Member News

Georgia Payne, Greater Anglia’s new safeguard and trespass prevention manager. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia has appointed Georgia Payne as its new safeguarding and trespass prevention manager. Georgia joined the train operator from British Transport Police, where she worked as a vulnerability researcher. The newly created role will focus on prioritising safeguarding of vulnerable individuals who travel on the network and work towards accreditation for the Safeguarding on Rail Scheme. Georgia Payne said: “I’m really pleased to join the railway. My previous role gave an overview of vulnerability across the UK, and I am now able to focus on a specific area. “Working closely with partners including Network Rail, charities and the emergency services, we want to make sure everyone uses the railway as safely as possible and signpost anyone to access any help they may need.” “Vulnerable individuals are unable to take care of or protect themselves from harm or exploitation due to their situation or circumstances. An individual could be vulnerable for a variety of reasons, they could be missing from home, fleeing from domestic abuse or struggling with their mental health. It is crucial that we can spot the signs and know how to respond to those who need help and support. “ Matt Wakefield, Head of Safety, Security and Sustainability, Greater Anglia, said: “We’re very pleased to welcome Georgia. We are committed to making train travel and station environments as safe as possible and Georgia’s valuable experience is very much welcomed to help us work to ensure that we protect vulnerable children and adults when using the rail network” “Trespass is also a very serious issue on the railway and anyone who acts inappropriately near the railway is risking their own life and the lives of others.” Greater Anglia recently implemented additional measures to help keep people safe at some railway stations on its West Anglia route, after figures from the past year revealed trespass incidents caused almost three days’ worth of delays. New measures have been installed at some of Greater Anglia’s busiest railway stations between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street to help keep people away from the tracks, after figures showed trespass incidents delayed trains by more than 65 hours over the course of a year. Additional fences, gates and witches’ hats – rubber spikes on the ground which deter people from accessing the track – have been introduced at several stations, to help keep people safe.

Impressionist Jon Culshaw and comedians Rory McGrath, Milton Jones, Andy Hamilton and Richard Herring are among those lined up for this year’s Happy Christmas Ipswich showstopper. More big names and surprise guests are set to join in the fun and take to the stage for the comedy and music spectacular, which is in aid of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and taking place at the town’s Regent theatre on Monday, 5^th December. Celebrity champion Griff Rhys Jones has once again raided his contacts book and others on the bill include legendary comedy writer John Lloyd – one of television’s most successful comedy creators of the last four decades and fresh from a hit stage show – comedians Geoff Norcott and Deborah Frances-White and actress and singer Janie Dee. Only Fools and Horses actor Phil Pope will also be coming along with his band, putting smiles on faces with his brand of witty music. Last year’s award-winning show raised a staggering £92,000 for EACH, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. Happy Christmas Ipswich 3 promises to be another fun-packed night of laughs, music and entertainment and tickets, now on general sale now, are available here. EACH Events Manager Becky Redbond said: “As ever, we’re very much looking forward to our big night in Ipswich. “Hopefully it follows in the footsteps and is equally successful as the shows in 2019 and 2021. “Both were great fun, hugely popular and, crucially, raised tens of thousands of pounds for EACH. Hopefully this year will be no different. “Once again, Griff has worked tirelessly and it promises to be a fun-filled evening. Tickets are selling fast so my advice would be to get in quick.” This year’s show, which is set to open with a dance number from Ipswich’s Emma Dodd School of Performing Arts, will be proudly sponsored by The New Homes Group. The Colchester-based business is a long-term supporter of EACH, having donated more than £275,000 since 2016. Last year’s edition scooped a coveted prize in the Event/Campaign of the Year category at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising East Anglia Awards, in June. In addition to The Treehouse, in Ipswich, EACH has two other hospices – The Nook, just outside Norwich, and at Milton, near Cambridge. Photo credits – JHReportage (www.jhreportage.co.uk)

