Fresh Start new beginnings hosted their second afternoon tea last Friday at the Mercure Norwich hotel. With over one hundred attendees, they also welcomed the Lord mayor, Sheriff and her consorts along with Deputy Lieutenant Alexandra Bartram and Karen Vincent Chairman of Norfolk County Council.

Fresh Start new beginnings provides therapeutic support for children and young people in Norfolk and Suffolk who have been victims of sexual abuse. As they continue to see demand for its services rise events like this become increasingly important to raise awareness.

The afternoon featured presentations from speakers Chris Sargisson and Jeremy Indika, about their lived experiences of child sexual abuse. Their bravery in sharing their stories, gave people an insight into how the trauma has impacted them throughout their lives, particularly when no support is available to them. They gave a voice to the 16000 children in Norfolk alone, that have been victims of sexual abuse. Highlighting the important work Fresh Start new beginnings do, that every child who has been affected by child sexual abuse should be able to access the support they need to recover and rebuild their futures.

Sandra Lucas – Corporate and event fundraiser says “We were so pleased with the positive feedback following the event. Many attendees commented that they had no idea about the prevalence of child sexual abuse. Since Friday we have been overwhelmed with the offers of support for the charity. We hope to continue to grow our service so that every child can access the support they want and need.”

With thanks to Larking Gowen for sponsoring the event, to all those that attended and to our speakers.

Age UK Norwich has launched its second ‘Happy to Chat’ bench, strategically located within the serene grounds of Norwich Cathedral. This initiative, aimed at combating social isolation and loneliness, has been made possible through the generous support of The People Kit and Leathes Prior.

The launch event, held on Thursday 31st July, saw representatives from all three partnering organisations gather to celebrate this significant addition to the community. Speeches were delivered by The Very Revd Dr Andrew Braddock, Dean of Norwich Cathedral, Dan Skipper, Chief Executive Officer (Age UK Norwich), Mary McGivern (The People Kit), and Mike Barlow, Senior Partner (Leathes Prior), all of whom highlighted the profound importance of fostering connections and reducing isolation. Mary explained “Who would have thought sitting on a bench and having a chat with a stranger would make such a difference to their lives, but it really does. I’ve experienced first hand the positive effect these chats can have. Always remember the person sitting next to you may well have not spoken to anyone for days or in some cases weeks”.

Attendees included staff and volunteers from Age UK Norwich, members of Leathes Prior, and members of The People Kit, creating a warm and collaborative atmosphere.

The ‘Happy to Chat’ bench is a simple yet powerful concept. It features a prominent sign inviting passers-by to take a seat if they are open to a friendly conversation. In today’s fast-paced world, opportunities for spontaneous social interaction can be limited. These benches provide a welcoming space for individuals to connect, share a moment, and potentially brighten someone’s day, helping to foster a stronger, more connected community.

This particular ‘Happy to Chat’ bench holds a special significance as it is dedicated to the cherished memory of Dawn Lossau, an employee of Leathes Prior and a truly devoted volunteer for Age UK Norwich. Dawn’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of older people was profound and inspiring. Her volunteering journey began as a telephone befriender, part of a corporate partnership volunteering programme between Leathes Prior and Age UK Norwich. Having completed this initial programme, Dawn’s passion for connection led her to continue her telephone befriending independently, outside of her work commitments. She deeply loved the opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives, and it is this unwavering dedication that this bench commemorates. We sincerely hope that Dawn’s memory will encourage countless others to sit, engage in conversation, and in doing so, contribute to reducing social isolation within our community.

Mike Barlow, Senior Partner at Leathes Prior commented “We are incredibly proud to support this bench alongside Age UK Norwich and The People Kit and deeply moved that it honours our much-missed colleague and friend, Dawn Lossau. Dawn was a cherished part of the Leathes Prior family for 17 years, full of compassion, laughter, and warmth. She gave so much of herself to others, both through her work and her volunteer efforts.

This bench, inviting people to pause and connect, feels like the perfect tribute to someone who cared so deeply about making a difference. Dawn, and the colour she brought to the world, will remain forever in our hearts. We hope this simple space for conversation brings comfort, connection, and a bit of her spirit to all who pass by”

Dan Skipper, Chief Executive Officer of Age UK Norwich said, “We are incredibly grateful to The People Kit and Leathes Prior for their invaluable support in bringing this second ‘Happy to Chat’ bench to fruition. The concept of these benches is beautifully simple, yet its potential to combat loneliness is immense. To dedicate this bench to Dawn, a truly remarkable individual who embodied the spirit of connection and compassion, makes this launch even more meaningful. We hope it serves as a lasting tribute to her legacy and inspires many more conversations.”

