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Bereaved parents Baylee Nash and Tom Pipe say part of them will forever be missing following the death of ten-day-old daughter Violet-May. The couple are sharing their story during Baby Loss Awareness Week as a way of conveying their gratitude to East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), having spent precious time as a family at The Nook, in Framingham Earl. Violet-May had a serious heart condition known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. She also had pulmonary valve dysplasia and mild pulmonary valve regurgitation. She was transferred to The Nook for end-of-life care and died in October 2021. Baylee said: “I don’t think there’ll ever be words to describe how difficult it was to deal with and how much it tore our hearts apart. “It was something we had no idea about and had never heard of, but something that left us with so much to learn. That was the scary part – the unknown. “We felt such emptiness and heartache that will never go away. “Violet-May was so little, precious and perfect to us, but she came into this world broken inside. A massive part of me felt guilty, like it was my fault, even though there was nothing we could do. “The last year has been an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. “Losing Violet-May has left us completely broken. The moment we lost her was the moment we lost part of ourselves – a massive part that will always be missing. “No matter how many tears we’ve cried, or how many times we’ve begged for her to come back, we know she‘ll never be in our arms again. “It’s a parent’s worst nightmare and there will never be words for the heartache and pain we feel. “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone and don’t know if I’ll ever be able to say we coped. We had no choice but to carry on and find a new way of living our lives.” Amid their devastating heartache, Baylee and Tom, both 20, found comfort and support at The Nook. They were able to create special memories, including going into the sensory room, taking their baby for a walk around the hospice grounds and giving her a bath. “It felt so surreal,” said Tom, a football coach for Norwich City Sports Foundation. “After eight days in hospitals, there was no major machinery, no-one watching us or constant check-ups. It was just us, as a family, as new parents, enjoying the time we had left. “We had time to soak up what any other new parents would and we managed to create memories I don’t think we would’ve ever got the chance to without going to The Nook. “The sensory room was a particularly special moment for us. It was so calm, with no worries or distractions, and one of the very last memories we had. “There were so many other favourite times, like chilling on the sofa watching television and going to bed like a normal family, waking up and having cuddles with our baby. They were little moments we didn’t have in hospital and moments we can’t ever replace.” The couple, who live in Norwich, are still receiving support and feel they would have struggled to cope without EACH. “The care and support we received was above and beyond what we thought we were going to get,” said supermarket customer assistant Baylee. “We were made to feel like we were at home and the care team looked after us all, including our families. “EACH has the most amazing staff. They’re all so loving, welcoming and have become such a part of our story and journey. I feel like everyone goes above and beyond and helps in every way possible. “They all truly take the time to listen, which is so important. No-one just forgets you and they treat you like family. “I never knew how much I’d need a place like EACH until we had Violet-May. “Her end-of-life care was made to feel as peaceful as possible and the hospice became a safe place for our family. “The staff had such a massive part to play. The nurses helped us make the most precious memories and we didn’t have to worry about anything. We had time to focus on what truly mattered – Violet-May. “The difference it made during those final days was everything we could’ve hoped for and we strongly believe we wouldn’t have coped otherwise. “Since losing Violet-May, we’ve managed to go back to the hospice and remember her in such special ways. “We both grieved differently, with no way of knowing which way was right or wrong. I don’t think there’s a correct way to grieve. “As a family, one thing that gave us a bit of help was fundraising for EACH on behalf of Violet-May, being the top fundraisers for the Piglet Junior Hog in July and raising £1,973. “It was our way of giving back to an amazing charity that has helped, and continues to help, us so much.” Violet-May was Baylee and Tom’s first baby and the couple are expecting again in October. Ironically, both babies have exactly the same due date, just a year apart. Image Credits – EACH