With reports of inflation hitting a 40 year high in April and costs for energy, food and fuel continuing to rise, employees are looking to their employers to help them with the rising cost of living and it is hard to know exactly what the best strategy is. Pressure has been put on employers to increase salaries as a way of supporting their employees but for most employers, this is not possible. Employers do have a role to play and following a recent CIPD Reward Management survey, 96% believe organisations should provide a fair and liveable wage, 87% believe organisations should support in-work progression to help people increase their earning potential and 71% believe organisations should offer support with financial wellbeing by offering and signposting benefits and financial education. What is the effect on employees? Organisations may risk an unengaged and distracted workforce as worries of costs of living concerns increase. Money and people’s mental health are very much connected, money is a fundamental factor in all our lives, so it is no wonder that one affects the other. It is understandable given the current climate for people to feel anxious about their financial circumstances when there is such economic turbulence. When people feel like this it can overwhelm them, which then has a knock-on effect on other areas of their lives such as work, where people may become disengaged, demotivated and exhausted. A recent survey by a financial wellbeing platform Mintago found that 36% of millennials felt that money worries had impacted their work performance. What action should employers take? Supporting your employees to have a decent standard of living contributes to being a responsible business and paying as a minimum the real Living Wage, demonstrates this. Pay increases, whilst beneficial, are not the only way to help employees with the cost of living crisis, especially when employers are also under a financial strain. We have often seen companies offer to support their employees’ mental well-being, so why not offer financial well-being support as well? It can be a valuable and relatively low-cost benefit to offer and may already be an option with current providers that you are using. Employee Assistant Programmes (EAP) are a key investment for many businesses. They are somewhere employees can go to get support in a variety of areas including mortgage advice, financial planning, debt management and often also offer a counselling service. Normalising conversations about money worries can often help people with tackling what is in front of them. Private healthcare, interest-free loans, saving schemes, salary sacrifice and looking at discounts for lifestyle benefits such as gym memberships may also be a great benefit to employees. It is often more about educating people as to the best ways to manage their money and how to get the most from it, which can then prove to be a life-changing benefit. Attracting and retaining staff When people are looking at their current employers or future employers, they are looking at the whole package that is on offer. Businesses are becoming more creative with the rewards that they offer, whether that be in relation to working hours, the location of where their employees work, or their benefits. Since the pandemic, a lot of people have become used to working from home and not having the travel costs associated with going into the office. With the increase in travel and fuel costs, some people are now not able to afford the daily commute. So, the attraction of having a hybrid or working from home option is appealing to a lot more people, it also reduces costs for business! This doesn’t work for every business, however promoting options like car sharing, cycle to work schemes or offering discounts for parking / public transport could help to save employees money and also promote physical health, as well as contribute to the commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance). The situation we currently find ourselves in is not predicted to disappear anytime soon, so educating and supporting your employees as to how best to manage their situation may help their well-being and in turn, keep them motivated at work. If you have schemes available within your organisation, then remember to promote and communicate them. Highlight what you have available for staff and encourage people to use them. If you wish to discuss any options or need support, please contact a member of the MAD-HR team who will be happy to help. This text was originally written by MAD-HR Ltd. Copyright © 2022 MAD-HR Ltd. All rights reserved: https://www.mad-hr.co.uk/blog/cost-of-living-increases-what-can-hr-businesses-do-to-support. Image provided by MAD-HR

You might be wondering, what is Web3? If so, this episode is definitely for you! You might already know what it is, but not fully understand the implications it has for you and your business. Either way, the insights of Metacampus co-founder Alison Alexander, who describes Web3 as the fourth industrial revolution, are not to be missed. Alison previously held top level roles within local governments, including Director of Children Services, and started her career in the metaverse through Virtual Reality – by creating immersive learning environments to help people understand the realities of others. She’s passionate about educating everyone in what the future of the internet holds, and how we need to get on board, as change is coming. In this fascinating chat, she breaks down the decentralisation of the internet, a world where the web starts to change our mindset and the rewards that web3 will bring. Basically, we live in web2 where we don’t own anything, not even our own data, it’s all up for sale – but in web3 we’ll have more control and ownership of what we post, and importantly, our data and money. Alison talks us through the safe avenues that businesses can take to protect themselves and venture into the web3 world now, and explains blockchains, exactly what NFT’s are, how Crypto works, virtual wallets, bitcoin and the responsibility people like herself, and others already working in the metaverse/web3 space have in creating a more environmentally friendly approach to crypto while making the world more inclusive. Her work with Metacampus creates space for people to transform their companies, understand the changes coming in a digestible way, and link new people in the space with investors. This episode is a real game changer, particularly for women breaking out into tech, and small business owners such as artists and those who create their own products. IMPORTANT NOTICE – Crypto is highly volatile – it’s a ‘medium’, NOT money! Please seek advice before making any investment/changes to your business in this area. Show notes Contact Alison on Twitter – @AMETAVERSEA LinkedIn Metacampus website Buy your .eth address! Podcasts: Alix Rübsaam chatting A.I and the human impact on Leadership & Life Chat Crypto with English Hello Metaverse Women of Web 3 Holly Shannon Other: Film – Ready Player One Book – Snowcrash TV show – Silicon Valley You can listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcast, or click here to listen now! You can also now watch us on YouTube! Click here We would love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us! Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP  

