I recently visited CSV (Community Service Volunteers), in Downham Market to learn more about them and, as ever, was bowled over by the fantastic work that they do and is being done in Norfolk.
CSV VOCAL is a volunteering scheme that enables people with learning difficulties to become volunteers in their own communities. It has the following aims:
o Enable people to integrate into and contribute to their own community through volunteering
o Enable people to be the givers rather than the receivers of care
o Enable people to access training in order to develop skills to enable them to volunteer in their own communities and to become as independent as possible
o Reduce dependency on services specifically set up to support people with learning difficulties (including CSV)
o To develop volunteering roles of genuine benefit to the local community
To maximize integration, CSV recruits local people to act as Support Volunteers. The Support Volunteers work with those people 
unable to volunteer without support. They assist with training and have a general befriending role, to give potential volunteers the skills and confidence they need to become volunteers themselves.
Opportunities are tailored to the needs of the individual. Volunteers work in local playgroups, schools, elderly people’s homes, shops, Community Transport projects, conservation groups, and a farm and museum. They grow vegetables on allotments, and support local disabled and elderly people by gardening, socialising, and helping with basic chores and shopping.
This project is part of CSV the UK’s largest volunteering and training charity, and has operated in Norfolk for 22 years. A sister scheme in Norfolk is the Norfolk Knitters, running knitting groups across the County (Knit and Natter), including a community base in Norwich, and selling or donating what is produced for charitable purposes.
For more information on Vocal, contact Helen or Yvonne on 01366 385839.
For more information on Norfolk Knitters contact Linda at lindame278@btinternet.com (or visit our local (Diss) Library, where this scheme is already operating.)
CSV are hoping to open an office in Diss to run the scheme here, so watch out for Press Releases, or you can always send a message via me or my blog.
Major boost for music education in Norfolk
Every school child in Norfolk is to have the chance to learn a musical instrument from next year, after a successful bid to boost music education in the county. We have been granted £2.3m from the Arts Council to develop a Music Education Hub, which will bring together orchestras, choirs, schools, teachers and performers to boost music learning in all Norfolk schools.
The County Council’s music service already works closely with a range of partners, such as the Britten Sinfonia, Sing Up and the Voices Foundation. Its Youth Orchestra also holds regular concerts and, over the last year the county has joined up with young musicians in Serbia and Germany to develop an international Triorca orchestra.
The latest funding will mean the (already brilliant) service can develop even further, with the aim of reaching every child in the county. The funding will cover four key areas:
* The weekly learning of instruments through whole class ensembles, for the minimum of a term, for every child aged five to 18.
* Regular singing opportunities including choirs and vocal ensembles for every pupil as a result of a singing strategy.
* More opportunities for children to play in ensembles.
* Clear progression routes which are available and affordable to all young people.
We have a world class music service in Norfolk that enables thousands of children to develop their creative skills every year.
This is very significant funding will help to open the service up to even more children and young people, giving them the chance to learn musical instruments, as well as sing and perform.
Music can help engage young people at many levels but in particular by enhancing communication skills, improving listening skills and encouraging team work.
The NCC Music Service will be leading the development of the Hub working with schools; district arts officers; Norfolk and Norwich Festival Bridge Organisation; The Garage; Community Music East; Springwood Academy; Britten Sinfonia; Aldeburgh Young Musicians; Access to Music and Norfolk and Norwich Community Arts (NORCA).
Good Day for a walk along the Angles Way
Angles Way May walk
Cant really better the photos and description given by Stephen and Lucy Dawson on their post, but I started in Diss and walked to Thelnetham with friends via the Cross Keys PH in Redgrave, which is very good, as sadly the White Horse at Thelnetham is closed.
Auto Solo Championship at Tibenham Airfield
The heavy rain could not dampen the enthusiastic drivers taking part in the Sporting Car Club of Norfolk’s Autosolo event at Tibenham last Sunday.
The 3 main local car clubs banded together to run the Auto Solo Championship. For this all cars must be road legal and driven to the track. There were nearly 50 entrants, some for the first time!
Their cars ranged from hot hatchbacks, cherished classic cars to the more recent Porsche Boxster, Nissan 350Z and Lotus Elise.
However, standing water played to the advantage of the less powerful motors; with the faster cars struggling to find any grip as they made their way around the wet track one at a time against the clock.
Chairman of the Club Martin Newson said, “It’s been a great day! Despite the weather we had nearly fifty entrants, many taking part in motor sport for the first time; which is very encouraging” He went on to add “ A special thanks must go to the Norfolk Gliding Club; especially Rachel, Eddie and David for their hospitality in the clubhouse”.
Overall Winner: Peter Zytkiewicz (Ford Fiesta)
Class Winners:
Simon Hatfield (Peugeot 106); Sam Weller (Peugeot 106 GTI); Tomasz Marciniak (Honda S2000); Ian Rowes (Westfield) ; John Peterson (Mini Clubman)
The Diss Community Farm is a group of people who joined together to farm land for themselves, to share the work, the risks but mostly the rewards of food production.
In 2011 they were operating on two sites, one a veg share and the other a meat share…….which started with a “pig pilot”.
They have now acquired nearly 4 acres in Roydon and the two projects will be coming together, but already the 40 shareholders wish to attract another 40!
There are several ways to join and get involved:
Become a veg share member or a meatshare member, or just take advantage of the Food Hub, which includes product from other local producers. Pheasant, jams & chutneys, samphire etc
You can help too, as much as you wish and are able to, or indeed just be a supporter for £5 p.a. which will enable you to join social events, use the Food Hub receive Newsletters etc.
Email the Membership Secretary for further information: dcfmembers@yahoo.co.uk or www.disscommunityfarm.wordpress.com
recycle plastics for charity
Cattle at Flax Farm
A few people, including myself, have been concerned at the state of the grazing conditions for the cattle at Flax Farm during these past weeks, as the silage crop diminished and the field turned to mud with all the rain.
Cattle at Flax Farm
It was pleasing therefore to be reassured by our County Trading Standards team that they had already been keeping an eye on the conditions, but were satisfied that conditions were OK if not ideal.
The main business of the farmer who uses this field is to buy cheap older cattle that are not in an ideal condition and fatten them up.
hay in feed rings
“Waste” carrots, onions and peas are spread over the field by tipper lorry, often towards the rear of the field, which is why it is not always clear when passing by road.
As the photos show scattered vegetables and feeding rings containing hay/straw at the front of the field.
Chapel Street Footpath update
Not yet completed but looking really good. NCC had to buy some land from the old GPO site to the left in order to widen the road, – that is what, in fact, has taken most of the time.
The walls that were sited on the left were knocked down, but will be rebuilt behind the path.
Intwood Hall is one of the pretty little halls that surrounds Norwich and has a lovely walled garden as well superb views. The cadets from Wymondham Fire Station are holding a fundraising bluebell walk and have been fortunate in having been allowed to use Intwood for this event.
Do go along and support them – they are a great team of youngsters and a credit to the Fire Service.
If you haven’t come across the cadets before do follow this link to find out more and support them.
Arts Award scheme registered at The Corn hall
Since January 2012, the Corn Hall has been registered as an Art Award Centre, and young people can gain their Bronze or Silver qualification there.
You need to be aged between 11 and 19 years old and be ready to explore new creative experiences in order to gain this nationally recognised qualification.
To help you work towards your awards, Diss Corn Hall will be hosting free weekly ideas workshops from 4-6pm each Wednesday afternoon.
Phone the corn Hall for further information from Jessica, Laura or Mary Anne 01379 652239