Members of the public are encouraged to visit the new ‘Happy to Chat’ bench in the Norwich Cathedral grounds and embrace the opportunity for a friendly conversation.

If you are interested in having a ‘Happy to Chat’ bench in your local area in Norwich, please contact Age UK Norwich to discuss possibilities and how you can help bring more opportunities for connection to your community.

Why should your business embrace audio? Special interview with audio expert and coach, Rob Lawrence

How we build relationships with our customers, clients and contacts during the last year has changed dramatically. Podcasts have helped many business leaders reach their audience during the pandemic. They have helped fill the void where physical connection was almost eliminated, and in celebration of their 50th episode, James and Mark decided to reflect on why they chose to start Impromptu Business Chat, and chat to their audio expert producer, and owner of Podcast Plus, Rob Lawrence, on why businesses need to embrace audio.

Fundamentally podcasts are about relationships. They are also leverage in developing existing connections. Podcasts allow you to “have an intimate conversation with a football stadium of people!”

Rob is a qualified audio producer, podcaster and certified coach, helping creative entrepreneurs, high achieving professionals and business leaders embrace the power of sound and broadcast to get their message out; he helps those whose truths and passions are worth listening to!

As the world we live and do business in changes, business is not just about having a statement anymore, it’s about having an ongoing dialogue with your audience, and podcasts are a great way to have a conversation with your audience. An episode is an invitation to start a conversation, and this is why the podcast world is becoming more popular and relevant, and important for business leaders; whether they listen to the content of others or create their own.

As podcast audiences broaden and grow, this chat will help anyone struggling to understand and embrace the changes in the media landscape for businesses and why they should be, and those keen to step into the podcast world themselves.

Rob also offers a personal insight into his own journey with his mental health in the corporate world, and what led him to pursue his passion for audio and coaching. He states that knowing how you best absorb the world, means you can then jump into something you love, instead of doing something you just ‘like’ – his insights are particularly relevant now, as many people face huge shifts in their roles at work, changes in how they work as a result of the pandemic, and may be looking to make a leap of their own.

You can learn more about the work Rob does by listening to his podcast Inspirational Creatives or visit his website here if you want to know more about starting your own podcast.

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Whilst you are there, we would really appreciate a 5* review, as this helps other people find our podcast! We will be back in a couple of weeks for series 5, so click subscribe, and don’t miss out! 

Listen here!

LSI Architects has been ranked the best UK Employer for Workplace Wellbeing in Mind’s Workplace Wellbeing Index 2020-21.

The Practice was ranked top of 114 organisations taking part in Mind’s fifth annual Workplace Wellbeing Index this year. Based on surveys with its employees, the Practice was recognised with a Gold Award, meaning it has successfully embedded mental health into its policies and practices and demonstrated a long-term, in-depth commitment to staff mental health.

Mind’s Workplace Wellbeing Index is a benchmark of best policy and practice, celebrating the good work employers are doing to promote and support positive mental health, and providing key recommendations on the specific areas where there is room to improve.

This year’s Workplace Wellbeing Index Awards were hosted by Mind’s Chief Executive Paul Farmer, and took place online on 8 June. The event saw around 200 people come together to celebrate and recognise employers of different sizes and sectors who have prioritised and promoted staff wellbeing.

Every employer depends on having healthy and productive employees – valued and supported staff are far more likely to perform better and achieve peak performance. Mental health problems are common among employees, and research suggests that the past year has been particularly challenging for staff. Mind surveyed more than 42,000 employees across the 114 employers participating in the Index and included an additional section on the impact of Covid-19. The mental health charity found that two in five (41 per cent) of Index employees whose employers were taking in part said their mental health had worsened during the pandemic.

Ben Goode, Director at LSI Architects said:

“We’re incredibly proud to have been accredited Gold in the Mind Workplace Wellbeing Index again this year, and to have placed top of the Workplace Wellbeing Index in 2020/2021 because the achievement is largely based on what our teams have said.

“This has been such a challenging year and I don’t know anyone whose mental health and wellbeing hasn’t been affected.

“Mental health education is conspicuous by its absence in most people’s lives. As businesses, what we can do is help people to access more information around mental health and wellbeing to understand it, recognise triggers and provide strategies to keep people well and resilient.

By capturing things early we can signpost people to suitably qualified people earlier, often before they become a bigger issue. Employees who are less likely to experience poor mental health are simply more likely to be able to do their jobs effectively.”

Emma Mamo, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, said:

“Many congratulations to LSI Architects for being recognised as our top employer in this year’s Workplace Wellbeing Index. It has been amazing to see their journey over the last five years, going from strength to strength. Despite the challenging times we have all had recently, staff at LSI Architects told us they feel valued and that there is an open culture around mental health. I look forward to seeing how their approach to workplace wellbeing will continue to evolve.”