Bereaved families had the chance to remember loved ones during a poignant get-together marking Baby Loss Awareness Week. Mums, dads, siblings and grandparents had an opportunity to talk and reflect, as well as writing heartfelt messages on ribbons and wooden hearts. They enjoyed food together and also decorated jars to hold a candle, which they were invited to use as part of a global Wave of Light event. The gathering took place at The Nook – East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’ (EACH) base in Framingham Earl, near Norwich – and Baby Loss Awareness Week ran from 9^th to 15^th October. “We had a very special day,” said EACH Wellbeing Lead Jayne Chesterton. “Twenty-six people attended and it was a chance for families to come together, remember and celebrate their loved ones. “They wrote very personal messages on ribbons and also decorated wooden hearts. “These activities gave families the opportunity to make something for, and in memory of, their deceased baby, brother, sister and grandchild. “Parents took the opportunity to chat to each other, as well as staff and three of our volunteers, and there was a very comfortable atmosphere. “They appreciated the opportunity to engage with others and remember and share memories, and be acknowledged as their baby’s mother and father. “It’s a safe space for them, without any judgement, and it flowed seamlessly. “There were plenty of smiles, despite the poignancy of the occasion, and families told us how much they appreciated the chance to be together. “It meant a lot to those who came as they know we’re always here to listen and support them when needed.” The Nook event took place on 9^th October and then, to mark the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week, a global Wave of Light was held on the 15^th. Families had the chance to light candles and use the jars they decorated the previous weekend. “It’s an important, powerful show of support in raising awareness of baby loss,” added Jayne. “In addition to the coloured lighting, we also had blue and pink ribbons on show throughout the hospice. “It was a simple gesture but extremely poignant. “Adding the ribbons was typical of our care team because they’re always going the extra mile to make things extra special.” EACH’s neonatal referrals at The Nook are mainly a result of the hospice’s close connection and work with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King’s Lynn, and James Paget Hospital, in Great Yarmouth. Jayne and her team also run monthly bereavement groups at the hospice – one for babies and one for children over a year old. Meanwhile, two families attended a creative session for Baby Loss Awareness Week at Milton on 16^th October. Beautiful candle holders were created by each family member to be used during the Wave of Light. They also produced their own piece of artwork, using the colours of blue and pink. They completed a group ‘handprint on canvas’, which has been on display in the hospice. Image credits EACH

The Enterprise Centre, a leading business hub at the University of East Anglia, has been recognised for its continued contribution to the design of top quality environmentally sustainable work space and office provision by securing the ‘Test of Time’ award from the highly regarded British Council for Offices. Amongst very stiff competition, The Enterprise Centre was presented the award at a glittering ceremony on the evening of 4^th October at the Grosvenor House Hotel, in London. Established in 1990, The British Council for Offices researches, develops and communicates best practice in all aspects of the office sector. Their annual awards ceremony is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious events in the corporate real estate calendar. On making the award to The Enterprise Centre, the British Council for Offices judges said ‘The Enterprise Centre is a celebration of sustainability, nature, innovation and collaboration. This landmark project has changed the way the industry thinks about sustainable construction. It is a building that Norfolk and the UK can be truly proud of.’ The ‘Test of Time’ award is the 5^th for The Enterprise Centre from the British Council for Offices, with 2 regional and 2 national awards bestowed in 2016, soon after the building opened. Those awards included the highly sought-after, ‘Best of the Best’, attesting that offices and dedicated desks at The Enterprise Centre were arguably the best place to locate your business in the UK in that year! Angela Macdonald, Commercial Officer for The Enterprise Centre said; ‘We’re absolutely thrilled to be awarded the ‘Test of Time’ accolade by The British Council for Offices. Seven years on from our opening, it’s heart-warming to know our offer is every bit as impressive now as it was when we launched. Of all of the awards the building has received it’s The British Council for Offices that the team is the most proud of. We take great pride in the quality and high standards that we offer to the local business community, students and academics and we are delighted to have these recognised at a national level.’ The Enterprise Centre, one of the most sustainable buildings in the UK, offers top quality and inspirational work space to local businesses alongside UEA Student Enterprise and Innovation Teams. Alongside the community of over 170 companies, meeting and event space is available for public hire. Much applauded since it opened in 2015, this latest success brings the number of awards won by the innovative building up to an impressive 32. Image provided by UEA

