May/June Voice 2011 - Breckland Council

WIN
An Xbox 360 console + Kinect – Sportivate page 2
voiceMay/June
2011
Your Breckland Council magazine
Pride of
Breckland
Awards
Pages 4 & 5
Meet the
Vogels –
Breckland’s
greenest
family –
Page 9
Half-term
sports, arts
and crafts
activities
near you
Pages 14-15
In this issue:
• Your councillors
• Photo comp
• Village Games
• One Stop Bus
• Jobs Fair

William writes...
Welcome to the May/June
edition of Voice
As you turn the pages you will see
some of the remarkable contributions
that Breckland people are making both
within their local communities and
across society. We are extremely proud
of the strong community spirit that
exists throughout the district and it was
great to see such a wide range of
people applauded and congratulated at
our Pride in Breckland Awards.
As a council we’re continuously looking
at ways of reducing our energy bills and
we’re committed to helping people do
the same in their homes. We held a
contest to find Breckland’s greenest
Are you aged between 14 – 25 years?
Is there a sport you’ve always wanted
to try, but has never been on offer near
you? Maybe you’ve not had the
confidence to take part in a sport alone
but would like to join with friends and
take part together.
If so, then Sportivate is definitely
something you should get involved in, and
you could win a great prize in the process.
Sportivate is inspired by the London
Olympics 2012 and aims to leave a
post-games legacy of increased
participation. Our Sports Development
service hopes to offer more activities
across the district by accessing money
from Sport England’s Sportivate fund.
Our Sports Development Officer is putting
together a bid for Sportivate funding and
wants to hear your ideas about what
activities you would like to see included in
our sports programme later this year in
order to shape our services.
family and are pleased to introduce you
to our winners, the Vogels from Sporle,
on page 9.
With the days getting longer and the
weather warming up, we have plenty of
ideas for getting out and enjoying
everything our beautiful district has to
offer. Take a look at our what’s on section
on the back page.
May 5th saw the local elections and the
alternative vote referendum take place
with Breckland residents casting their
vote, you can find out who your new
councillor is on pages 10 and 11.
I hope you enjoy reading this edition of
Voice and look forward to any feedback
you may have.
William Nunn
Tell us what YOU want
and win an Xbox 360!
We’ve previously run numerous courses in
boxing, archery and street dancing.
Perhaps you would like to see more
of these, or maybe basketball and
badminton. Anything is possible
but we need your feedback!
All you need to do is find Breckland Council
on Facebook and leave your comments
telling us what sports you would be
interested in and where you would like to
access them. You’ll find a link to our
Sportivate survey – which will take 5
minutes to complete. Once
completed you will
automatically be entered
into a prize draw and the
winner will receive an Xbox
360 with Kinect!
If you run or are involved with a local sports
club and would like to work with
us to deliver the Sportivate programme
locally, contact Stefan Clifford on
01362 656870. We look forward to
hearing from you!
In this issue...
4 Breckland heroes honoured at
awards ceremony: the story and
pictures from the big night!
6 Thetford Jobs Fair
6 Breckland Audit of Accounts
7 Free computer courses available
7 One Stop Bus: Now calling at
market towns to help more people
access the range of services on offer
8 Keeping the district at it’s best!
8 Narborough welcomes biodiversity
9 Meet the Vogels: Breckland’s
greenest family
10 At your service: A complete list of all
your Breckland councillors
13 Enter your team into the 2nd Breckland
Village Games event! There’s never
been a better way to get involved
14 Freestyle Rural Sports Programme:
Half term fun with a wide range of great
games and activities in your area
14 National Family Week sports activities:
Get the whole family involved in these
fun events
Breckland Voice brings you news and
views from all around Breckland and
provides an important summary of
activities and achievements within the
district. Your comments and ideas are
very welcome, so please contact:
Communications Team
Breckland Council,
Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke
Dereham, Norfolk NR19 1EE.
Tel: 01362 656870
www.breckland.gov.uk
Email: communications@breckland.gov.uk
Link-up. Blind or partially
sighted, or know someone
who is? Breckland Voice
can be sent on cassette with the
independently produced Link-up, a
60 minute news tape sent free each
15 Freestyle Arts Programme:
Be creative this half-term!
16 Get snapping: Capture rural life in
Breckland and win the chance
to see your work in an exhibition!
16 It pays to pay by direct debit
17 Community Toolkit literature available
17 Worth the wait: Garvestone and
Thuxton celebrate their new hall
18 What goes on behind closed doors?
Find out in our food safety quiz
19 Food Hygiene training available
19 Food ratings scheme success!
20 What’s On in Breckland
fortnight. All you need to do is call
John Kitson on 01953 498609.
Environmentally friendly.
Breckland Voice is printed on
recycled paper which contains
100% recycled fibre from both pre-and
post-consumer sources. Please recycle
your Breckland Voice.
