After the success of the Love West Norfolk Heroes scheme, which saw some 60 individuals, teams, and organisations recognised - and as times remain difficult - this year’s Love West Norfolk day will be devoted to thanking those who are making a difference.
James Bagge, Love West Norfolk’s Ambassador explained: “Over the last year the Love West Norfolk Heroes campaign has revealed to us all the many acts of kindness, generosity, and selflessness performed by so many across west Norfolk.
“Many have shown themselves keen to get public recognition for friends, family, neighbours, organisations, and businesses who have made this harrowing time a little bit easier for us all. This Love West Norfolk Day presents us with an opportunity collectively and loudly to celebrate this enduring and special community spirit–and say: ‘thanks west Norfolk.’”
CAN, of course, works closely with a wide range of VCSE groups and organisations across West Norfolk – indeed we have a senior manager specialising in exactly that.
Jackie Cushing, CAN's Locality Manager West, says:
"We enjoy working with VCSE organisations and partners in West Norfolk - I’m constantly amazed and impressed by the ‘can do’ attitude of those people who are helping and supporting people in their community - in my experience West Norfolk folk like to get things done and rise to the challenges they face, even the challenge that is Covid-19"
"This can range from a grass roots community group springing up to help their West Norfolk neighbours with shopping during Covid, to larger West Norfolk charities who have completely reworked their support so they can keep helping their beneficiaries despite the challenges of social distancing, to public sector colleagues who step up to contact vulnerable people in the area who are isolating or shielding."
Jon Clemo, Chief Executive of CAN, added:
“Community Action Norfolk (CAN) are thankful to the many thousands of community volunteers who stepped forward to help their neighbours in the last year.
“As a charity that works with voluntary and community organisations, we have been in contact with more than 45 different grass roots community groups that sprang up in west Norfolk to help their neighbours during Covid - and we want to say ‘Thanks West Norfolk’ to those people. It has been heart-warming to see how many people in west Norfolk have been passionate about supporting others in their villages and towns who are impacted by the pandemic, and their kindness and neighbourliness says a lot for community spirit in the area.”
And don't forget to visit www.lovewestnorfolk.co.uk to see what's happening, and find out why people love West Norfolk.