Above: Greater Anglia’s station adopters at the awards event. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia has recognised its volunteers in Norfolk and Suffolk who have been working to bring their local rail stations to the heart of their communities. At the annual Station Adoption Awards ceremony Peter and Carol Lotarius received the Judges’ Special Award for their commitment to keeping Eccles Road station, near Attleborough, bright and welcoming, planting a large spring display of daffodils and a summer display of 40 tubs of begonias. They are also working to restore the redundant phone box to house life-saving heart resuscitator equipment and create a wildlife area. Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, said, “Peter and Carol’s dedication to the station in challenging circumstances is incredible. We are so grateful to them for everything they are achieving at Eccles Road – and their work is loved and appreciated by the community too. “They are extremely deserving recipients of this award and I would like to thank them for everything they do to make the station welcoming for passengers and a real asset to the community.” Tom Adams at Brundall station was Highly Commended for ‘Best Personal Contribution’ for his dedication to developing and maintaining the station garden for the community to enjoy, encouraging wildlife-friendly plants and getting the local primary school involved by inviting them to visit, plant flowers and see them grow, as well as arranging rail safety talks for the school. Andy Richardson and Sheila Spedding were named ‘Best Adopter Group’ for their dedication to improving stations on the Norwich – Cambridge line, getting involved at Thetford, Brandon and Lakenheath and helping to transform them with attractive flower displays, as well as feeding back any faults or issues to Greater Anglia to ensure they are quickly rectified, keeping the facilities in good order for passengers. Volunteers at Westerfield station, near Ipswich, won the ‘Community Involvement’ Award for their work to bring the station’s extensive wildlife garden to the heart of the community by holding a ‘Bee Awareness’ fete there in the summer, holding a bee-themed writing competition for local schools, involving the local Cubs group in creating a herb garden at the station for the whole community to use, and taking part in the area’s ‘Inspiring Angels Ipswich’ Christmas event by hanging decorated baubles along the platforms. The ‘Friends of Thetford Station’ were Highly Commended in the ‘Environment and Innovation’ category for the wildlife garden they have created alongside the platform at Thetford station, their efforts to protect the town’s swifts and bats from habitat loss by installing nesting boxes on the old station building and the development of a fernery in the old customer toilet facilities. Great Yarmouth was named ‘Best Staffed Station’ recognising the work of adopters, Rachel Harrison and Clare Southern to establish flower beds designed to withstand the county’s dry summer climate that have made the station more welcoming and help to encourage wildlife in an urban environment. Brampton and Sheringham station adopters jointly received the Best Small Station Award, Brampton volunteers, Kim and Glyn Buck for creating beautiful floral displays all year round and Sheila McGinley at Sheringham for the huge difference she has made planting many flower tubs along the platform and her work to development a new station garden. Trimley station, Suffolk, was Highly Commended in the ‘Most Improved Station’ category for the efforts of volunteer, Tom Hatrick, to create stunning planters on the platforms, maintaining a wildlife area and for cleaning up an old siding and planting shrubs there to create an attractive backdrop to the station. Beccles station’s adopter team was Highly Commended in the ‘Best Medium Station’ category for their hard work that keeps the station looking stunning all year round. Greater Anglia’s Station Adoption initiative sees people getting involved with their local rail station to help bring about improvements for their communities. Alan Neville, Greater Anglia’s Customer and Community Engagement Manager, said: “Our station adopters are real heroes who achieve amazing things to benefit their communities and make them better places to live with their enthusiasm to bring rural stations to life and restore their links to the communities they serve. “The adopters know their stations and the needs of their community well and we are happy to support their aims through small grants and facilitating improvements. “I am delighted that we can also recognise and thank them through the Adopter Awards – we’ve seen some fantastic and innovative projects this year and I would like to thank them all for their continued hard work.” Above: Peter and Carol Lotarius receiving their award from Greater Anglia’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Jonathan Denby (right). Credit: Greater Anglia Above: Tom Adams, Brundall adopter (left) Greater Anglia’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Jonathan Denby. Credit: Greater Anglia Above: Sandy Burn, one of Westerfield’s station adopters in the station garden. Credit: Greater Anglia Above: Thetford station’s adopter group receiving their Wildlife Friendly Stations Accreditation earlier this year. Credit: Greater Anglia  

