Community Connectors

Norfolk RecoveryFest will take place on Saturday 22 August 2026 from 10am to 4pm at The Forum in Norwich.  It's the first of its kind and promises to be fun, welcoming, reflective and informative.  There will be entertainment (face painting, circus acts and live music), an art exhibition and the opportunity to chat with people and seek support and advice.  Norfolk RecoveryFest has been created in response to feedback from people with lived experience of substance misuse and mental ill health who said that they want to challenge the stigma and grow their community.  The event is completely free and everyone is welcome at Norfolk RecoveryFest.  Come along - you might even meet Recovery Rex, the festival's mascot!

Walking with the Wounded offer mental health, employment and wrap around, holistic support to veterans and their families.  It's 15 years since Ed Parker, Simon Daglish, Prince Harry and colleagues completed their first expedition to the North Pole and to celebrate, Walking with the Wounded have a number of fundraising events planned.  They have also recently published their 2025 impact report which highlights the depth, breadth and value of WWTW's work.

Reed Wellbeing have been awarded the contract to deliver Smokefree Norfolk for the next 3-5 years. Their specialist level 3 coaches offer a personalised approach to empower people to stop smoking.
The Norfolk Health Checks Reed Wellbeing provide for people aged 40-74yrs will be ceasing on 31 December 2026 so do book in now to ensure you know how to make small changes to your lifestyle to be a healthier, happier you. The Reed Wellbeing team will be out at events across Norfolk over the summer months or you can contact them directly to find out more.

Veterans Central is based at the station headquarters in West Raynham, NR21 7PL and supports veterans, emergency services personnel, the farming community and their families.  Based on the 4 Cs - coffee, cake, conversation and company - everyone receives a warm welcome and finds their sense of purpose.  People can help out with the ongoing renovations, tend the garden, restore heritage items, research military history or simply enjoy the homebaked refreshments.  Veterans Central is open 10am-3pm Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and has an annual open day - this year on Sunday, July 19, 2026

Kris developed a passion for swimming as a child and as an adult describes the hydrostatic pressure of water as being like a hug - excellent for regulating his ADHD. Encouraged by a friend to take the leap and do something he loves, Kris is now the Inclusive Education Specialist, SEND Aquatics & SEND Advocate at Fox Education & Advocacy. His lessons are person-centric, full of fun and innovative. Whether he's helping someone to overcome their fear of water or excel at swimming, Kris uses his learnt and lived experience and connection with people to empower, support and share a love of water based activity.

Connect to Work supports people aged 18yrs and up who live in Norfolk to find and stay in employment. Building on the success of the Working Well pilot, Connect to Work launched at the end of 2025. It's a person-centric programme which supports people experiencing barriers - such as mental or physical ill health, neurodiversity, disability, refugees, care leavers, survivors of domestic abuse and carers - to find the right employment for them. Connect to Work also empowers people to overcome any challenges they may be facing whilst in work. In addition it supports employers by offering training and advice.

In late 2025 having identified a need to combat social isolation and loneliness in Melton Constable and inspired by a visit to the Bircham Centre, The Melton Pot was born.  Volunteers have worked together to transform an empty shop into a cosy community cafe which is open Wednesday-Saturday 10am to 2pm.  Everyone receives a warm welcome at The Melton Pot which operates on a "pay as you wish" basis and if money is a challenge, people can use their "cupcake voucher" scheme where people have "paid it forward" and purchased in advance for someone else to use. 

This week on Community Connectors, we’re joined by the team from Everyone Active North Norfolk to explore their brand-new Move More Membership—a programme designed to make health and fitness more accessible for everyone.
We chat with GP Exercise Referral Coordinator John Fowler, Membership Advisor Rachel Keceli, and Swim Manager Lisa Bearne about breaking down barriers to exercise, building confidence, and creating a welcoming space for all abilities.
From GP referrals and holistic wellbeing support to swimming, classes, and community fitness initiatives, there’s far more on offer than you might expect.If you’re looking to improve your physical and mental wellbeing, meet new people, or simply take that first step into a healthier lifestyle, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical advice.

In this important and powerful episode of Community Connectors, host Catherine is joined by Susannah Armstrong-Cobb, Communications Officer at the Norfolk Community Safety Partnership, to talk about the Exploitation Awareness Campaign and why it matters to all of us.
Together, they unpack what exploitation really is, why it is often hidden, and how it can affect anyone, anywhere — children, young people and adults alike. Susannah explains the many different forms exploitation can take, including criminal and sexual exploitation, county lines, modern slavery, cuckooing, online harms, fraud and unhealthy relationships, and why people may not even realise it is happening to them.
The conversation explores:
Why exploitation is never a choice and how grooming works
The warning signs to look out for in ourselves, our families and our communities
The importance of trusting your gut instinct
What to do – and where to go – if you’re worried about yourself or someone else
Susannah also introduces knowthesigns.info, a new one-stop website created to bring together clear information, support routes and reporting options in one place. Whether you’re a professional, a community volunteer, a parent, or simply someone who wants to keep others safe, this episode highlights how even sharing a small concern could help protect someone from harm.
A vital listen that reminds us all: if it doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it – get help and support.