with his daily target between 25 and 30 miles. “I’m buzzing for it and can’t wait to get started,” said Ricky, a machine operator for Ipswich printing business Fuller Davies. “I walk and hike a lot of miles throughout the year, but have never attempted anything so strenuous and continuous. “I’ve wild camped a few times in random places and hiked many miles, so now it’s a case of putting both together. “It’s going to be an adventure and I love being at one with nature. I find it so uplifting and that’s one of the reasons I love hiking. Those highs will hopefully spur me on and see me over the finish line. “One of my heroes is Ed Stafford, who’s the only man to walk the length of the Amazon. “It took 860 days to complete but if he can do that, I’d love to think I can do the Norfolk and Suffolk coastline!” Ricky, who has two daughters, Poppy, 14, and Luna, 11, first approached EACH about taking on the challenge in October. “I wanted to give myself something to look forward to and now it’s full steam ahead,” he said. “It’s great to give your mind a focus and your soul a boost. Speaking to the team there amplified those feelings. “I’m taking this very seriously and it’s ingrained in my mind. “After a final blow-out at Christmas, I’m now watching what I eat, have cut out alcohol completely and am training hard to build up more upper-body strength, in readiness for carrying my backpack. “Between now and then I also plan to get many more miles of training under my belt.” To sponsor Ricky, head here. He can also be followed on Instagram via footslog_farmer Ali Butler, EACH Community Fundraiser for Suffolk and East Essex, said: “This is an amazing, exciting challenge and we really appreciate Ricky’s support. “He’s clearly very focused and determined and I’m sure that resilience will keep him going during the tough miles. “We wish him well and can’t wait to hear about his walking adventure.” Image credits EACH

Norwich Science Festival is back 11–18 February 2023! Expect intriguing discoveries, inspiring talks, engaging exhibitions, deep dives and debates, cutting-edge research, and lots of hands-on family fun! Visit The Explorium at The Forum – a free drop-in family friendly, hands-on science zone with activities for all, with themed days from bugs, birds and beasts through to health and wellbeing, and much more. Learn more about the science that shapes our world with our talks, debates and workshops from inspiring speakers, on a range of topics from artificial intelligence to ageing, and climate change to cancer research. Presented by The Forum, Norwich, in partnership with many organisations across the region, including University of East Anglia and Norwich Research Park, there’s something for everyone – all ages can explore the wonders of the universe, meet the scientists whose research has changed the world and discover how science influences everything around us. Find out more at https://www.norwichsciencefestival.co.uk When – 11th – 18th February Where – The Forum, Norwich We can’t wait for @NorwichSciFest! The 8-day festival returns 11-18 February with intriguing discoveries, inspiring talks, engaging exhibitions, deep dives and debates, cutting-edge research, and lots of hands-on family fun! Take a look at norwichsciencefestival.co.uk

Adina Strajeru, a Greater Anglia conductor who has completed an apprenticeship Greater Anglia is celebrating National Apprenticeship Week, with more than 100 staff currently undertaking qualifications. The train company offers fully funded apprenticeships to all its staff, regardless of their age or the stage of their career, giving them the chance to develop and improve their skills to reach their full potential. The train operator offers the apprenticeships for free in levels two to five, from an intermediate level up to a higher apprenticeship level, the equivalent of a foundation degree. The scheme is open to drivers, conductors, customer service staff, train presentation teams and those who work in offices across the network. It allows for tutor-led training but also gives crucial on-the-job training, allowing the apprentice to improve and gain skills – from communication and teamwork to problem-solving or learning about other areas of the business and the wider rail industry too. Support and mentorship are provided on an ongoing basis by the learners’ managers, training provider-allocated coaches and skills tutors. It means that anyone who completes it will gain a nationally recognised qualification, along with useful transferable skills. Viktorija Novikova, Greater Anglia’s Early Careers and Apprenticeship Manager, said: “Our apprentices are a vital part of the Greater Anglia workforce, coming from a range of operations, customer service and office-based roles. “Apprenticeships allow everyone to develop skills that all ultimately improve the experience provided to our customers day-in, day-out. “Our apprenticeship scheme has been open since 2017 and we’ve trained hundreds of our colleagues in that time, from all areas of the business. “There’s a perception that apprenticeships are just for those fresh out of school, but that’s really not the case. They can be started at any age and can provide a wealth of skills that you didn’t have before, all the while being given support and guidance – meaning our staff can really hit their full potential, no matter what their role.” Adina Strajeru, who currently works as a conductor at Greater Anglia, has undertaken an apprenticeship as part of her role. She said: “The apprenticeship gave me a lot of confidence doing my role and it gave me the ability to understand people better. It has also helped me to deliver a better standard of customer experience.” Throughout National Apprenticeship Week, Greater Anglia will be sharing stories from its current and former apprentices across its social media channels.