Whether it’s lunch or an evening meal, come and discover first-hand the excellent standards set by our catering and hospitality courses. The Debut Restaurant at City College Norwich trains the next generation of chefs and front of house staff by giving students experience of working in a fine dining restaurant. The restaurant is run by the college’s internationally renowned Hotel School and serves exquisite lunches dinners from a seasonal menu. A number of themed nights and guest chef takeover evenings are also held to showcase the outstanding talent of our students. Debut Restaurant holds a ‘Highly Commended’ AA College Rosette that reflects the outstanding food and service on offer. The college’s high standards of hospitality education along with the experience students gain in the Debut Restaurant, has seen a number of notable names start their journey with us including Richard Bainbridge and Tom Aikens. Autumn Term Dates  Tuesday 11th October to Thursday 20th October limited availability Tuesday 1st November to Friday 16th December Subject to availability and curriculum demands  Booking a Table  Please call 01603 773227 Telephone lines are open: Monday to Friday 9am-4pm Answer phone available outside of these times or alternative email debut_reception@ccn.ac.uk View menus below https://www.ccn.ac.uk/debut/ Image provided by City College Norwich

Christmas Party Package (40-120 guests) • Exclusive hire of the Great Hall from 18:00 until midnight • Exclusive hire of the Foyle Gallery for dancing • Use of the in-house PA system for music and roving microphones for speeches • One arrival drink per guest • A selection of festive canapes on arrival (nine per guest) • A licensed pay bar* £45.00 per person Christmas Dinner Package (40-90 guests) • Exclusive hire of the Great Hall from 18:00 until midnight • Exclusive hire of the Foyle Gallery for dancing • Use of the in-house PA system for music and roving microphones for speeches • One arrival drink per guest • A selection of festive canapes on arrival (three per guest) • Two-course festive dinner, with tea and coffee • Optional wine packages are available as well as a licensed pay bar* £69.00 per person *A £300 minimum spend applies to the licensed pay bar

Recycle Week is taking placing this week (October 17-23) with the focus on making sure we are recycling correctly and we are all playing our part in helping to preserve the planet. Norfolk County Council is backing the message of this national campaign – ‘Let’s Get Real’ – challenging perceptions and myths around recycling, dealing with different materials, targeting contamination and improving volumes of recycling. Great progress has been made in Norfolk in recent years. For example, for the period 2021-22:

• Recycling rates increased by 2.1 per cent to 44.2 per cent
• Customer satisfaction rates at recycling centres increased one per cent to 83 per cent
• Fly-tipping was down by 4.5 per cent to 10,761 reported incidents.

However, there is still much to be done with some materials that could be recycled simply going to waste – as set out in a recent analysis of waste bins  in the county, conducted by the Norfolk Waste Partnership, which found that:

• 30 per cent of all plastics found in rubbish could have been recycled in the household  recycling bin
• 79 per cent of all cardboard found in general ‘residual’ waste bins could have been recycled
• 99 per cent of glass in rubbish bins could have been recycled.

Among the myths often peddled are that recycling is difficult or confusing, that putting materials in the wrong household bin just won’t matter and that recycling waste makes little difference. The facts are that following a few simple guidelines will ensure that your household waste will be recycled and correctly disposing of your waste in the right bin could potentially save tonnes of waste from being contaminated. In addition, there are many items that can be separated for recycling at Norfolk’s 20 Recycling Centres, such as small electricals, textiles and household batteries. Household recycling is making a massive difference – with waste being used in new products, reducing the need for raw materials, limiting the amount that  that is thrown away and reducing the impact of greenhouse gases which are causing climate change. Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste, Councillor Eric Vardy, said: “We all need to think about how we dispose of all our waste. There are many simple ways of recycling that are effective in conserving resources and are making a real difference in protecting the environment. “The issue of recycling has never been more urgent, and we can all play a part by following just a few simple steps to making a very real impact in reducing greenhouse gases and helping to address the issues of Climate Change. When it comes to recycling, we mustn’t waste the opportunity.” For some tips on reducing your waste go to: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-planning/rubbish-and-recycling/reduce-your-waste The County Council provides a free service at the Recycling Centre for household waste for items such as garden waste, furniture, carpets, general waste, electrical items, cardboard, paper, metals, textiles and cooking oil, with a full list available on its website at: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-planning/rubbish-and-recycling/types-of-waste-we-accept. For recycling and disposal of DIY type materials there is a charged service at the Council’s Recycling Centres:  https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-planning/rubbish-and-recycling/diy-waste Check out your local bin collections and recycling banks at: https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/rubbish-recycling-and-planning/rubbish-and-recycling/bin-collections Repair, reuse and recycling options across Norfolk are signposted with an innovative search tool called ‘Bin Genie’ (www.norfolkrecycles.com/where-can-i-recycle/bingenie). For general information go to: Rubbish and recycling information for Norfolk – Norfolk County Council