Who’s Naked?

We are a creative agency driven to help businesses in the region go from local to legendary – planning and delivering projects to improve their image and presence. We call it Big Brand Confidence, homegrown in Norfolk.

Established in 2002, over 23 years we’ve built on our design and print principles and expanded our expertise to include brand, design, communication and digital marketing.

We’re serious about what we do but we don’t take ourselves too seriously, our approach is stripped-down, open and honest. That’s why we’re called Naked. We’re passionate about people and relationships. Enjoying the journey and making an impact. 

The Role:

As our Client Services Manager, you’ll be at the heart of driving Naked’s commercial success. This is a hands-on, client-facing role where you will:

• Generate New Business: Proactively identify and pursue new opportunities for the agency, build relationships, and manage opportunities from initial conversation to starting work.

• Grow Customer Relationships: Strengthen bonds with our clients, recognise new opportunities to add additional value and support customer marketing objectives.

• Lead Marketing-Driven Growth: Help shape and execute campaigns that grab attention, generate leads, and reinforce Naked’s positioning.

  Find out full details about the role, benefits and how to apply by visiting our website.
  

At First Class First Aid, I’m passionate about equipping people with the skills and confidence to step in and make a difference when it matters most. That’s why we’re excited to announce that we’re now offering Mental Health First Aid training, helping people to recognise the signs of poor mental health and offer meaningful support, just like I already do with physical first aid.

I’ve teamed up with the brilliant team at Transpire Training, who specialise in delivering accredited Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA) courses. Through this partnership, we’re now able to offer a two-day Mental Health First Aid training course to individuals and workplaces across Norfolk and beyond.

Photo credits – EACH – The Duke and Duchess meeting Chloe Bowes and mum Nadia

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) at Milton on Thursday, 23^rd June 2022.

The Duchess is Royal Patron of the charity, and this year marks the ten-year anniversary of her patronage. This was The Duchess’s first public visit to the hospice in Milton and it was the first time The Duke had accompanied her to see the work of EACH.

The Duke and Duchess toured the hospice, which was opened by Diana Princess of Wales on 1st August 1989, and met with children, young people and families who use services through EACH. They were invited to take part in art activities with families, in addition to touring the hospice grounds and meeting long-term staff members and volunteers.

EACH Chief Executive Phil Gormley said: “We very much enjoyed welcoming Their Royal Highnesses to Milton. It was The Duchess’s first public visit to Milton and the very first time we had the pleasure of welcoming The Duke to one of our hospices so it was a very special, memorable and momentous day for everyone connected with EACH.

“The Duchess met our fantastic staff and volunteers at Milton, who work tirelessly with children and their families needing our services. They had the chance to explain the difficulties they have faced in recent years, particularly in light of the pandemic and the isolation they have felt through shielding.

“The visit was the perfect opportunity to celebrate ten years since Her Royal Highness became our Royal Patron. Throughout the decade, The Duchess has been immensely supportive by championing our cause. Her continued support comes with warmth, empathy and understanding, including beyond public view, and her Patronage is enjoyed and appreciated by everyone at EACH.

“We are extremely thankful and consider ourselves honoured and very lucky  to benefit from her hard work, generosity and support.”

Since becoming Royal Patron in 2012, The Duchess of Cambridge has played a vital role in raising awareness and understanding of children’s hospice services across East Anglia and the rest of the UK. From hospice and shop openings to meeting children and families, The Duchess’s profile has projected EACH and the importance of children’s hospice services onto a

national and international stage.

The visit took place during Children’s Hospice Week, a national week to raise awareness of the vital work of children’s hospices across the country. This year’s Children’s Hospice Week started on Monday and finishes on Sunday (20th to 26th June).

The theme for the week is #ForTheChildren- showing how important each individual child is to the expert care children’s hospices provide.

EACH currently provides care and support for more than 580 children, young people and family members across the region, with 211 currently using services through Milton.

To find out more about EACH visit www.each.org.uk.

We’re thrilled to share the exciting news that MAD-HR has once again been shortlisted as an award finalist for delivering Customer Excellence.

Our team are delighted to have been chosen as one of the final businesses in this year’s EDP Norfolk Business Awards, both for the category of Customer Excellence and for the category of Small Business.

To receive news of our shortlisting, so soon after scooping the Customer Excellence accolade in the Suffolk Business Awards, is a huge honour for us all.

We’re truly humbled by, and grateful for, the enormous support we’ve received across the Norfolk business community.

Continuing to ‘Make a Difference’ to our client base in the county has been a clear priority over the last 12 months and we have been pleased to witness our skilled and enthusiastic team growing steadily throughout this time.