Bereaved families came together to reflect and remember loved ones during a series of poignant memory days. The special services were organised by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and took place at The Treehouse, in Ipswich, The Nook, near Norwich, and at Milton, near Cambridge. Parents, grandparents and siblings attended and it was the first time the events had been possible for nearly three years, due to Covid restrictions. At each of the hospices, families had the chance to bring special buttons and contribute to memory button trees. Children and babies were remembered and there were special services where families shared words and poems. They also had the chance to light candles in memory of their loved one before everyone gathered for tea and cake. EACH chaplain Alex South said: “These were very special events for our families and it was good to have everyone together in person again, sharing their feelings and similar shared experiences with others who understand. “We had some great feedback and families told us how much they appreciated it. “One described the day as ‘incredible’ and another said it was a relief to be back with others again, saying they looked around and realised they weren’t alone.” Families were able to take as much time as they needed to light the candles, remembering and talking about their baby, child or young person. Another highlight was a special storytelling of the book The Memory Tree, by Britta Teckentrup. Young siblings chose a cuddly toy to hold as they listened either on bean bags or back in their seats with their family. Music therapist and spiritual care lead Jane Rous-Milligan led the event at The Nook, along with counsellor Amy Brown. She said: “The feedback was wonderful and afterwards someone described the day as ‘precious’, saying it was wonderful to hear others talk about and remember their son. Another said the photo they shared isn’t shared anywhere else, saying ‘it’s our connection with today and we’re proud to share our son with other families’. “Someone described our day as a very moving but amazing occasion and another said it was a place to reflect and share with others.” Milton locality wellbeing and spiritual care lead Michelle Attrill added: “Our button tree was very symbolic and lots of families brought their own, which clearly held special memories. “Children loved hearing a special story while sitting on beanbags and our marquee looked beautiful, with the candles adding a sense of occasion and reflection. “Our service concluded with a ‘bubble farewell’ and the sun shone on the thousands of bubbles that rose high in the skies of Milton. “We aimed to provide a calm and thoughtful event for the families and the feedback on the day was very positive.” Image Credits – EACH

News and Events  On June 18^th we held our One Fun Day at the fantastic Centre Paws in Wymondham. With a dog show for all to enter, dog displays, live music, a ponycycle gymkhana, games, arts and crafts, retail, delicious food and even a gin bar there really was something for everyone to enjoy. The rain didn’t stop play and a fabulous day was enjoyed by visitors with two legs and four. It was fantastic to see some of our adopted dogs and to chat to supporters, not only did the day raise awareness of the work we do but raised vital funds for the Branch to continue with the work we do. This Annual event will take place next year on Saturday 17^th June so save the date, more information will follow in the new year. Just 11 days later and we were making our debut appearance at The Royal Norfolk Show! With 90,000 visitors across the two days, it really was a team effort to get our stand looking fantastic to welcome visitors. With a display of kit our Animal Welfare Team use, fundraising stalls, doggy treats and a ponycycle to have a ride on or a selfie in our selfie frame it certainly was a busy two days. We were supported by Make a Smile lottery who were brilliant in increasing our player numbers. “I loved volunteering and being part of the RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch stand at the Royal Norfolk Show. It was lovely to see so many school children stop and chat to us and play our games. I met so many friendly dogs that all enjoyed a treat from the jar and helping people on the ponycycle was great fun”. – Keira Adoption Stories This year so far, we have rehomed 328 rescued animals. We found forever homes for 416 animals in 2021 so we are on track for another record year! Rolo and Crunchie, now known as Odin and Freya came to us after being found alone at a feral colony. After many hours spent bottle feeding them and teaching them how to ‘cat’ they found their forever home and as you can see are enjoying life! Their new owner says: “Thank you for making it such an easy process. We’re so happy with them and I think they are happy with us! Adoptober Adoptober is a month-long rehoming campaign throughout October and we have lots of animals in our care looking for a second chance at happiness! Education With students returning to Education this month it seemed a good time to shout about our fantastic Education Workshops and Talks. We recognise that a large and important part of animal welfare is promoting awareness and educating members of the public and the younger generation on positive animal welfare. We offer free of charge educational workshops and talks on a range of RSPCA topics to a variety