In celebration of The Benjamin Foundation’s 30th anniversary, Johnny Bakewell, a Paramedic from Humbleyard GP Surgery, will row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. Johnny will row for 12 hours a day in what will be an physical, and emotional, challenge.
The Benjamin Foundation works with young people across Norfolk & Suffolk who face significant barriers to their ability to thrive, and whose need for help is often hidden or ignored.
By donating to this challenge, you will have a positive impact on young people and help create stronger, empowered individuals who finally feel supported to overcome challenges in their own lives.
We’re running a Winter Appeal for our Breaking Barriers service, which works with children in the East of England who have a parent in prison (of which there are more than 190,000 in the UK).
Our practitioners help children who are going through a traumatic time and are often struggling in school, becoming detached from their remaining parent at home and exhibiting signs of stress and anxiety.
We give them ways to cope with the trauma and maintain their bonds with the parent in prison (which is also proven to help prevent the prisoner from reoffending when they are released).
It’s a really powerful service that has a huge impact on the children it works with – and is especially important at Christmas when children can really miss their mum or dad who is in prison.
We are delighted to announce that Watsons has been awarded the prestigious title of Lettings Agency of the Year 2024 at News on the Block’s in London. Being honored with this national award highlights the expertise, professionalism and unwavering dedication of our lettings team in supporting landlords and tenants alike.
Celebrating Excellence in Property Lettings
News on the Block’s Property Management Awards celebrates excellence in property management, highlighting companies in our industry that consistently provide outstanding service. To be acknowledged at this national stage is a privilege, reflecting the Watsons unparalleled dedication to our clients.
At Watsons, our letting agent team is at the core of our success. They ensure local landlords and investors can expect:
Industry-recognised standards: we are long-term members of theand showing our commitment to providing professional and knowledgeable service.
Local market knowledge: with a track record in local letting agents and property managers, our regional expertise helps us to find landlords quality tenants fast.
Stress-free services: we provide a complete service encompassing all aspects of residential lettings and property management, allowing landlords to relax whilst we maximise rental incoming.
Legal protection: our property professionals are fully committed to compliance, offering peace of mind that both landlords and tenants are fully protected from existing legislation and any new legislation introduced.
Winning Lettings Agency of the Year 2024 is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our entire team. This achievement reflects our commitment to professional property management and providing exceptional service to our clients, always striving for excellence in every aspect of what we do.
A Commitment to Our Clients
Receiving this award reinforces our mission to remain a trusted partner for landlords and tenants across England.
Landlords can rely on Watsons to manage their properties with the highest levels of efficiency and care, while tenants receive a professional and responsive service that meets their needs.
Conclusion
We extend our heartfelt thanks to News on the Block for this incredible recognition, to our team for their tireless efforts, and our clients for their ongoing trust in us to provide the support and expertise needed.
Together, we look forward to another successful year of delivering outstanding property lettings services across the UK in 2025.
Contact Our Team
Whether you’re letting your first property or seasoned investor, you can rely on Watsons to manage your property portfolio with excellence. For more information about our lettings services, contact us today:
Lettings
18 Meridian Way, Meridian Business Park, Norwich, NR7 0TA
t:
e:
Landmark city-centre venue, The Forum, has been working hard to boost its environmental credentials by working with local waste recycling company Anglian. Results from the first 12 months of the partnership have seen great progress with all waste being processed locally, achieving 71% recycling and 0% going to landfill.
Anglian bins to collect dry mixed recycling and general waste were put in last June, helping staff and visitors in The Forum to do their bit to ensure as much waste as possible can be recycled. A total of 24.98 tonnes of waste has been collected from The Forum in the past year, including four tonnes of food waste from within The Forum and Library offices. General waste and recycling collected by Anglian is sent for processing locally at its 10-acre licensed facility in Norfolk. Food waste is sent for anaerobic digestion at a nearby plant, which uses it to generate power for homes in South Norfolk.
Monthly reporting provided by Anglian has enabled The Forum to closely monitor and benchmark its progress. Looking ahead to the next 12 months, The Forum is keen to use these figures to further increase recycling rates as the partnership develops.
Built in 2001, The Forum has welcomed close to 25 million visitors and is home to one of the busiest libraries in the country. It is also a cultural hub, providing a whole host of free events every year.