European funding. The European
Flag denotes which projects have
been part-funded with money
from Europe and Breckland Council.
How to contact us.
Website: www.breckland.gov.uk
Email: contactus@breckland.gov.uk
Phonelines are open 8am – 6pm /
8am – 5pm on Fridays. All service
numbers begin 01362 656 87 followed by
Tips on how
easy it is to
become
Brecklands
greenest family
– page 9
1 digit which will get you through to the
most appropriate person:
Council Tax/NNDR: 01362 656871
Benefits: 01362 656872
Building Control
and Planning: 01362 656873
Electoral Registration
and Information 01362 656875
Licensing 01362 656876
Environmental Services 01362 656878
Payment Line for Council Tax,
NNDR, Benefit Overpayments
and Invoices (24 hour) 0845 6001936
All other enquiries 01362 656870
Delivery issues? If you know someone
who has not received their copy of Voice
please contact us on 01362 656870.
TripleDigit
Design Ltd
info@tripledigit.co.uk • 07801 651708
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4
Pride in Breckland Awards 2011
Breckland Heroes honoured
at Community Awards
Bravery, generosity and selfless
devotion were rewarded on the evening
of Friday 18 March, when the people
who are the Pride of Breckland
received their awards.
Heroes and heroines, entrepreneurs
and businesspeople, community
workers and volunteers laughed and
cried together at the award ceremony
held at RAF Marham.
An audience of almost 200 gathered in
the Officers’ Mess to witness the
ceremony and pay tribute to the hard
work, courage, unceasing dedication
and caring nature of people from across
the district.
William Nunn, Leader of Breckland
Council, said: “This was a truly
humbling night where Breckland’s
unsung heroes were given the
recognition and thanks they deserve.
One of the things which makes
Breckland so special is the strength of
its communities and these awards show
just how strong those bonds are.
“I know the judges had an extremely
hard time in deciding on winners and
everyone who was nominated this year
deserves recognition and our thanks for
what they have achieved.”
Group Captain Pete Rochelle took time
out from his exceptionally busy schedule
to welcome people to the base saying
RAF Marham was proud to play host to
the awards.
He said: “Awards and ceremonies like
this are hugely important in the role they
play in identifying and celebrating the
often unsung heroes which make so
much of a difference to our
communities.”
The ten categories saw a diverse range
of winners from community groups to
children who had shown exceptional
bravery.
Nick Loades, from Colkirk, who is a full
time carer for his wife and daughter as
well as being an active member of his
community, was awarded the overall
Pride in Breckland Award 2011 after
earlier in the evening winning the Carer
of the Year category.
In a surprise award at the end of the
evening Mick Gault, from Dereham, who
is the most decorated Commonwealth
Games competitor of all time, was
presented with the Lifetime
Achievement Award.
The winners
1. Architectural Excellence Award
Saxon Bank Development, Thetford
2. Greener Breckland
Old Buckenham Village Environment
and Recycling Group (VERG)
3. Safer Breckland
Erica Reynolds
4. Community Group of the Year
The Surge, Watton
5. Good Friend/ Neighbour
Hazel Holden
6. Sporting Excellence
Danny Nobbs
7. Carer of the Year
Nick Loades
8. Pride In Breckland Award
Nick Loades
9. Volunteer of the Year
Roy Spalding
10. Child of Courage
Harry Pitchford & Isaac Hurry-Palmer
11. Lifetime Achievement Award
Mick Gault
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Voice May – June 2011
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6
General News and Events
Just the job! Thetford Jobs Fair
Tuesday 7th June 2011, 10am –2pm
Carnegie Room, Cage Lane, Thetford, IP24 2DS
Reasons to come along:
• Find information on a wide range of jobs • Speak with employers who are recruiting now
• Get advice on starting your own business • Ensure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to
• Discover training and development opportunities
TRAINING SESSIONS AVAILABLE ON THE DAY:
To book sessions call Carol Hodges on 01842 723024
CV writing and interviewing techniques – Session One: 11:30 / Session Two: 12:30
Making the most of your money – Session One: 11:30 / Session Two: 12:30
Each session will last 1 hour. One-to-one drop in sessions will also be available on the day.
Breckland Council audit of accounts
year ended 31 March 2011
Audit commission act 1998, sections 15, 16
Accounts and audit regulations, 2011, regs. 9,10,14,15
The Council’s accounts are subject to
external audit by Mr R Murray of the
Audit Commission, 3rd Floor,
Eastbrook, Shaftesbury Road,
Cambridge, CB2 8BF. Members of the
public and local government electors
have certain rights in the audit process:
1. From 04 July 2011 to 29 July 2011
inclusive, between 10.00 a.m. and 4.00
p.m., any person may inspect the
accounts of the Council for the year
ended 31 March 2011 and certain
related documents (comprising books,
deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and
receipts) at the address given below.