of different groups and audiences such as Schools, Community Groups, Clubs and Societies. For more information or to book a session please email our Education and Events Manager Leanne, leanne.neave@rspcanorwich.org or call 07990038943 Animal welfare advice for autumn As temperatures drop and it gets dark earlier, we receive many calls about the welfare of pets and wildlife. Check out our top tips for keeping animals safe and warm in autumn. Keeping pets safe in the dark Just as you should always wear reflective clothing to make yourself visible when walking near roads in the dark, don’t forget your pets! Fit your dog and cat with a reflective collar – but make sure you only use a quick release collar for a cat. Animals on the roads As the nights grow longer, we see more injured wild animals coming into our care who’ve been involved in road traffic accidents. Accidents involving deer are especially common during the rut, which can occur from mid-July to December (depending on the species). Take note of warning signs, drive with extreme caution (especially early morning and evening) and report collisions with deer to the police. Grey seal pups on the beach September to December is the breeding season for grey seals. Pups are born with a fluffy white coat and don’t enter the sea for the first two to three weeks. Don’t approach a seal pup on its own, or allow dogs or other animals to harass them, as they can give a nasty bite – and if a seal pup is scared into the water, it could be washed out to sea and get lost. Ways you can help Amazon Smile Amazon Smile is a way to raise money for good causes you care about simply by shopping online. At no extra cost to you, every time you shop the retailer will add a small donation to the charity of your choice. Simply sign up with your existing Amazon account and search for our Branch! Make A Smile Lottery Signing up to this weekly lottery is a great way to support our work, plus you could also win one of 102 cash prizes, with a first prize of £1,000. It only costs as little as £1 per number, per week and you will be giving a second chance at happiness to vulnerable animals in our Branch area Gift Aid Donating through gift aid means charities can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. It will not cost you any extra. Charities can claim Gift Aid on most donations, even items donated to our shops. For more details or call us on 03030401565 Sign up to our newsletter here

Funding your business is one of the most challenging aspects of running a business. It can be complex and time consuming to find the right information at the right stage. This series of virtual events aims to give you up to date information to help you decide the best funding for your business View the full newsletter below

A Greater Anglia train. Credit: Greater Anglia Train operator Greater Anglia has launched special Autumn ‘Hare Fares’ from just £10 return for a limited time. The new ‘Hare Fares’ offer passengers off-peak returns across the Greater Anglia network with three zones and three simple return prices: £10, £15 and £20, with children travelling for just £2 return each. There is no limit on the number of tickets, but they must be booked between 11 October and 30 October for travel between 12 October and 2 December. Example Hare Fare ticket prices: £10 return: Cambridge to London, Chelmsford to London, Norwich to Cambridge £15 return: Chelmsford to Ipswich, Colchester to London, Southend to Colchester £20 return: Chelmsford to Norwich, Norwich to London, Shenfield to Norwich Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Commercial, Customer Services and Train Presentation Director, said: “Travelling by train is cheaper than you think, and our new bargain Hare Fares mean people can travel for less this autumn. “Our region has so much to offer and whether it’s a trip to the city or coast, shopping or sightseeing, we’re giving people more money to spend on having a great time by helping them save money on their train fare. “Hare Fares can be purchased throughout half term too, so families can enjoy great days out. Greater Anglia has a range of great value fares and up to four children can travel for just £2 each way with any adult.” Hare Fares are available as standard off-peak advance tickets only and can only be booked online exclusively at greateranglia.co.uk or via the Greater Anglia app, where customers can purchase tickets without booking fees. Hare Fares are not valid on journeys wholly within the Oyster card area zones 1-6. Standard advance refunds rules apply. Greater Anglia also offers a range of Advance fares that offer customers savings of between 60-70% on the standard walk up prices, plus 2FOR1 on entry to many top attractions in London and East Anglia. The train operator also has a range of great value fares which are available all year round, including GroupSave for people travelling in a group of three or more, a special London evening out fare for those staying overnight in the capital and a Club 50 discount for those aged 50 over. For the best value fares, passengers should book in advance and the earlier customers book, the more they can save.

