When Hands On At Work was created in 2010, our primary offering was workplace massage, reflexology, and couch massage. As the years have progressed, working life has changed. Businesses now offer flexible and remote working with wellbeing becoming a must do for the welfare for employees, rather than a tick box exercise. We knew we had to adapt and review the services we offered. Working in collaboration with selective partners, Hands On At Work offer even more wellbeing services in your workplace, whether that’s in the office, at home or online. Excited! > Pilates > Yoga > Mental Health First Aider Training > Health Checks > Laughter Yoga > Nutritional webinars such as: Eating to sleep well Boost your immunity Brain food And much more > Lunch and Learns on a range of different topics such as: Managing the Menopause Men’s Mental Health Gut, Health & Digestion Transgender Training How could you fit these into your wellbeing ideas? One way is to organise activities around National Awareness Days. Here are some examples: JUNE Week commencing 12th June – Men’s Health Week (Men’s health webinars). Week commencing 27th (Tuesday) – World Wellbeing Week (Massage in your office) AUGUST National Wellness Month (Yoga, Pilates, Massage) Tuesday 15th August – National Relaxation Day (Reflexology in your office) SEPTEMBER Week commencing 18th – International Week of Happiness at Work (Laughter Yoga, massage, reflexology) There are other more obscure awareness days such as September 1st being Ginger Cat Appreciation Day but I’ll leave that one to you to decide what you could do for that day! For more ideas or information on how we can support your HR team, leaders and employees with wellbeing, rewards and recognition email Kathy Scott on info@handsonatwork.co.uk or visit our website at www.handsonatwork.co.uk Image provided by Hands on at work
6th of June 2023 Written by Lee Hart, Head of Knowhow Energy Overview Headlines: ✓ Gas and Electricity Wholesale prices are lower. ✓ EU Gas Storage levels remain high at 70% full. ✓ Large numbers of LNG deliveries continue to arrive in Europe. ✓ EU Gas Storage levels are 96% full. As of the 5th of June, Gas and Electricity Year Ahead Wholesale costs were lower, when compared to last month’s report. During May, Oil fell to just $72 a barrel, well below the $80 it is thought members of OPEC+ require. In response, on the 4th of June, they announced production cuts with the intention of stimulating the price to help support their economies and fund projects to help them diversify away from the reliance on Oilrevenue. Oil is currently $76. The EU has a target to fill Gas Storage to 90% full by November, in readiness for the winter demand. Since last month, levels have increased from 60% to 70%, considerably higher than last year. There will be a continued focus to divert any excess Gas into Storage, aided by the large numbers of LNG deliveries still being made to Europe. There is the potential for some of these shipments to start heading to Asia to supply China’s growing economy. With Gas prices falling and it being the main source of generation, Electricity has followed Gas lower. We do have a growing diversity of supplies, which includes renewables and connections to the continent, but they are not yet able to match the scale and reliability of Gas generation. The Met Office forecast for June suggests temperatures are likely to be above seasonal norm. Find out what this means for you and read the full report below
A new fund providing capital grants to support the rural areas of west Norfolk will help to strengthen the economy and local communities.
Two drop-in sessions for those wanting to find out more about the West Norfolk Rural Communities and Business Capital Grants and looking for guidance on project ideas will be held on:
Tuesday 20 June 10am-2pm at Downham Market Town Hall
Thursday 22 June 10am-2pm at Hunstanton Town Hall
Representatives from the Borough Council’s regeneration and planning departments will be present alongside Norfolk Community Foundation, New Anglia Growth Hub and MENTA Business Support to answer your questions, and provide information, advice and guidance which may help in the development of projects and/or business. The Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) is divided into two parts, one for communities and one for businesses. Jemma Curtis, Regeneration Programmes Manager, said:
“This fund aims to support the provision of resilient local services and help communities to address the challenges of rural isolation, as well as supporting social cohesion and local pride. “For communities, it’s a chance to bring forward some innovative projects that will make a difference to people who may face additional barriers to accessing services and opportunities. “For businesses, it’s an opportunity to enhance or expand in a way that contributes to the local economy.”