Rowan Whiteside, marketing and communications manager at The Forum, said: “The Forum Trust is an independent, self-financing charity, which prioritises sustainability and is committed to reducing the environmental impact of the organisation. The partnership with Anglian has enabled us to be much more accountable with our waste – we can see where it’s going and what happens to it, as well as getting monthly reports on our recycling rates, and exploring opportunities to reduce our waste further. As a local organisation, we are pleased to be working with Anglian, a Norfolk-based supplier who processes our waste right here in the county.”
Jamie Parker, key account manager at Anglian Waste Recycling, said: “We are delighted to be working with The Forum as one of the city’s most popular venues, helping to manage their waste journey and doing our bit to support their sustainability goals.”
Alongside improving its waste recycling processes, The Forum is also undertaking a range of additional sustainability measures such as upgrading to LED lighting, which has already reduced energy use by 12.6%.
Anglian Waste Recycling offers a free waste audit for businesses looking to achieve their sustainability aims, reduce the impact of waste on the environment and save money. To find out more, see
2024 saw the launch of the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices Business Circle. A membership that connects businesses across East Anglia to help support local children and their families.
Our members enjoyed events at Bedford Lodge in Newmarket, Royal Norwich, Porsche Centre where some took to the roads and test drove a Porsche, Mocktail Making at The Carpenters Arms in Cambridge, a beautiful evening with private garden tours at Helmingham Hall in Suffolk and our signature event our Business Supporter Supper at the Jockey Club Rooms.
By joining the Business Circle your membership could help a Clinical Nurse Specialist provide expert nursing and symptom management care for 40 hours.
We are already looking forward to 2025 which is going to be another exciting year. For more details or to become a member please get in contact with the Corporate team at [email protected].
represents teacher who secures a damages award in excess of £3/4m.
The Claimant, at the time of the accident, a 37 year old teacher sustained a concussive head injury from a falling object at work.
As a consequence she developed vestibular symptoms which included vertigo, occipital headache, photophobia, phonophobia, osmophobia, which satisfied the criteria for Migraine Variant Balance Disorder, Post Traumatic Migraine with vestibular symptoms and Benign Paraxysmal Positional Vertigo. The neuropsychologists in the case agreed that the Claimant’s symptoms would meet the criteria of Functional Neurological Disorder with anxiety and depression.
It was the Claimant’s case that she suffered a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in a medically complex case involving experts in neurology, neuropsychiatry, neuropsychology and audio vestibular medicine. The injury sustained prevented her return to work at the time of settlement, although there was some scope for further improvement. Whilst she had not returned to work at the point of settlement, employment experts (less regularly instructed these days) agreed that, after some further treatment, she had some residual earning capacity which the Claimant conceded at £16k pa.
The Defendant local authority funded rehabilitation through regular interim payments, although at the same time instructed surveillance operatives to film the Claimant over the course of the case. Whilst that evidence was underwhelming and in many ways favoured the Claimant’s case, once deployed it had a negative impact upon the Claimant’s mental health and response to rehabilitation efforts due to the perceived intrusion in her private life subsequent fear of being followed.
The Claimant underwent rigorous scrutiny from medical experts on both sides. The Defendant sought to undermine the Claimant’s credibility and their instructed neuropsychologist considered that the claimant met the criteria for a Probable Malingering Neurocognitive disorder, having exaggerated her symptoms and fabricated psychological dysfunction, notwithstanding the fact that that the Defendant’s own instructed Audio-Vestibular expert finding that there was an organic explanation for her symptoms. It is worth noting that the neuropsychologist was alone in his conclusions and whilst alluding dishonesty though disclosure of the reports and surveillance evidence were not so bold as to put forward a positive case that the Claimant was malingering.
The case concluded approximately 6 weeks before trial for a sum exceeding £ ¾ M including claims for future income based upon Ogden 8 principles and involving lost career progression as analysed by the employment experts.
When care proceedings are issued in the UK, a Children’s Guardian from(Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) is appointed to represent the best interests of the child or children involved. This Guardian, independent of any local authority, family members, or other parties, works to ensure the child’s welfare is at the forefront throughout the legal process.
What Is a Children’s Guardian?