Unblocktober is a national campaign that runs throughout October to increase awareness around how we can improve the health of our sewers, watercourses and seas by watching what goes down the drain Anglian Water estimates that at any one time, there is approximately eight Olympic-sized swimming pools of FOG in our networks. Blockages of this kind reduce the much needed capacity in sewer pipes and lead to flooding and potentially serious pollution incidents affecting the local environment. All food serving establishments have a duty to ensure they have the correct grease trap installed and that it is maintained and cleaned throughout the year. If found to be causing a blockage, an FSE could legally be asked to close their premises while repairs are carried out. In addition to this, they could be re-charged for the cost of removing the blockage and even prosecuted if the issues persist. Anglian Water works in partnership with Environment Compliance & Services (ECAS) to help businesses install the correct grease trap and dispose of FOG correctly. ECAS helps to deliver training to businesses to ensure staff have the right knowledge and the business remains compliant. ECAS can also help businesses to install and maintain the correct grease trap. To date, these grease traps have prevented 1,148 tonnes of FOG from entering its sewers. There is also a circular economy solution in place via a number of commercial catering schemes that offer a financial incentive to food serving establishments, for their used FOG. The used FOG can be converted to biodiesel, benefitting the environment while rewarding FSEs. Many waste carriers will collect used FOG for free. So, while there will be an initial cost for setting up a grease trap and disposing of FOG, businesses could save a significant amount long term whilst preventing harm to the environment – a win/win outcome! As part of its purpose to bring environment and social prosperity to the region, Anglian Water continues to work in partnership with ECAS and food service establishments to ensure FOG is disposed of correctly and legally.  As one of the fastest growing regions in the UK, it is vital that everyone plays a part in saving our sewers, drains, watercourses and seas. With over 70,000 food service establishments (FSE) in the region, we are particularly keen to work with these businesses on how fat, oil and grease (FOG) and food waste should be properly and legally disposed of. Anglian Water is currently working with more than 3,000 FSE’s, 70% of which have now installed the correct grease traps and are compliant. We caught up with Marc, one of our senior environmental inspectors, visiting The White Swan community pub in Gressenhall – https://www.linkedin.com/posts/anglianwater_working-together-with-the-white-swan-keep-activity-6990221272953540609-6K2O/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Image credits – Chambers Canva Pro  

Batman is swapping Gotham City for Long Stratton and hoping to inspire a day of superhero fundraising for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). The legendary crimefighter is swooping into No. 5 Hair Studio for the special event on Saturday, 29^th October. Owner Mel Storer-Needham is supporting EACH because her salon, which she opened earlier this year, is next door to the charity’s shop in Ice House Court. Husband Mark will be dressing as Batman and hoping others follow his lead, don masks and become Caped Crusaders. There will also be a raffle with bat-themed goodies up for grabs. Mel said: “The idea first started when Mark dressed as Batman for the Wymondham carnival in 2016. “Every year since, we’ve tried to raise money for charity and this year, with my salon directly next door, it made sense to support EACH. “Mark will be pulling on his cape and appearing as Batman from 12pm until 4pm. It seemed an appropriate theme, given that it’s Halloween. “Weather-permitting, Long Stratton Motors, the dealership directly opposite, has also kindly agreed to loan us a full-size black sports car, which looks something like a Batmobile. It should be a real eye-catcher.” Mel and Mark are creating two Batman hampers, which will be raffle prizes on the day. Tickets, which cost £1, are available from No. 5 Hair Studio and the EACH shop. The draw will take place at 4pm. The couple also have cardboard Batman face masks, which they are selling for £2. These are also available from both premises. Image credits EACH