West Norfolk Rural Communities Capital Grants This scheme will be launched on 12 June and will close on 2 August. The grant is being delivered by Norfolk Community Foundation on behalf of the Borough Council. Projects should have the overarching objective of providing resilient community services and assets for local people to benefit the local economy, to address the challenges of rural isolation, support social cohesion and boost local pride. Funding will be available in two funding rounds – Year 1 (2023-24) and Year 2 (2024-25). In Year 1, the West Norfolk Rural Communities Capital Grant scheme will focus on well-being, reducing isolation and improving access to services and facilities. Capital grants of up to £10,000 can be awarded for year 1 projects that support impactful volunteering and social action through the purchase of equipment or improvements to premises. Match funding of 25% is required. In Year 2, the emphasis will shift to building infrastructure and improving local facilities in communities, especially where projects can demonstrate that they will have a positive impact on the environment. Capital grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 can be awarded for year 2 projects that build capacity and infrastructure for local civil society and community groups through larger-scale capital improvements that can help communities to adapt to changing external factors. Investment will be targeted towards projects that improve local pride, support the well-being of rural communities, improve connectivity between areas, reduce social isolation and improve access to services and facilities. The West Norfolk Rural Prosperity Fund is specifically aimed at rural areas of the borough and must be used for capital projects that add something new or make an improvement (i.e. they cannot be used for maintenance purposes). Grants are open to a range of organisations, including charities and voluntary organisations, community groups, parish or town councils and social enterprises. For more information about the fund, eligibility and how to apply, please visit the Norfolk Foundation website. West Norfolk Rural Business Capital Grants West Norfolk Rural Business Capital Grants provide funding to support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes farm businesses looking to diversify income streams. The scheme will be launched on 19 June and is being delivered by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (New Anglia LEP) on behalf of the Borough Council. There is a limited pot of funding available to support projects and grant applications will be considered on “first-come, first-served” basis. Businesses can apply for grants between £10,000 and £100,000. The maximum grant intervention through the programme will be for 50% of eligible capital costs, up to a maximum value of £100,000. Match funding must be secured and projects must be ready to proceed immediately and be fully completed by 31 December 2024. There are two strands to the business grants available:
Capital grants for micro and small enterprises in rural areas: this grant pot provides capital funding opportunities to support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities that will be of wider benefit to the local economy. This includes projects such as: farm businesses looking to diversify income streams; businesses seeking to invest in more productive and efficient operational equipment to achieve reduction in carbon emissions on their road to net zero; conversion of farm buildings into other commercial or business uses; creation and expansion of rural leisure and tourism businesses; purchase of equipment for food processing for non-farmer-owned businesses; and funding for infrastructure to protect local business and community areas from natural hazards.
Capital grants for the development and promotion of the visitor economy: these grants are aimed at developing local attractions, trails and tourism products more generally. Projects can include developing local visitor trails and infrastructure to support this, such as information boards, visitor centres and the wider development of visitor experiences based on the local rural offer.
Don’t wait to park the car. Go green and catch the bus to The Royal Norfolk Show! You can travel for just £2 each way . Simply pay the driver as you board the bus! How do I get there?
Regular hourly service on the Fab 4 from Swanton Morley, Dereham via Yaxham, Mattishall, Eaton to the Showground.
X4 Shuttle Service from Norwich Bus Station via Cringleford Interchange to Norwich Showground every 20 mins.
Late night service on Wednesday evening from Norwich Showground to Norwich Bus Station so you can stay late and enjoy the evening events.
Buses run on the Fab 4 between Royal Norfolk Showground, Mattishall, Yaxham, Dereham and Swanton Morley until 21.40.