The primary role of a Children’s Guardian is to protect and advocate for the child’s best interests in care proceedings. Appointed by CAFCASS, they play an impartial role, offering an independent perspective distinct from the interests of local authorities, parents, or others involved. They investigate the child’s circumstances thoroughly, meeting with the child, parents, carers, social workers, and other relevant professionals.
Key Responsibilities of a Children’s Guardian
Children’s Guardians ensure that the child’s voice is heard and that the Court understands the child’s wishes and feelings, even if these differ from what others believe is best for the child. This includes:
Meeting with the Child and Relevant Parties: Guardians engage with the child, parents, carers, social workers, and other professionals to gather comprehensive information about the child’s circumstances.
Ensuring the Child’s Wishes and Feelings Are Represented: They make sure the Court understands the child’s preferences, even if the Guardian disagrees with the child’s desired outcome.
Preparing a Report for the Court: This report includes the child’s wishes, the Guardian’s recommendations, and an assessment of whether the local authority’s proposed care plan is in the child’s best interests.
Legal Representation and Independent Advice
In certain cases, if a child has sufficient age and understanding, they may choose to instruct a solicitor independently. Hatch Brenner’s qualified Children Panel solicitors can represent both children and Guardians, offering specialised legal support in care proceedings to ensure that every child’s rights and welfare are thoroughly protected.
Recommendations to the Court
Based on their findings, Children’s Guardians may recommend specific court orders that they believe will best support the child’s welfare. These orders can include:
Care Orders, Placement Orders, Supervision Orders, and Special Guardianship Orders: Guardians recommend these when they believe such orders are in the child’s best interests.
Suggestions for Additional Family Support: They may advise for added support for the family or adjustments to the care plan if needed to meet the child’s needs.
How Hatch Brenner Supports Children and Guardians
At Hatch Brenner, our solicitors are qualified members of the , trained to represent children and Guardians in care proceedings. We are committed to ensuring that every child receives fair representation, and their rights and best interests are safeguarded.
Our expert work closely with Children’s Guardians to provide guidance through complex care proceedings, ensuring that the voices of children are heard, understood, and respected.
The UK’s has introduced significant changes to inheritance tax (IHT) that could impact estate planning strategies for many families. Understanding these changes is crucial for those looking to protect family wealth and reduce potential tax liabilities.
What Is Inheritance Tax?
Inheritance tax is levied on the estate of a deceased person, including assets like property, money, and possessions. Generally, estates worth over £325,000 are taxed at 40% on the excess, with certain reliefs and exemptions available for qualifying heirs and assets.
Key Budget Updates Affecting Inheritance Tax
Threshold Freeze Extended Until 2030 The nil-rate band remains at £325,000, and the residence nil-rate band is capped at £175,000. This freeze means more estates are likely to cross the threshold over time due to rising property values. Families with estates valued close to the threshold may find themselves subject to IHT as a result.
Inherited Pensions Now Subject to IHT (From 2027) One of the most notable changes is the inclusion of inherited pensions within the IHT regime, effective April 2027. Previously, pensions passed to heirs tax-free, providing a valuable tax-planning tool. However, this change will require heirs to consider potential tax liabilities on pension assets.
Business and Agricultural Relief Adjustments Relief on business and agricultural property has been modified. The first £1 million of assets can still be transferred tax-free. For assets valued over this threshold, relief is now capped at 50%, leading to an effective tax rate of 20% for higher-value estates. This adjustment aims to prevent large estates from bypassing substantial tax while continuing to protect smaller family farms and businesses.
Inheritance Tax Planning Strategies
To mitigate potential tax burdens, there are several effective strategies for reducing the value of taxable estates:
Professional Advice: Seeking guidance from a solicitor or estate planner can help tailor tax-saving strategies to individual needs, especially given the complexities of the latest budget.
Gifting: Individuals can gift up to £3,000 annually without affecting their IHT allowance. Additionally, regular gifts from surplus income can also reduce estate values.
Using Trusts: Trusts allow assets to be managed for the benefit of heirs without adding to the taxable estate, especially useful for larger estates or properties.
Conclusion
With these recent updates, understanding inheritance tax and implementing proactive strategies is more important than ever. For tailored advice on IHT and estate planning, contact Hatch Brenner Solicitors, who can help ensure that your is in line with the latest regulatory changes.