They may also make copies of the
accounts and documents. Please
arrange an appointment prior to visiting
with Mr M Finch at the address given
below.
2. From 10.00 a.m. on 1 August 2011
until the conclusion of the audit process,
a local government elector for the area
of the Council, or his/her representative,
may ask the auditor questions about the
accounts. Please contact the auditor at
the address given above to make
arrangements to ask any questions.
3. From 10.00 a.m. on 1 August 2011
until the conclusion of the audit process,
a local government elector for the area
of the Council, or his/her representative,
may object to the Council’s accounts
asking that the auditor issue a report in
the public interest (under section 8 of
the Audit Commission Act 1998) and/or
apply to the court for a declaration that
an item in the accounts is contrary to law
(under section 17 of the Audit
Commission Act 1998).
Written notice of a proposed objection
and the grounds on which it is made
must be sent to the auditor at the
address given above and copied to me at
the address given below.
Mr M Finch
Assistant Director Finance
Breckland Council
Elizabeth House,
Walpole Loke, Dereham,
Norfolk NR19 1EE
mark.finch@breckland.gov.uk
Free computer
courses on
board the
One Stop Bus
Breckland’s One Stop Bus has
become a successful training centre
over the last few months whilst
visiting villages around the area.
Over 90 computer courses for
beginners have been delivered to over
50 people in the 17 villages on the bus
route. The team on board the bus
deliver the lessons on a one to one
basis and have shown people of
various ages and capabilities how to
do everything from switching a
computer on to booking holidays and
buying groceries online.
Trainee’s responses to the lessons
have been extremely positive all
round. One said “I loved the bus and
enjoyed all the help and confidence
given to me in progressing my skills.
You were very patient and the one to
one training is so effective. Many
thanks. It is a first class service
delivered by nice people.”
So, if you are missing out on
information and offers that are
available online, wanting to write and
print letters and share holiday and
family photos book a computer
lesson on the bus now by calling
07778 476824.
The team would also like to hear from
you if you would like to help run an
online grocery shopping club in your
village. Are you computer literate and
able to spare a couple of hours each
month? If the answer is yes then call
the above number for further
information.
If you are already able to use a
computer and want to know when the
bus is next in your village visit
www.breckland.gov.uk/onestopbus
The One Stop Bus is your mobile
council office and officers on board
can help you with a wide range of
council related enquiries.
Voice May – June 2011
Breckland’s One Stop Bus –
coming to a town near you!
Breckland Council has been delivering
customer service to 17 rural villages
since June 2010. The One Stop Bus
enables access to council services for
residents who are unable to get into the
local market towns.
From April onwards the service is being
extended to the local towns.
Do you only visit the towns at the
weekend? Are you at work or unable to
visit the town offices during the week?
Then this service is for you!
The mobile council office will visit each
of Breckland’s five market towns on a
monthly schedule as shown below:
1st Saturday of the month
Watton: High Street – 9am to 12pm
Attleborough, Queens Square
car park – 1pm to 3pm
2nd Saturday of the month
Dereham, Cowper Road car park –
9am to 1pm
3rd Saturday of the month
Thetford, King Street – 9am to 1pm
4th Saturday of the month
Swaffham, Theatre Street car park –
9am to 1pm
Our friendly team of advisors will
welcome you on board the bus to enjoy
the benefits of free internet access and a
full customer enquiry service.
You may wish to enquire about your
bins, search planning applications,
apply for a bus pass or claim benefits,
or maybe you need to request a service
from one of our partner organisations,
such as Norfolk County Council or the
Credit Union.
The bus also hosts a wealth of
information in relation to current
council initiatives and other community
based organisations.
To find out more or to contact the
team, email bus@breckland.gov.uk,
telephone 07778 476824 or visit
www.breckland.gov.uk/onestopbus
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General News and Events
Keeping the district at its best!
Residents from across Breckland came
together to organise ten litter picks and
give their local community a spring
clean by collecting plastic bags, cans,
discarded newspapers and takeaway
wrappings and other litter.
Stow Bedon and Breckles Parish
Council, Ovington Parish Council, Ashill
Parish Council, Hoe and Worthing
Parish Council, Great Ellingham Beaver
Scouts, Scarning Conservation Group,
North Tuddenham Parish Council,
Fulmerston Church, Barnham Cross
Action Group and East Harling Parish
Council all contributed to collecting a
staggering 200 bags of litter. The
enthusiastic individuals all deserve a
Biodiversity at Narborough Hall
We will be hosting our first biodiversity
event this summer at the beautiful and
enchanting Narborough Hall Gardens,
Narborough.
