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North Norfolk Writer’s Group – mutual support through creative writing

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Our CANConnect project helps people in North Norfolk link with activities and like-minded people in their community, as well as providing support to help them identify and achieve their goals. CANConnect also provides support for the community itself, helping organisations make the places where we live, stronger, friendlier and more resilient. 

Sally Thornton, our Community Development Officer, has worked closely with North Norfolk Writers’ Group, and arranged a £750 project grant which they have put towards hiring a meeting room at Merchants Place in Cromer, and the cost of tutor fees. 

The Group’s stated aim is ‘to bring together and support creative writers in the North Norfolk area and to promote further learning, mutual support, and combat isolation among our members.’ 

The group members originally met on courses at Merchants’ Place in Cromer and have also convened in Cromer Library on occasion. 

Sally Watts, co-ordinator of North Norfolk Writers’ Group, explains

“We came together as strangers. All isolated in different ways. Looking for something more. Writing is a very solitary occupation and the course on Writing from Life Experiences drew us all in. The first lesson came and as a group we all just clicked. The course progressed and our writing improved. We all discovered confidence, acceptance and friendship. When that course finished, we took the next one and the next."  

"Not wanting to lose contact we put together our own ‘Summer School’ for four meetings held at Merchants Place. The Autumn found us in Cromer library, wondering if our little group was going to be able to continue. Then a lovely lady from Norfolk Learning put us in touch with CANConnect and we have emerged with their help and support into a community group, the North Norfolk Writers Group."  

The Group usually meets on the second and fourth Tuesday afternoons of the month at Merchants Place  but the Coronavirus pandemic has, as for so many community organisations, made for a difficult and stressful time. And some members understandably had more pressing anxieties about family, work and health. 

​"We were concerned that with all that was going on our fledgling group may not survive the Covid-19 crisis” explained Sally.  “However, time has passed, and everyone has settled into the lockdown and the new ways we have of living. We have survived.  The group have managed to keep in contact by email, video conferences and the odd text message!” 

​North Norfolk Writers’ Group has also worked with well-known poet and writer Sue Burge, who runs occasional tutored workshops for them. An email version proved to be a great success and all the members were inspired to dive back into writing.  

Find out more about North Norfolk Writers’ Group here. They’ve got  a rather good Facebook page too here.  And you can join them by mailing northnorfolkwritersgroup@gmail.com  

If you'd like help and support with your own personal goals, or would just like to get more involved in activities in your local community, visit CANConnect or phone 0300 303 3920. And if you'd like to volunteer with CANConnect find out how here.