What times do the buses leave? Every hour from Swanton Morley via Dereham, Yaxham and Mattishall to the Showground. First bus leaves Swanton Morley at 07.30am Gates open at 8am but don’t forget to sign up to our promotional emails on our Konectbus app and receive 10% off your entry ticket. Tickets must be bought in advance direct from the Royal Norfolk Show website. The discount doesn’t apply to gate entry fares. View the timetable or pick up a copy from the bus X4 Shuttle ServiceDownload the timetable PDFEvery 20 minutes from 0705am direct to the Showground Norwich Bus Station to Royal Norfolk Showground via Newmarket road and Cringleford Bus Interchange View the timetables here Our Late Evening Shuttle Service to Norwich Bus Station on Wednesday 28th June only How Much Does it Cost? You can still travel for just £2 each way as part of the Government’s national bus fare scheme. Simply pay the driver as you board the bus! Fab 4 Swanton Morley to Norfolk Showground Family Day £ Adult Day £8.70 5-19 Day £6.60 Well Behaved Dogs are also welcome on our buses!How can I redeem the 10% off my entry tickets? Download the Konectbus app and sign up to our promotion emails before 19th June 2023. You will then be contacted by email on the 22nd June, direct to your inbox with a unique discount code for you to redeem against an entry ticket for the show. This can only be used on show tickets bought in advanced on the Royal Norfolk Show website
The Greater Norwich Growth Board is inviting you to take part in a consultation on green spaces in and around Norwich. Well-designed green spaces are vital to our way of life. They include features that can be natural, like woodland and rivers, or man-made like parks, allotments, hedgerows, playing fields, cycleways, footpaths and even road-side verges. As an interested party, we value your views on green spaces, their benefits, and how you would like to see them improved. Your views are essential to informing the Greater Norwich Growth Board’s new Green Infrastructure Strategy which will cover the areas of Norwich, Broadland and South Norfolk. The new Green Infrastructure Strategy aims to deliver:
A fresh approach to managing and improving existing green spaces to make sure they benefit as many people as possible, with a focus on inclusive access.
A strategy for creating new green spaces in the area that will benefit people and nature.
The consultation is open for six weeks from 10 May to 21 June. Everyone who responds to the consultation will be entered into a prize draw to receive an annual family membership pass for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust. To participate in the survey and be entered into a prize draw to win an annual family membership pass for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, please visit https://www.greaternorwichgrowth.org.uk/projects/giconsultation/
Last week local youth homelessness charity The Benjamin Foundation hosted a launch event for their Suffolk Sleep Out campaign and are looking forward to launching the Norfolk Sleep Out campaign at Norwich Cathedral next week. Providing over 70,000 safe nights for over 250 young people at risk of homelessness last year, The Benjamin Foundation is the regional partner of the EveryYouth, previously the campaign to End Youth Homelessness, a collective of regional charities that seek to reduce the prevalence of youth homelessness across the country. There were 129,000 young people at risk of homelessness across the UK last year, and The Benjamin Foundation’s estimates suggest 3,000-4,000 across Norfolk and Suffolk. Held across the UK by the EveryYouth charities every autumn, Sleep Out challenges you to get sponsored to spend one night outside, raising funds and awareness to help young people at risk of homelessness. Sleep Out has raised over £300K for the Benjamin Foundation since 2015, and this year the Norfolk Chambers are delighted to partner with the Norfolk campaign and will be using our network of business contacts to drum up support for this vital cause. The Norfolk Sleep Out launch event will take place from 12:30-14:00 on the 20th of June at Norwich Cathedral. It’s free to attend – if you would like to join register via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/norfolk-sleep-out-2023-launch-event-tickets-623591086727?aff=oddtdtcreator Disclaimer: Sleep Out in no way seeks to replicate or trivialise homelessness – it seeks to raise fund and awareness for this important cause. Images provided by Benjamin Foundation, image one – Simon Gray, image two – Norwich Sleep out.