The event will be homage to our
natural, local environment where there
will be a number of wildlife exhibitors
and an array of adult and children’s
activities to enjoy. For the foodies
amongst you there will be plenty of
mouth watering temptations from local
producers to keep you fed and watered
well earned pat on the back for their
hard work and dedication.
Breckland Council’s refuse contractor,
Serco picked up the litter that was
collected from agreed locations on the
days of the litter picks. The Council also
provided participants with gloves, litter
pickers and bags to use.
Trevor Wood, Chairman for Hoe and
Worthing Parish Council said; “Although
the homes of residents in Hoe and
Worthing are very spread out, as a
community we are very close. We came
to hold an annual litter pick through a
communal decision and residents of all
ages are enthusiastic to clear up our
shared environment. It is unfortunate
during your visit. So come along and
share in the delights including;
• Hands on craft activities
• Talks and demonstrations
• Guided walks
• Also featuring The Fairyland Trust and
crown making workshops
Saturday 9th July, 10am - 5pm
Narborough Hall Gardens, Narborough,
Norfolk. £5.00 per car or £2.00 entry per
person. Children under 7 free
For more information contact Breckland
that the natural beauty of this area
becomes spoiled over time by a
thoughtless minority but we did not
dwell on that.
We were pleased to receive the
encouragement and compliments of the
vast majority who commented as they
passed this way, both as we were
cleaning up and since.”
The Council wishes to support voluntary
litter picks throughout the year and is
keen to hear from anyone who would be
interested in organising one.
For further information, please contact
us on 01362 656870 or email
contactus@breckland.gov.uk.
Council 01362 656870 or email
contactus@breckland.gov.uk. No dogs
(accept guide dogs) permitted at the
event or in the parking area.
Voice May – June 2011
The Vogels – meet Breckland’s
greenest family
This year saw the hunt for Breckland’s
greenest family. From recycling and
growing your own vegetables, to
installing solar panels and buying a
more efficient car – our residents
proved that being green isn’t as hard as
you might think. From some impressive
entries, the Vogel family from Sporle
pipped the others to the post and
became Breckland’s Greenest family.
The Vogel family have embraced being
greener into their everyday life, and in
doing so live a more environmentally
friendly lifestyle.
Tim, Biddy, and their three children,
Elizabeth (8), Naomi (6) and Laura (3), all
contribute in their own way to living a
greener lifestyle.
From simple changes to using energy
saving light bulbs and only boiling the
amount of water needed, to installing
loft insulation and organising a local
plant and seed swap event, all
contribute to protecting the local
environment. However small the
change, every action counts, and the
more people who make a small change,
the larger the impact!
Tim Vogel said, ‘I was really surprised
when they told us we
had won. We don’t
consider ourselves to
be particularly green,
we just live our lives
in a way that reduces
any kind of waste.
We are well known in
the village for being
a ‘recycling
point’, and are often
asked if we can find
a new home for
surplus or unwanted
items.’
‘A few simple things
soon add up and
make a real
difference,’ said
Biddy Vogel. We
don’t go out of our
way to be green, this is just how we live.’
Biddy is arranging a plant and seed
swap. The ‘Plant Affair’ is on Saturday
14th May from 2 to 4pm at the church in
Sporle. Come along with or without
plants to swap and for a small donation
go home with something different to
care for!
Follow the Vogel family and their green
lifestyle through future editions of voice.
Be inspired, and learn how easy it can be
to have an impact by changing the way
you live, and it may even save you a
penny or two!
The Vogel family received £100 eco
vouchers, £250 towards a vegetable box
scheme, and a free one year leisure pass
for the whole family to a Breckland
Council leisure centre.
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10
General News and Events
At your service: Breckland
Councillors 2011 – 2015
Breckland councillors have been voted in by you to represent
your views. Your local councillor can take up issues on your
behalf through attending Council, Cabinet and committee
meetings to speak for you or to take matters to Scrutiny.
You are welcome to attend meetings and can find a list of dates
and venues on our website at www.breckland.gov.uk or you
can call 01362 656870. Here is a full list of our members with
their contact details. Check the map on the right to see which
ward you live in.