A leading children’s hospice has launched a campaign to recruit new shop volunteers – stressing that those who spare some time have an “absolutely crucial” role to play. The East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) Be the Difference campaign is underway with the aim of recruiting extra help in its 44 shops. The organisation, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions, relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income. This year alone it needs to raise £6.5 million from its retail operation, which includes stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex and a busy Retail Distribution Centre, in Thetford. EACH’s Be the Difference campaign will include publicising case studies, encouraging people to sign up and get involved. EACH Head of Retail Central Operations Sarah Throssell said: “Volunteers are absolutely crucial to an organisation like ours and we always need more help. “The retail model only works because of them and, without these wonderful people, the figures just wouldn’t add up. “We’d be very pleased to hear from anyone interested in joining our team and, while we’d obviously love people to give up a day or two a month, the aim of this campaign is to emphasise that just a morning, afternoon or even an hour makes the world of difference. “As our figures show, it directly helps the children, young people and families we care for and support. “We have shops across the region, in the heart of their respective communities, and there are a range of roles available, from serving customers to sorting and organising donations and listing eBay items. “The hours people donate are entirely flexible, to fit in with their busy lives, and a friendly welcome is absolutely guaranteed.” On average, EACH’s shops take £100,000 per week which, split between the 44 premises and based on six eight-hour days, equates to just under £50 per hour. Per day, those figures translate to just under £400. To give some context, an hour of income would pay a nurse, counsellor, physiotherapist or an art, music or occupational therapist for two hours. It would pay a play specialist for three hours, helping families make precious memories, or a care assistant for four, giving families a much-needed rest. For more information, speak to a member of staff in-store or contact volunteer services on 01223 205183. Alternatively, email volunteerservices@each.org.uk EACH currently has 1,090 retail volunteers across the region and three hospices – The Nook, in Framingham Earl, near Norwich, The Treehouse, in Ipswich, and at Milton, near Cambridge. Image credits EACH

A partner at a leading regional accountancy firm has won a national award that showcases the rising stars of the profession. John Atkins, who is a Partner in Larking Gowen’s Corporate Audit and Advisory team, has been recognised in Accountancy Age magazine’s 35 under 35 Awards. Each year, the prestigious award is given to just 35 practitioners under the age of 35 throughout the country, who have “made great professional contributions to their field and their individual firms.” John said it was a privilege to be recognised, adding that the award was reflective of the whole team’s performance. “Within my role, I am supported by numerous great people at Larking Gowen, without whom none of the achievements recognised would be possible,” he said. “I have always believed a key role of a partner is to provide the platform for the team to effect change, to challenge, and deliver a great experience, whether this be training or client service. “It is great that Larking Gowen has been recognised as a leading training firm. We are currently supporting over 130 people in their training with the opportunity to take the first steps in their accountancy career, within an inclusive, flexible and supportive environment. “Through our well-established and successful training programme, we are able to ensure that Larking Gowen continues to focus on the development of all of our people, providing a solid platform to continue to grow the business, and to encourage client-focused, trusted professionals to participate and succeed long into the future,” he said. Julie Grimmer, Managing Partner at Larking Gowen, said: “We are immensely proud of John’s achievement. This award acknowledges innovation and dedication to lead the way and continue to change the way we do things for the better.” Image provided by Larking Gowen

Organised by Larking Gowen, a major regional independent accountancy partnership and one of the UK’s top 40 accountancy firms, in conjunction with the Country Land and Business Association East (CLA), the membership organisation for owners of land, property and businesses in rural England and Wales, it included a wide range of thought-provoking presentations from a group of speakers whose talents and experience span a range of complementary fields. A novel feature of the event was the ‘live poll’ of delegates to assess their views on the future of farming in the UK, with 50% being ‘optimistic’ and 40% going for the ‘it’s complicated’ option, while 10% were ‘not confident’. Bruce Masson, the Larking Gowen Partner who originated the Autumn Farming Conference, was delighted with the response, stating: “Given that the farming industry faces numerous challenges and uncertainties, from major cost and supply issues due to the geopolitical turmoil, the effects of Brexit, phasing out of the Basic Payment Scheme and labour shortages, to name but a few, it was pleasing that most