Last updated: 22nd November 2022 at 12:12pm The success of your business in the 21st Century depends on how engaged your employees are – this is even more acute in the current pandemic. Business owners need to ensure employee engagement is cemented across all parts of the business, ensuring priorities, resources and goals are aligned. However, we understand that getting your team all rowing in the same direction can be a challenge in itself; further compounded by customer demands, technological and operational challenges and economic uncertainty with Brexit (let alone a pandemic!). Across the UK, research shows that one in three employees are disengaged. The 2019 Gallagher benefits strategy benchmarking survey, found that 67% of organisations face challenges in appealing to their diverse workforce. So, you are not alone when facing the challenge of employee engagement. So with strong evidence showing how difficult it can be to improve employee engagement, why bother? The benefits befall a business with an engaged workforce. An engaged workforce is:
Positive – showing energy and resilience
Dedicated – showing up to work on time, taking pride in their work and show support to others
Absorbed – demonstrating high levels of concentration and attention to detail
Committed – to work, resulting in reduced sick absences, accidents and conflicts
Loyal – feeling pride and dedication becoming advocates of the organisation
Greater Anglia is launching special Summer ‘Hare Fares’ from just £5 return for a limited time, meaning people in East Anglia can enjoy great days out by train for less this summer. The new ‘Hare Fares’ offer passengers off-peak returns across the Greater Anglia network with simple return prices: £5, £10, £15 and £20, with children travelling for just £2 return each. There is no limit on the number of tickets that can be bought, but they must be booked between 6 and 26 June for travel between 6 June and 7 August. Example Hare Fare ticket prices: £5 return: Norwich to Sheringham, Norwich to Lowestoft, Norwich to Great Yarmouth £10 return: Cambridge to London, Chelmsford to London, Norwich to Cambridge £15 return: Clacton-on-Sea to Chelmsford, Colchester to London, Southend to Colchester £20 return: Chelmsford to Ipswich, Norwich to London, Shenfield to Norwich Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Commercial and Customer Services Director, said: “Travelling by train is cheaper than you think, and Greater Anglia’s new bargain Hare Fares means people can travel for less. “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 used for travel until 7 August, so families can enjoy great days out during the summer holidays. 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 day return 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 zone. Standard refund rules apply. Greater Anglia also offers a range of Advance fares that offer customers savings of between 60 and 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 and over. For the best value fares, passengers should book in advance and the earlier customers book, the more they can save. Image credit: Greater Anglia
“I had no idea how profound an impact music therapy has on people and the sound cradle is an incredible, stunning piece of kit” – cyclist Steve has a special reason for using pedal power to support EACH A super-fit fundraiser is gearing up for an epic summer of cycling to support the children’s hospice where his partner works. Steve Swindon completed the RideLondon 100-mile event on 28th May and has four more gruelling dates in his diary, starting with this weekend’s 200-mile Round Norfolk Epic. After another two monster challenges, he plans to finish by riding between the three East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) bases in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Steve has a special connection with EACH as partner Jane Rous-Milligan is a Music Therapist there. He hopes to raise £4,000 to buy a sound cradle – a unique and beautiful musical instrument made from carefully selected layers of beech and birch veneer, precisely bonded together to create a semi-circular cradle shape – for the charity’s hospice in Milton. It already has one at The Nook, where Jane works, but not at its Cambridgeshire hospice. The cradle can be laid, stood vertically to provide a ‘sound shower’ or turned upside down like a dome. On each side are 18 strings, which are tuned to a monochord. When played, they resonate the entire instrument – a resonance felt intensely throughout the body, providing a sense of safety and containment. “Jane has told me all about the power of music therapy,” said Steve, who lives in Holt. “It’s not something I knew much about before but now, thanks to her, I have much more understanding. “I had no idea how profound an impact it has on people and the sound cradle is an incredible, stunning piece of