Ward Councillor Name Contact telephone number Party
All Saints William Smith 01953 456916 The Conservative Party
Buckenham Ward Adrian Joel 01953 860663 The Conservative Party
Burgh & Haverscroft Ward
Keith Martin
Adrian Stasiak
01953 452086
01953 453745
The Conservative Party
The Conservative Party
Conifer Ward Ann Steward 01760 756247 The Conservative Party
Dereham Central Ward
Robin Goreham
Thomas Monument
01362 691179
01362 694670
The Labour Party
The Conservative Party
Dereham Humbletoft Ward Stuart Green 01362 691953 The Conservative Party
Dereham Neatherd Ward
Linda Monument
William Richmond
01362 694670
01362 860269
The Conservative Party
The Conservative Party
Dereham Toftwood Ward
Phillip Duigan
Kate Millbank
01362 692443
01362 695727
The Conservative Party
The Conservative Party
East Guiltcross Ward Stephen Askew 01953 860324 The Conservative Party
Eynsford Ward Gordon Bambridge 01603 880557 The Conservative Party
Haggard De Toni Ward Charles Carter 01760 722047 The Conservative Party
Harling and Heathlands Ward
Kay Fisher
Ellen Jolly
01842 751122
01953 717126
The Conservative Party
The Conservative Party
Hermitage Ward Trevor Carter 01328 701668 The Conservative Party
Launditch Ward Mark Kiddle-Morris 01328 701370 The Conservative Party
Mid Forest Bernard English 01842 813911 The Conservative Party
Nar Valley Ward Dave Williams 01760 338810 The Conservative Party
Necton Ward Nigel Wilkin 01760 720601 The Conservative Party
Simon Rogers 01953 452216 The Conservative Party
Queens
Jennifer North 01953 445481 The Conservative Party
Alec Byrne 01953 860315 The Conservative Party
Springvale and Scarning
Elizabeth Gould
Diana Irving
01328 701108
01362 691110
The Conservative Party
The Conservative Party
Shipdham Ward Lynda Turner 01362 822553 The Conservative Party
Shirley Matthews 01760 723205 The Conservative Party
Swaffham Ward
Ian Sherwood 01760 725550 The Conservative Party
Frank Sharpe 01760 441580 The Conservative Party
Swanton Morley Ward Robert Richmond 01362 860269 The Conservative Party
Taverner Ward Richard Duffield 01362 860677 The Conservative Party
Templar Ward John Rogers 01953 883663 The Conservative Party
Thetford Abbey Ward
Carl Clark
Pauline Quadling
01842 763844
01842 764647
The Conservative Party
Independent
Thetford Castle Ward Terence Lamb 01842 753015 Independent
Robert Kybird 01842 753132 The Conservative Party
Thetford Guildhall Ward Brian Skull 01842 752478 The Conservative Party
Pam Spencer 01842 765443 The Conservative Party
Sylvia Armes 01842 761758 The Labour Party
Thetford Saxon Ward Terry Jermy 01842 750722 The Labour Party
Mark Robinson 01842 763916 The Conservative Party
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Voice May – June 2011
Ward Councillor Contact telephone number Party
Two Rivers Ward
Paul Claussen
Brian Rose
01603 880454
01362 858326
The Conservative Party
The Conservative Party
Upper Wensum Ward Bill Borrett 01362 860200 The Conservative Party
Upper Yare Ward Cliff Jordan 01362 820422 The Conservative Party
Claire Bowes 01760 756318 The Conservative Party
Watton Ward
Keith Gilbert 01953 880172 Independent
Michael Wassell 01953 882884 The Conservative Party
Wayland Ward Phil Cowen 01953 488393 The Conservative Party
Weeting Ward Robert Childerhouse 01842 811520 The Conservative Party
West Guiltcross Ward William Nunn 01379 688254 The Conservative Party
Wissey Ward Paul Darby 01760 724479 The Conservative Party

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Advertising
Voice May – June 2011
Join in the 2nd Breckland Village
Games – Sunday 19th June 2011!
Enter your village to
represent Breckland in the
Norfolk Village Games
Watton Sports Centre will host the
second Breckland Village Games, and
we are hoping to see as many residents
from across the district there to watch
and participate in the event inspired by
the London Olympics 2012.
Last September, some 72 Breckland
residents representing 15 different
villages and towns from across the
district took part in eight different
sporting events. This year, with darts
being included as a discipline, there has
never been a more inclusive sporting day
for whole villages to get involved in.
In partnership with Active Norfolk we are
urging residents from each village and
town across the district to unite as one
and compete on this special day. Squads
entering the games will be divided into
two categories: Large villages/Market
towns and Small/Medium villages.
The beauty of the Breckland Games is
that people of all ages can make up the
teams. Short matt bowls teams can have
players registered from as young as 9
years old up to 90 years old, whereas
rounders will have a mixture of children
and adults in each team. There will be
separate tournaments for adults and
children in archery, table tennis and 5
a-side football. There is no age limit for
entry into darts, badminton and wattbikes.
However, tennis is a mixed doubles
event for those 16 and over.
Teams can enter into as many of the
sports as they like, the more sports you
enter, the better the chance you have of
winning the overall event!
Swaffham were last years winners in the
large village/town category, whilst the
combined forces of Thompson, Merton
and Griston were victorious in the small/
medium village tournament.
For more information and how to
register your team in the Village Games
please visit www.activenorfolk.org/
villagegames, call Amy East on
01603 731566 or email
amy.east@activenorfolk.org.
We hope to see you there!