In a recent l the UK High Court allowed Philip Morris to inherit from his wife’s estate, despite his involvement in her assisted death. This judgment has sparked important discussions around the legalities of compassionate end-of-life decisions and the future of inheritance law in the UK. At Hatch Brenner, we are following these developments closely to guide clients in navigating estate planning amid evolving legal standards.
Case Overview and High Court Decision
Myra Morris, who was terminally ill with a degenerative neurological condition, chose assisted dying in Switzerland in late 2023. Her husband Philip accompanied her, honoring her wishes but ultimately facing the risk of forfeiting his inheritance under UK law. Traditionally, UK laws prevent individuals involved in a person’s death from inheriting their estate. However, the court ruled in Philip’s favor, acknowledging the compassionate nature of his actions and the family’s unanimous support for his inheritance rights. This judgment opens up new considerations for cases where individuals accompany loved ones abroad for and may signal a more nuanced application of the law.
Implications for the Forfeiture Rule and UK Law
The ruling marks an exception to the forfeiture rule, a legal doctrine designed to prevent individuals implicated in another’s death from benefitting financially. In this case, the court weighed Philip Morris’s compassionate motives, his wife’s explicit wishes, and the support from other beneficiaries, thus granting him his inheritance. The ruling arrives as Parliament is set to debate the Assisted Dying Bill, a proposal that would grant terminally ill adults in England and Wales the right to pursue assisted dying under strict regulations.
Impact on and Assisted Dying Legislation
For families and legal practitioners, this case underscores the importance of thorough documentation in estate planning, especially when addressing end-of-life choices. The ruling invites greater sensitivity in drafting wills and administering estates in cases involving assisted death, highlighting the need for professional guidance in understanding how a client’s specific circumstances might intersect with inheritance law.
Hatch Brenner is Here to Help
At Hatch Brenner, we understand that navigating inheritance law—especially in sensitive cases involving assisted death—can be challenging. provides expert support for complex estate planning, ensuring that your final wishes are honored. If you have questions or would like to discuss your estate, please contact us to schedule a confidential consultation.
With your support we can make wishes come true so that children, young people and families can access life-changing creative experiences.
Norwich Theatre receives no regular revenue funding from any public sources. As a registered charity, we rely on the support of our audiences, community of supporters and charitable foundations, along with our commercial activities such as our café, bars and restaurant, to help us deliver our charitable mission.
Our Christmas Appeal provides a great opportunity to use the season of goodwill to raise money to support and grow our charitable activities in the coming year. For five years now our loyal supporters have shared in this tradition, raising nearly £100,000 to help make a difference for those who need it most.
Norwich Theatre’s Christmas Appeal is raising money to make wishes come true so that children, young people and families can access life-changing creative experiences.
This Christmas we are asking for your help to make sure no children, young people or families miss out.
Every donation will help us provide accessible creative activities and remove barriers for families to get creative together, who otherwise might not have the chance.
Why have we chosen this?
Families in Norfolk are facing more challenges than ever before, with thousands struggling to get by. One-third of Norfolk’s children are living in poverty. That’s nine in every classroom. They are feeling more lonely and isolated, with one quarter saying they are “unable to cope with life.”
Creative experiences shape our lives in so many ways. From the stories we read to the shows we see to the music we hear, creativity influences how we make sense of the world, connect with others, and navigate our path through life.
We know creative experiences are fundamental to a great childhood, helping to improve confidence, resilience and self-esteem, and providing children and young people with new skills and abilities. But it’s more than that. They provide a home for families to build community, find support and connect with each other.
What will the money be used for?
The money raised will ensure all children, young people, and their families can access workshops, sessions, and world-class theatre shows.
We will do this by:
• Delivering creative workshops and holiday programmes where children, young people, their parents and carers can explore their creativity through music, drama and dance.
• Offering ‘pay what you can’ activities and reduced price or free tickets for families to make sure cost is not an obstacle to taking part and families are able to experience the magic of theatre together.
• Working with charity partners to reach the children, young people and families who face the most barriers to accessing creative experiences.
How can people support the Appeal?