delegates were positive about the future, albeit with some reservations.” Chaired by CLA East Director, Cath Crowther, the event included presentations from Steven Rudd, Larking Gowen’s Head of Farms and Landed Estates, Daniel Zeichner, Member of Parliament for Cambridge and Shadow Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries, Alec Smith, Director of highly respected agricultural and advisory business, Sentry Ltd, and Jason Cantrill, a Partner at farming consultancy Ceres Rural. Emma Haley was there to represent YANA (You Are Not Alone), the farming charity which provides mental health support for the farming and rural community, which received a £1500 donation from the event. The Autumn Farming Conference also included two fascinating yet very different presentations from Norfolk farmers Stuart Mayhew and Izzi Rainey. A 12-YEAR ROLLER COASTER RIDE Stuart Mayhew and his wife Rebecca farm 500 acres at Old Hall Farm (www.oldhallfarm.co.uk), Woodton in South Norfolk, home to his family since the mid-1940s, when they started out with a small suckler cow herd, chickens for egg production, and pig rearing, as well as farming 500 acres of arable land. The audience was captured by Stuart’s passionate speech entitled ‘Our regenerative journey’ which outlined how the couple had come to completely change their approach to farming. He stated: “Despite all of humankind’s achievements, we owe our existence to six inches of soil and the fact that it rains. But now the soil is going out to sea, and it has stopped raining, so we cannot just sit back, carry on with business as normal and do nothing. For the first time in my life, when I see clouds of dust rising as fields are cultivated, instead of thinking, ‘Great, they’re all cracking on, being industrious and getting ready for the next crop’, I think, ‘That’s topsoil blowing away.’ Two millimetres of erosion per year over an average life of seventy-five years is six inches of topsoil lost, and as an industry we do not have that much to lose. “Since our break with nature came with agriculture, it seems fitting that the healing of culture should begin there. Agriculture should take the lead and all of us who are involved must ask: ‘What can we do as a collective, as an industry, to give ourselves back the power that has gone to big industry?’ I am not suggesting that I have all the answers, but what I have discovered is that the key to anything is to ask better questions. The more of us who ask better questions, the more control we might be able to give ourselves and the better the future that we might leave behind. “My aim is that I hand the farm over in a better condition than I found it. That is not a criticism of my grandfather or father, who did an amazing job, which they were asked to do by governments at the time, to massively crank up food production. They fed the world, but at what cost? Only now is that becoming apparent and if we are to go on feeding the world for the next 50, 100, 250 years, we must start doing something different.” In Stuart’s case, doing something different has involved a complete change of approach. The birth of their children, followed by a series of personal and business challenges, had a very profound effect, and made them look at life in an entirely new light. As a result, they decided to move away from farming very conventionally with 450 sows and taking progeny through to finishing using all the grain and straw from their arable farm. After clearing out the pigs following a severe outbreak of disease, they chose to pursue a system of regenerative agriculture and became a founding member of Regenerative Agriculture Community East (RACE). Formed in April 2022, it aims to help connect the region’s farmers, retailers, and consumers, shorten supply chains, support sustainable farming, and help to improve food security. Starting in 2016 with one Jersey cow, Stuart and Rebecca now have 50 Jerseys with calves kept at foot; the herd is milked once a day in a new dairy and raw milk is sold on site. They also produce beef from native breeds, sheep for meat, goats for meat and on-site experiences, rare breed pigs for meat, together with chickens. Based on a system of arable-pasture cropping and ‘vertical stacking,’ the business is proud that all ruminants are 100% pasture fed, while the pigs, chickens and eggs are soya-free. Old Hall Farm also has a farm shop and butchery, café, and vineyard serving thousands of customers every year. “One of the benefits of starting something from scratch and being quite naïve is that while you do encounter most of the pitfalls, you don’t know all the things that you can and can’t do, but it certainly hasn’t been easy,” Stuart adds. “In 2019, after we had been open for just nine months and were just getting our teeth into the new business, with the café, restaurant, and shop fully staffed, the world was shut down by COVID. That was a huge challenge! Overnight, we became a supermarket and focal point for the local community. I will never forget turning up one morning in April 2020 with the wind howling across the car park and seeing a queue of people waiting for our farm shop to open. It is quite humbling to be able to offer that service and see how reliant people are on others to provide their basic needs. “The last 12 years have been a roller-coaster ride. Adopting a holistic approach to farm management encourages you to really think about what you want to achieve; what do you want your life to look like and what must happen to achieve those goals? Basically, you have to distil everything into a nutshell. My nutshell is that when my children ask me: ‘When the world was going wrong what did you do?’ I want my answer to be: ‘Everything that I could.’ I am not for one second suggesting that I have all of the answers, but what I have discovered is that the key to anything is to ask better questions. And the more of us who ask questions, the more control we might be able to give ourselves and the better the future that we might leave behind.” THE NEXT GENERATION Izzi Rainey grew up on her family’s Bates Moor Farm at Foulsham in Norfolk and, after graduating from the Glasgow School of Art, established IzziRainey, a farm-based textile company (www.izzirainey.com). Passionate about her work, she presented a first-hand experience of diversification without stewardship, talked about the success of women in agriculture and outlined her perspective on the role of the next generation in the industry. “Growing up on a farm has been a huge influence on my life, especially working with cattle. After graduating from the Glasgow School of Art and having spent four years in the city, I was ready to return to Norfolk. My final project at Art School drew inspiration from life on our family farm; the textures, shapes, and colours found within the machinery, buildings, and surfaces.” This became the concept for IzziRainey Limited, which aims to bring a small part of farm life into its customers’ homes through the products which it designs and produces. The business was established in the summer of 2014 by Izzi and long-time friend Lara to design and manufacture high-quality stationery and homeware products in the heart of Norfolk. Izzi’s prints contain a rich hand-stamped quality, and this textural detail is retained within the fine digitally printed fabrics and designs. Izzi is also a trustee of the Highland Cattle Society, her passion for the breed coming from her father who established his fold of Highland cattle in 1989. In addition to her own Highland cattle, she established a herd of Lincoln Reds in 2017 and two years later launched Bates Moor Farm Beef which delivers beef boxes to customers throughout the UK. Through her extensive use of social media, coverage in print media and appearances on BBC’s ‘We are England’ and ‘The Farmers’ Country Showdown’ programmes Izzi has promoted her brand and products to a countrywide audience. The latest development for the business came in May 2022 when she launched a series of workshops and meadow walks. Image provided by Larking Gowen

A 21 year old apprentice from Drayton has scooped the title of Apprentice of the Year in a national awards scheme for the heating industry. Sam Groves, a trainee electrician at Attleborough-based renewable heating expert Finn Geotherm, has just been presented Heating & Ventilating Review’s (HVR) Apprentice of the Year award. The awards recognise key achievements within the UK heating industry, with Apprentice of the Year given to an individual who shows great potential, determination and a promising career ahead. Sam joined Finn Geotherm a year ago from Norwich City College and during his time within the business, he has been working alongside the company’s fully qualified electricians to gain valuable on the job experience installing ground and air source heat pump systems. Starting with small domestic installations, Sam’s skills and knowledge have progressed to enable him to work on large commercial projects including some of Finn Geotherm’s biggest installations to date for public sector clients in London. Alongside his job at Finn Geotherm, Sam is currently undertaking an 18-month course at West Suffolk College, which will result in an AM2 electrical installation qualification. Sam Groves, trainee electrician at Finn Geotherm, said: “I am overwhelmed and delighted to have won Apprentice of the Year. Working on the installation of heat pump systems at Finn Geotherm has opened an exciting and challenging long-term career path that I had no idea existed when undertaking my initial studies at college. Heat pumps are the future of heating and I am excited to have joined this industry at the ideal time. I have relished the opportunity presented to me at Finn Geotherm and I am determined to succeed in this industry, working hard to grow my skills and expertise. Winning the award has given me an extra boost as I finish my apprenticeship, ready to embark on the next stage of my career.” Guy Ransom, commercial director at Finn Geotherm, said: “At Finn Geotherm, we believe we are well placed to provide training in heat pump installation skills, but what we cannot teach is attitude and Sam has this in spades. He has risen to every single challenge we have given him since joining us. We are currently installing some of the largest heat pump systems in Europe and he has played a key role in these projects, not only in providing support for our qualified electrical engineers, but also now in installing the equipment on his own. Sam is a superb asset to our company and an example to his colleagues and others seeking to join the industry. Congratulations to Sam – he is a very worthy winner indeed of Apprentice of the Year.” For more information on ground and air source heat pumps and details on Finn Geotherm, visit www.finn-geotherm.co.uk. Image – Sam Groves – trainee at Finn Geotherm, receiving his award from Martin Hastings from TG Lynes (left) and comedian Hal Cruttenden, host of the HVR Awards 2022. Owned by HVR Awards.