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Half Term Activities
Breckland Freestyle
Rural Sports Programme
DODGEBALL – CRICkET – VOLLEYBALL
– ROuNDERS AND MuCH, MuCH MORE!
Half-term is upon us once again which can only mean one thing.... More sporting fun
at a village hall near you! Breckland Council in partnership with Parkwood Leisure will
be delivering a variety of sporting activities for 5-11 year olds at the following
community centre and village hall venues (see table below).
All you need to do is turn up, pay your £2, sign your consent form, and leave your
children for two hours of sporting fun.
There is no need to book, just turn up on the day. Children should bring a drink and
wear loose comfortable clothing. For more information please call Stefan Clifford on
01362 656336.
Working in Partnership
Date 10am – 12pm 1pm – 3pm
Monday 30 May BANk HOLIDAY
Tuesday 31 May Swanton Morley Village Hall Necton Rural Community Centre
Wednesday 1 June Ashill Community Centre Mundford Village Hall
Thursday 2 June Attleborough Sports Hall Kenninghall Community Centre
Friday 3 June Gt Hockham Community Centre East Harling Old School Hall
National Family Week
– Sports Activities
In celebration of National Family Week, Breckland
Council is extending the half-term rural sports
program in hope that families from locations across
the district will come together and join in the
celebrations. We will be offering the following
afternoons of activity absolutely free!
All children must be accompanied by an
adult and groups must register with the
sports coaches on arrival. Families are
invited to come along and bring
refreshments, learn new skills, and take
part in friendly competition.
There is no need to book, but for more
information please contact Stefan
Clifford on 01362 656870.
Date Activity and Venue
Tuesday 31 May
1pm – 4pm
Friday 3 June
1pm – 4pm
Family Archery and Rounders
Swanton Morley Village Hall
Family Archery and Rounders
Thetford Leisure Centre
Tyrannosaurus Explorus: Games and
songs using music, drama and craft to
stimulate the imagination; encouraging
creative play for both adult and child
(age 7 – 12). Make a dinosaur from
rubbish. Will it eat us? Can we write a
dinosaur song to send it to sleep? Follow
the giant footprints to the Lost Land of
the Dinosaurs. What will we find there?
Will it be a dinosaur?
Music in Motion: In the Garden. Music
making, drama and creative play for
pre-school to age 7. A mini-musical
adventure through the garden; sowing
and growing; colours and weather;
hot and cold; follow the rainbow to the
perfect picnic.
Drumming workshops for age 5 – 11.
Try out Egyptian and African percussion,
learning new rhythms and beats.
Arts and Crafts for age 7 – 11.
Puppets: Make a friendly string puppet
monster out of carrier bags and other
materials to take home.
Voice May – June 2011
Peg Families: Learn how to make
adorable peg people and take a whole
family home with you.
• We ask that parents or guardians
stay with their children throughout
the session.
• Booking is recommended, using the
contact name and number for the
workshop you wish to attend.
• Places are allocated on a first come,
first served basis. If you know that
you will no longer be able to attend
the workshop, we would appreciate
you letting the contact know, so that
someone else can take the place.
• All workshops are free of charge.
Week 1 10am – 12pm 2pm – 4pm
Tues 31 May
Weds 1 June
Thurs 2 June
Fri 3 June
Breckland Freestyle
Arts Programme
Creative Play – Music – Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts: Puppets
Thetford Library - 01842 752048
Admission is by free child ticket available from
Thetford Library from 3 weeks before the event.
Drumming
Watton Library - 01953 881671
Admission is by free child ticket available from
Watton Library from 3 weeks before the event.
Tyrannosaurus Explorus
Thetford Library - 01842 752048
Admission is by free child ticket available from
Thetford Library from 3 weeks before the event.
Drumming
Hockering Primary School - Helen: 07900 607963
31st May – 3rd June
Arts and Crafts: Puppets
Attleborough Library - 01953 452319
Admission is by free child ticket available from
Attleborough Library from 3 weeks before the event.
Arts and Crafts: Peg families
Watton Library - 01953 881671
Admission is by free child ticket available from
Watton Library from 3 weeks before the event.
Music in Motion: In the Garden
Garvestone Village Hall - Helen: 07900 607963
PLEASE NOTE:
This session runs from 2pm until 3pm
–
15

16
General News and Events
Breckland Photography
Competition 2011
Celebrating rural life
Calling all Breckland photographers!
We want residents in the district to get snapping this spring and summer,
capturing the rural life in Breckland. You don’t have to be an experienced
photographer and we encourage the use of any type of camera.
The four categories for the competition that celebrates rural life are:
• Humour • People • Landscapes and Livestock
• Young Snapper (anyone 16 years old and under on the closing date)
Entries for Young Snapper should include any of the three categories:
• Humour • People • Landscapes and Livestock.