• Bucket collections / contactless donations: • All performances at the Playhouse from Tue 3 Dec (A Christmas Carol) to Sun 19 Jan (Karl Minns) • All performances of Aladdin at Theatre Royal o Contactless donation points will be available for collections at Theatre Royal and Playhouse where people can tap a card to donate £3. • Collection boxes will be located across Theatre Royal, Playhouse and Stage Two • Online donations can be made at norwichtheatre.org/christmas-appeal • Christmas Appeal Raffle for £5 at Box Office or online at norwichtheatre.org/Christmas-appeal-raffle or at the Box Office. Prizes include: £150 Norwich Theatre voucher, three course meal for two in Prelude, Gold Friend membership for one year, Aladdin merchandise bundle. • Donations across our commercial activities: • £1 donated for every mince pie purchased in Café Royal • 50p donated for every mulled cider purchased in Playhouse • £2 donated for every group dining in Prelude o £1 donation off selected merchandise item. • Businesses can become Christmas Appeal Partners
Rick Notley has been announced as the new Marketing Manager for Uptech, a leading managed service provider offering IT support, and Premier, a telecoms company specialising in VoIP solutions. With over fifteen years of experience in B2B sales and marketing, Rick brings a wealth of expertise and innovative ideas to the team.
“Bringing Rick onboard has been a breath of fresh air,” said James Fowler, Business Development Manager at Uptech and Premier. “For both businesses, there are some exciting things coming and big plans ahead. Rick’s knowledge will be instrumental in getting the communications out there, reaching our clients, and helping new clients understand our message. It’s a huge change for us, but already I can feel a positive shift in energy around what we’re doing and where we’re going.”
Jason Carlton, Managing Director, added, “It’s a new concept for us, having our own Marketing Manager, but two weeks in, my verdict is absolutely brilliant! Rick is bringing great creative ideas to the table, and it’s really exciting and refreshing. We’ve already started laying out a marketing strategy framework for 2025. With Rick’s wealth of experience and skillset, I can’t wait to see what we achieve together. The synergy between Rick and James is amazing—watch this space!”
Rick’s career spans owning his own marketing agency and working with hundreds of different businesses across various sectors nationwide. This role marks an exciting new chapter, allowing him to bring his expertise into the tech industry.
“I’ve always been passionate about technology, and this opportunity is a perfect fit for me,” said Rick. “Both Uptech and Premier are at an exciting stage of growth, and I’m thrilled to be part of their journey. I’m looking forward to driving forward innovative marketing strategies, revamping content, and exploring new ways to engage with existing and potential clients.”
Rick has already begun working on key projects, including a new CRM implementation, a refresh of the businesses’ marketing messages, and developing the events calendar and exhibition opportunities, setting the stage for an impactful 2025. While keeping specifics under wraps, the team hints at “exciting things in the pipeline.”
With a strong customer-first ethos and a commitment to helping businesses grow and thrive, Uptech and Premier are poised for a dynamic future with Rick onboard.
Jarrolds are proud to announce that they are the winner of the Best Independent Department Store at the Drapers Independents Awards 2024. The judges praised Jarrolds as “a true cornerstone of the city that is innovating and doing something different”.
The awards celebrate independent fashion retailers excelling in areas such as sustainability, innovation and exceptional customer service.
John Adams, our retail managing director at the Jarrold Group, said:
“This award is a testament to how we have continued to stand out in a competitive environment. We are proud of our ability to deliver an unrivalled experience while remaining a beloved destination for our community of shoppers in Norfolk and beyond.
As we look to the future, we are excited to unveil more developments – the upcoming expansion of our spa retreat is the beginning.“
He added: “Our achievements are made possible by the passion, creativity and hard work of colleagues across the store.“
The Drapers Independents Awards
The Drapers Independents Awards celebrate independent fashion retailers across the UK and Ireland which are doing business better – becoming more responsible, sustainable and digital savvy, while offering customers high quality, beautifully designed products, and stellar service. Judges of the Best Independent Department Store category were looking for: a strong fashion edit and buying strategy appropriate for target customers; high standards of service; an in-store environment that complements the brands on offer; and evidence of a strong business plan and financial success that demonstrates the store is at the top of its game.
Drapers has been the leading authority on fashion retail in the UK and Ireland since 1887. With an industry leading magazine and online resources, it provides news, analysis, commentary and data and is known as the most trusted, independent, influential voice in fashion retailing.