kit. “Jane has been using it for two years and loves how versatile and inclusive it is, allowing a child to enjoy the experience but also allowing two people to enjoy being together – for instance a parent and child laying together in a warm ‘sound hug’. “The sound is calming and accessible to everyone, making it a holistic experience embracing both physical and emotional feelings.” Having already completed the RideLondon 100-mile event, Steve, 61, continues his fundraising mission with the Round Norfolk Epic on Sunday (11th June). An eye-watering ride of 200 miles in a day around the border of Norfolk, he did it in 2021 in just under 16 hours and raised over £2,000. This time around he hopes to break 15 hours. Next Saturday (17th June) he is taking on the Iceni Audax 200km, starting at Stoke Holy Cross before traversing the Suffolk border, heading West toward Breckland and then winding through rural Norfolk and along the North Norfolk coast. Next up, on the first weekend in July (1st and 2nd), is the 120-mile Dunwich Dynamo – an overnight ride starting in east London on the Saturday evening and finishing on Dunwich Beach on Sunday morning. Steve’s final mission is taking place on Saturday, 23rd September when he plans to cycle to all three EACH hospices. Starting at The Nook, he will head to The Treehouse, in Ipswich, to Milton and then back to Norfolk. “This one is approximately 180 miles,” he said. “I’m hoping to be joined by friends for all or part of the journey and it’s the big one, as far as I’m concerned, where I hope to raise the most funds. “I’ve picked this date as it’s the Saturday of EACH’s Ride for Life event, which is a fantastic fundraiser. It’ll be great to see some fellow cyclists out on the road. “I’ll also be doing some solo and group training rides on the other weekends. “There are a few other events I’m considering but haven’t signed up for yet. “These include the Black Shuck Sportive 100-miler, starting from Thursford, on 6th August. “I’m also considering the Tour de Broads, another 100-mile event starting from Little Plumstead, on 20th August, and Insanity Sportive, which is 150 miles, starting from Whitlingham on 17th September.” Steve, who runs his own ecommerce company, is no stranger to raising funds. As well as his previous efforts for EACH, he raised thousands for the Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, which supports families in Surrey and West London. This was mainly from running four marathons on consecutive weekends in 2016, raising £8,500. He also cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats last year to raise funds for the East Anglian Air Ambulance. To sponsor Steve, click here. To find out more and sign up for EACH’s Ride for Life event, click here. Image credit: EACH
Volunteering and charity work are valuable and often overlooked tools. Voluntary Norfolk discuss how businesses can utilize volunteering through CSR packages to build teamwork and create a healthy and more profitable work environment. This week, Mark and Becky connect with a local Norfolk organisation, whose insights have global relevance – why businesses should embrace a strong Corporate social responsibility (CSR) package. (And we find out who Mark’s favourite Womble is!) Voluntary Norfolk connects businesses and charitable organisations, to help businesses meet their community objectives. In previous episodes, Mark and Becky have discussed the change in what younger generations are expecting from employers, and how they now look beyond just salary in job searches. CSR forms a huge part of most company employment packages and is a key part of Employer Brand, our guests this week discuss why volunteering initiatives are a popular offering, and the benefits they bring to the employee, as well as the business. Laura is a Volunteer Coordinator, supporting organisations and matching them to volunteers, and Nicola is a HR Consultant at CBR Business Solutions, who works as a consultant to SME businesses and voluntary social enterprises. They discuss the opportunities available to people who have had career breaks and are perhaps lacking in confidence and up to date skills, the changes lockdown brought, and they identify the mental health impact that strong CSR packages are proven to bring to the employee, and how this in turn helps to cultivate a healthy and more profitable work environment. They also discuss how hesitant business owners should see volunteering as an opportunity to identify skills in their teams that they were not aware of, and how neutral environments not based on ‘a night out’ can embolden teamwork and unity, all things that are good for business! Listen to the podcast hereGET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. We would also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, this really helps people find us! You can also now watch us on YouTube! Click here