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What We Do - Our Support for West Norfolk Organisations

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Click here to read information on the status of Community Action Norfolk's Services. As well as links to other information and advice
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What We Do

We provide support and advice for voluntary sector groups.  These can be anything from small local groups to registered and unregistered charities, and social enterprises.  Collectively these are called Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations.  We aim to be a one-stop-shop for organisations at any stage in their development, and can provide support around topics like: 

  • Finding funding 
  • Answering governance queries 
  • Advice on how to start up 
  • Support to get the right structure 
  • Policy advice  

And much more!  If it is to do with VCSE organisations, we can help or signpost you to the best place to get help.  

Our Support in the West 

The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk have always recognised the value of the VCSE sector in West Norfolk, along with the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) they commission us to provide some support to organisations in the district.  Support from the Borough Council and ICB has allowed us to provide training, information and Hub sessions to 180 people in West Norfolk, and to provide direct support to 132 groups over the last year.  This means that we can offer West Norfolk VCSE organisations: 

Free training and advice sessions, covering topics like: 

  • Foundations of Funding - Ideal for those new to funding, to help your organisation have the most robust funding it can. 
  • Trustee Training - to help Trustees new and old to be aware of what their roles and responsibilities are and keeping up to date with latest Charity Commission advice.   
  • Energy Advice Sessions - to help the people you support who might be struggling with energy costs.  

Find out what training we are offering by emailing office@communityactionnorfolk.org.uk

One to One Support  

Got a question, or come across an issue, and need advice? We can provide one-to-one support by email, phone, or face-to-face (online or in person depending on the situation).  Our Development Team have a wealth of knowledge and experience with voluntary sector organisations and issues that affect them. To get in touch with the Team, email office@communityactionnorfolk.org.uk  

West Norfolk Related Updates and Connections 

It is hard to keep up with all the services and information that you might need, and events that are happening in the area.  We send out West-specific mailings keeping you up to date with everything you need to know without inundating you (If you would like to receive these, please email office@communityactionnorfolk.org.uk).  Our West Norfolk VCSE Hub Lead, Tasha can also help you to make the right strategic links, whether it is an organisation you could partner with, or a link with statutory services, helping you to form the relationships you need when you need them. 

We also help to provide opportunities to network, through our events (such as Meet the Funder sessions, where you can meet funders like the National Lottery Community Fund, and GrantScape) and the West Norfolk VCSE Hub (6-weekly topic focused sessions facilitating shared learning and updates about all things West) - please contact office@communityactionnorfolk.org.uk for more information.   

                                              

Resources

We have a whole raft of resources available voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations, and as part of a project with the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk, to support new and existing groups in the area to recover from the pandemic, we have compiled three factsheets:

If you would like to know more about the other resources we offer, please contact us on office@communityactionnorfolk.org.uk

Updates for West Norfolk

The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk has voted on its preferred model for Local Government Reorganisation in Norfolk.

Several Halls in West Norfolk have received letters from the Revenues Department at the Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk, with a request that they applications for Small Business Rates Relief to be completed, to replace the Mandatory Charity Relief that they are currently in receipt of. We know that this has caused some concern as the government has made clear its intention to review the current Rates Reliefs. We have spoken to the Non-domestic Rates Team to understand the reason for this.

Local people to see their high streets revived, community hubs saved, and public services transformed and strengthened through the Plan for Neighbourhoods, announced on 4th March 2025.

King’s Lynn businesses have an exciting opportunity to become part of the dynamic team driving forward significant regeneration and investment in the town.

We are fortunate to receive funding from the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk to support our work in the West. Over the past six months, our dedicated Community Development team have achieved significant milestones in supporting local organisations across West Norfolk

Established to support the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in West Norfolk, the West Norfolk VCSE Hub has become a valuable forum for collaboration between organisations and the sharing of best practices.  The West Norfolk VCSE Hub aims to facilitate the following: 

Looking for ways to save money? Then our Beat your Bills roadshows are the place to be.

This is the third in our series about funding, read more here: part 1 and part 2

Regardless of how much effort you put in, sometimes your application is unsuccessful. This can be for a number of reasons and can leave you feeling more than a little deflated. So if at first you don't succeed, talk to CAN!

Community Action Norfolk, with the support of the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, hosted a Volunteering Marketplace which took place last Thursday (14th July).

“Like all of you, the charity has been through the tough times of the Covid lockdowns and, just as some normality seemed to be returning, the costs of energy have risen so much that we are all struggling to find a way to keep up with them” 

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