Touring exhibition of the winning photographs
• 3rd – 8th October: Dereham Library
• 10th – 15th October: Attleborough Library
• 17th – 22nd October: Swaffham Community Centre
• 24th – 29th October: Dragonfly Gallery, Watton
• 31st Oct – 5th November: Thetford Library
Please visit our website for a full list of rules and how to enter.
It pays to pay
by direct debit
Mr & Mrs Ward of Dereham found out
this month that it pays to pay by
direct debit, when they walked away
with a cheque for £250.
The Anglia Revenues Partnership ran
a Prize Draw and all Breckland
residents paying their Council tax by
direct debit, whose payments were up
to date, had a chance to win the prize.
The £250 cheque, which was donated
by The Co-operative Bank, was given
to the lucky winners earlier this
month.
Paying by direct debit is a safe and
convenient way to pay your council tax,
avoiding unnecessary journeys and
saving time, cheques and stamps.
To find out how to arrange to switch
to direct debit payments, call
01362 656871 or visit the Breckland
website www.breckland.gov.uk.
Community
Toolkits
Running successful community
groups or managing local projects
requires a mix of different skills and
knowledge.
For example, has your organisation
ever experienced problems in finding
out how to get hold of funding for a
new project?
Do you know where to get help with
advice on particular topics, or know
how to plan effectively for the future?
If this is the case, then look no
further! Our Community Toolkits can
help your organisation find solutions
to a range of these kinds of problems
and issues. Tools within the kit provide
different forms of practical help for a
variety of local groups.
So whether you are an arts group, an
environmental body, a childcare
organisation, a community business
or any other type of voluntary group,
there will almost certainly be
something in our Community Toolkits
to help you.
You can find the toolkits by logging
onto www.breckland.gov.uk/ /
communities/communitydevelopment/toolkits
Paper copies of
Breckland Council’s Community
Toolkit’s are also available free of
charge please contact 01362 656870.
1
3
2
Voice May – June 2011
7 years and £900,000 later…
Garvestone and Thuxton
celebrate their new hall
The eco friendly new village hall was
officially opened on 16th April. The
project began seven years ago when a
committee was formed to look into
replacing the old 1920s hall.
Among the guests invited for the grand
opening ceremony were representatives
from the Big Lottery Fund, which
provided £423,317, and the Garvestone
Charity Trust, which raised £200,000.
A grant from Breckland Council back in
2007 enabled the committee to buy three
acres of farmland behind the old hall.
On part of this land, the new bowling
green was created, with the former
green redeveloped as a children’s play
area which opened in August 2009.
The huge new hall uses renewable
energy and has a heat pump, wind-
1. Golden Age Toolkit
Advice and information for
older members of the
community, including:
Home and Personal safety,
Pensions, Housing and
Benefit advice, Health,
Mobility and activity ideas.
catcher ventilation and natural light
harnessed through sun pipes – with
about half its electricity provided by a
wind turbine behind the building.
Committee member Liz Buckley played
a vital role in the grant applications
which made the project possible.
She said: “The whole project cost nearly
£900,000 but it was done in various
stages. We started with the fact that the
hall was 90 years old and falling into
disrepair. The really important thing was
that we involved the community in
finding out what facilities they really
wanted.”
The new hall also runs a post office
counter twice a week, with a community
library provided in the foyer.
2. Community
Buildings Toolkit
Information, advice and
inspiration to enable
community groups and
village hall management
committees to make the
most of their community
buildings now and into
the future.
3. Funding Toolkit
A user friendly and
helpful reference
guide to help
individuals in their
journey of identifying
and bidding for
funding from external
funding bodies.
17

18
General News and Events
What goes on behind
closed doors?
The food in your fridge might look and smell fine, but if it’s a day out of date (or
even on the use-by day) do you throw it straight in the bin?
National Food Safety Week is a UK wide campaign designed to raise awareness of
good food hygiene practice. This year it will run from 6 – 12 June and the theme is
exploring food myths. Below we have listed some common food hygiene myths
– take a look and find out how much you know. Answers at the bottom of the page.
If food looks okay and smells
okay it’s safe to eat?
or false – eating
1True
food after the ‘best
before’ date won’t hurt?
5
3
7
True or false – plastic chopping
boards are more hygienic than
wooden ones?
True or false – steak is
okay rare as long as the
outside is brown?
True or false – cooked rice
can’t be kept as long as
other leftovers?
7. True, it’s a food safety fact. Leftover
cooked rice is fine to eat as long as it
gets cooled and refrigerated quickly
after cooking and eaten within 24 hours.
This is because rice can contain a
particularly tough bacteria which can
survive heating. Most other leftovers are
safe to eat up to two days after cooking.
Always reheat leftovers until steaming
hot and do not reheat more than once.