We look forward to letting you know the results of the awards, following a ceremony on 24th November.

Take a look at the Business Awards Supplement published in yesterday’s EDP.

Thank you all once again for your continued support.

Find out how our award-winning products and services can MAKE A DIFFERENCE to your business by speaking to our team.

This text was originally written by MAD-HR Ltd. Copyright © 2022 MAD-HR Ltd. All rights reserved: https://www.mad-hr.co.uk/blog/great-news-about-the-norfolk-business-awards

Mark and Becky believe that success is a collective effort, and if you identify as a self-made entrepreneur or business owner, then maybe you need to think again. Do you have the soft skills needed to be a great leader? How much of your work is really done just by you? They provide some inspiration on how teamwork can make the dream work.

Mark loved explaining how Einstein wasn’t great at making sandwiches this week! He didn’t grow the wheat, didn’t knead the dough, so did he really make a sandwich? The point being none of us really ever make it on our own. We’re all reliant on so many factors around us that help guide, support and ultimately achieve our success.

They challenge the listener to think about whether they lean into their technical capabilities, as it’s easy to hide behind expertise, but to think about how many ‘soft-skills’ they could honestly claim to be expert in. Richard Branson can’t build a plane after all, he motivates, leads and inspires others to do it for him!

GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at [email protected].

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

Show notes

Mark mentions Adnams – listen to their COO Karen Hester chatting to Chris Scargill on Tourism Business Chat about her journey from part time cleaner to one of the industry’s biggest success stories

Aubrey Marcus podcast

Listen here!

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

Despite the fact that around 10% of the workforce are
affected by domestic abuse and the significant cost that it has on businesses,
it is not something that is often considered a “workplace issue.”

Very few businesses will have specific policies or
procedures around domestic abuse and it’s probably fair to say that knowledge
around domestic abuse is also patchy, particularly when it comes to spotting
the signs or providing effective support for colleagues.  

Leeway’s goal is to change this, supporting businesses to
understand the impact that domestic abuse is having on their organisation, as
well as equipping them with the knowledge and tools to support colleagues.

A key part of this is understanding what domestic abuse is
and how this may be identifiable in a workplace context.

For instance, you may have noticed that an employee has
suddenly started to frequently turn up to work late having previously been
reliable and punctual, or maybe they start to take sick leave on a regular
basis.

The instinctive first reaction might be anger or
frustration, but it is important to fully understand their situation and tackle
any conversations in a sensitive way.

Domestic abuse isn’t an issue that people can simply leave
at home. They can’t switch it off and not worry about it again until 5pm.

As many as 75% of people are actually targeted at work,
reiterating the fact that it is not a solely “home” issue that can be ignored
whilst working.

Despite this, people experiencing domestic abuse are more
likely to be disciplined or even lose their jobs as a result of higher levels
of absence from work, poor time keeping or reduced productivity.

Not only will this have an adverse impact on someone
experiencing domestic abuse, but it will also have a financial impact on your
business too through recruitment costs and lost output.

Understanding domestic abuse and the impacts it has on
those that experience it can go a long way to supporting colleagues affected by
it, as well as reducing the costs to your business.

It may be that you make adjustments to someone’s working
arrangements, providing them with greater flexibility to attend appointments or
to access specialist support.

Employers have a duty of care and are responsible for the
physical and emotional health and safety of employees, which should include
domestic abuse.

A Bill has been put forward to introduce paid domestic
abuse leave in the UK, following the lead of countries like Canada, New Zealand
and Ireland.

This is landmark step forward for victims and businesses,
providing a legal framework outlining businesses’ obligation to support
employees experiencing domestic abuse.

Get Ahead of The Curve

With a Bill supporting paid domestic abuse leave going
through parliament, it is clear that businesses have an increasingly important
role to play in tackling domestic abuse – and Leeway can help you get ahead of
the curve!

We provide Domestic Abuse Awareness Training which aims to
equip businesses and organisations with the knowledge and ability to spot the
signs of domestic abuse, whilst also being able to signpost employees or
clients to access support. 

This provides a great platform for your business to
understand domestic abuse, the impacts that it is having on your organisation,
and the role that you can play in tackling it.

We also provide bespoke sessions specifically tailored to
meet the needs of your business, as well as support around updating or drafting
policies around domestic abuse.

Not only does this help you to meet your duty of care to
your employees, but it will also help to provide a seamless transition if new
legislation around paid domestic abuse leave is introduced.

To find out more about how Leeway can support your
business, email [email protected] or
visit our website www.leewaysupport.org/training.

We are also running a free Domestic Abuse Training taster
session exclusively for Norfolk Chambers of Commerce members! For more
information about this or to book your place click here.