Bereaved parents have spoken of the invaluable support they receive from East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) in a powerful new film released to mark the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week. Lee Channell and Emie Rayfield have shared their story in a special video outlining the help they continue to receive at The Nook, in Framingham Earl. The couple’s baby, Theodore, died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital when he was just 71 minutes old, on 22^nd July 2021. He was born at 5.25am and passed away at 6.36am. “Initially, we were both scared because, obviously, we didn’t want our baby to die,” said Emie, 32. “However, having support helped us control the controllable. “We had choices and decisions and that was only possible because of EACH. “It meant we were able to focus on what was important to us and most appropriate for our family. “Without that, as dramatic as it sounds, I don’t think I’d be here now. I just wouldn’t have been able to cope. “The hospice was completely different to what I imagined. “When I thought about it beforehand, I envisaged misery, sadness and darkness. “However, it’s not like that in reality. There’s a lot of love and positivity here.” Theodore had exomphalos – a defect of the abdominal wall detected during Emie’s routine 12-week scan, in January 2021. At that point it was hoped surgery would correct the problem. Instead, more scans revealed further problems, notably the devastating fact he had no kidneys, and Lee and Emie were duly referred to EACH. After Theodore died they chose to bring him to The Nook. They drove themselves to spend time together as a family, creating treasured memories supported by staff at the hospice. EACH continues to support the couple, who live in Norwich, and they have fortnightly sessions with counsellor Amy Brown. They made the brave decision to share their story as a way of helping raise awareness of the charity, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across East Anglia. The film, which is now available to watch on the EACH website and is being shared via its social media channels, was produced in collaboration with experienced journalist and former long-serving BBC Look East reporter Kevin Burch. It is four and a half minutes long and being released to mark the beginning of national Baby Loss Awareness Week, which started yesterday and runs until Saturday. EACH Chief Executive Phil Gormley said: “We’re incredibly proud of this powerful film and hugely grateful to Lee and Emie. There’s no doubt their message will help so many families in the future and this is the perfect time to launch it, at the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week.” In addition to the film, Lee and Emie have also shared their story in an accompanying written feature. To read it, click here. Theodore’s story By their own admission, bereaved parents Lee Channell and Emie Rayfield would be lost without the “priceless” support of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH). The couple’s baby, Theodore, died at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital when he was just 71 minutes old, on 22^nd July 2021. He was born at 5.25am and passed away at 6.36am. Afterwards they chose to bring him to The Nook, in Framingham Earl. They drove themselves to spend time together as a family, creating treasured memories supported by staff at the hospice. Little Theodore had exomphalos – a defect of the abdominal wall detected during Emie’s routine 12-week scan, in January 2021. At that point it was hoped surgery would correct the problem. Instead, more scans revealed further problems, notably the devastating fact he had no kidneys, and Lee and Emie were duly referred to EACH. It meant the couple were able to engage with staff and begin making plans for the inevitable. Image credits EACH

A leading children’s charity has won a prestigious industry award for the innovative way it uses social media to generate income. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) scooped the Third Sector Award during a ceremony at The Brewery, in London. It prevailed in the ‘best use of social media’ category for its highly-acclaimed ‘Style with EACH’ initiative. The vibrant brand is an online boutique carrying the strapline ‘fashion that doesn’t cost the earth’, referring to fashion that is cost-effective and promotes recycling. EACH created new standalone Style with EACH brand accounts on Instagram and TikTok and, collaborating with social media influencers, has seen its followers rocket by 68%, its store views increase by 63% and sales shoot up by 50%. Over the last six months its Instagram channel has seen a massive 173% increase in followers and Reels reach increase by 135%. Lois Livoti, EACH Social Media and Digital Communications Coordinator, attended the ceremony and received the award along with Style with EACH Manager Yasmin Bata. Lois said: “Style with EACH was initially set up to support our retail operation during the pandemic, but has now continued to build an additional revenue stream. “Social media has been key to the success and allowed us to communicate with, and attract, supporters of a different demographic to our usual customer base. “Rather than using our existing social media platforms and profiles, we created new standalone Style with EACH accounts on Instagram and TikTok. “What we’ve achieved is incredibly innovative and a type of content few charities have ventured into. “Our new channels have been used to promote high-quality, high-value items listed on our boutique, along with using it to engage with our audience by filming fun and light-hearted Reels and TikTok trends. “It’s kept our content fresh and current, gained thousands upon thousands of views and resulted in vastly growing levels of engagement.” EACH, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions, lost £100,000 of income per week when its 44 shops were forced to close because of Covid. It resulted in a large amount of donated stock to sell, without being able to access its target audience. “In addition to using our already successful eBay store, we identified a gap in the market for a younger online audience,” added Yasmin. “These are people with a high demand for vintage fashion and the passion to reduce environmental impact, especially around fast fashion. “They’re looking for alternative ways to purchase and our challenge was finding the best way to communicate with them effectively. “Since then, we’ve started reaching a new, younger audience – our donors of the future – and created a successful, sustainable income stream. “We’ll be expanding to high-end fashion, including children’s clothing, and on other specialised selling platforms – a very different, positive venture born out of the adversity of the pandemic.” The Third Sector Awards were held on Friday, 30^th September. They are an opportunity for voluntary organisations of all sizes, and the people who work for them, to celebrate their work and the difference they make to society. To find out more about Style with EACH, click here or head to its Instagram and TikTok accounts. Image credit EACH

The Managing Director and Lead Consultant of Norfolk-based BLS Safety and Training has completed the rigorous process to become a Chartered member of IOSH. Justin Cowles set up BLS Safety and Training in 2012, having gained many years’ experience as an Emergency Medical Technician within the private ambulance sector. Having been a member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the world’s Chartered body for safety and health professionals, for many years, he has now met the next level of high standards required to become a Chartered Member. Chartered status is the ultimate standard for an experienced health and safety professional to have behind their name in the industry, as it demonstrates an understanding of a broad range of issues, and therefore provides a transferable knowledge base that is applicable across industry sectors and job roles. The process requires a minimum of two years’ experience in the industry, with validated evidence of work in developing a positive safety culture, communication and health and safety policies, and assessing and managing risk. Members must also successfully complete a peer-reviewed interview. Once Chartered Membership is achieved, a CPD record must also be maintained. For Justin, who has a wealth of experience in an array of industry sectors, including equestrian, agriculture, healthcare, leisure, hospitality and events, his Chartered Membership means organisations are working with someone who’s at the top of their profession to provide health and safety training to their staff. Justin now manages a team of four fellow trainers and assessors, including trainer Clive Wells, who joined the team in September. Together, they provide health and safety consultancy services, fire risk assessments, face fit testing, and training courses for businesses and organisations throughout Norwich and Norfolk. For more information on the services offered by BLS Safety and Training, please visit the website: https://www.blstraining.co.uk/ Images owned by BLS Training