6. False, it’s a myth. Unlike steaks,
burgers and sausages are made from
meat that has been minced, so germs
will be spread throughout the product,
not just on the outside. This means that
the products need to be cooked properly
all the way through. To check if a burger
is done, cut into the thickest part and
check that there is no pink meat, is
steaming hot and juices run clear.
6
2
4
5. True, it’s a food safety fact. Steak is
safe to eat ‘rare’. Whole cuts of beef or
lamb, such as steaks, cutlets and joints
only have germs on the outside. So long
as the outside is fully cooked any germs
will be killed. But this isn’t true for
poultry, pork, burgers and sausages -
these must be cooked all the way
through.
4. True, it’s a food safety fact. Although
most raw meat will have some germs
on it, washing is more likely to spread
germs around the kitchen. Little
splashes of water can contaminate you,
your worktop and anything else in the
way. Thorough cooking is the best way
to get rid of these nasty germs.
cuts or scoring. You could use separate
boards for raw and ready to eat foods.
True or false – you don’t
need to wash raw chicken
before you cook it?
True or false – it’s best to serve
burgers pink in the middle?
3. False, it’s a myth. There isn’t any
strong evidence that one type of
chopping board is more or less hygienic
than any other, whether plastic,
wooden, glass or marble. What is
important is that the board gets cleaned
properly after every use and replaced if
it gets damaged, for example from deep
2. True, it’s a food safety fact. ‘Best
Before’ dates are about food quality, not
safety. They are usually found on food
that lasts a long time. If food has
passed its ‘Best Before’ date it doesn’t
mean it’s unsafe, but might have started
to lose it’s colour, flavour or texture.
ANSWERS
1. False, it’s a myth. Although a bad
smell or taste are signs that a food has
‘gone off’ these signs aren’t often
caused by germs that give you food
poisoning. So the foods appearance,
smell or taste aren’t reliable warning
signs. Instead, stick to the ‘Use By’ date
and storage instructions on the packet.
Food
Hygiene
Training
One of the keys to running a safe food
business is effective training. The law
requires that staff are trained in all
the safe methods of food handling
that are relevant to the job they do.
Managers are required to supervise
them to check they are following the
safe methods properly.
The Safer Food Better Business pack
sets out many of these safe methods
in the ‘Working with Food’ factsheets
and includes a useful training DVD for
use with new staff.
Further training is available from
Breckland Council, which offers the
nationally recognised Level 2 or
Foundation Course in Food Safety.
This is suitable for anyone who
handles open high-risk foods.
It is recommended that all
supervisory staff and managers are
trained to at least this standard.
Courses are available throughout
2011:
• Dereham – 16 & 22 June
9:30am – 1:30pm
• Thetford – 7 & 14 July
9:30am – 1:30pm
• Dereham – 8 & 14 September
9:30am – 1:30pm
• Thetford – 6 & 13 October
9:30am – 1:30pm
• Dereham – 10 & 17 November
9:30am – 1:30pm
Courses cost £50 per candidate and
can be booked by telephone on
01362 656870. Candidates must
complete both sessions and there is
a short exam on the final day.
Voice May – June 2011
Food ratings
scheme is a
success
Food safety standards in Breckland
continue to improve since the
introduction of the National Food
Hygiene Rating Scheme last
November, giving residents even
greater confidence when eating out or
buying food in the district.
After just a few months since the
launch in November 94% of food
businesses have achieved a
satisfactory or better rating (rating
3 –5) , reflecting the high standards
being found by Food Safety Inspectors
during routine inspections.
How well has your favourite shop or
restaurant done?
We were amongst the first in the
country to introduce this new scheme,
which has now been adopted by 114
Councils in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland and this number is
expected to increase further by the
summer. Consumers now have at-aglance
information about food hygiene
standards across the whole of
Breckland and much of the UK, helping
them to make informed decisions
about where to eat or buy food.
Ratings are given to virtually every
premises where food is offered to
the public, be it at a shop,
restaurant, public house,
canteen, hotel, or from a
caterer or residential care
home.
They are available for anyone
to view on the Food
Standards Agency’s website
at www.food.gov.uk/ratings
and food businesses are
given a window sticker
and certificate which they
are encouraged to the display at the
entrance to their premises. Look out
for them when you are out and about!
For more information about the
scheme call Breckland Council’s
Environmental Health team on
01362 656870.
19

What’s on in Breckland
Saturday 21st May until Sunday 5th
June 10am - 5pm
ART @ STOKE FERRY CHURCH
Around 100 exciting new paintings at
affordable prices - wildlife, flowers,
abstracts, local scenes, sea and
landscapes, still life and figures -
watercolours, pastels, oils, acrylics,
and pen and wash. Limited edition
prints and unique greetings cards
Free admission every day.
Further details from Teresa Waller
01366 501369.
Saturday 4th – Sunday th June
11.00am – 5.00pm
OPEN GARDENS, OxBOROUGH
VILLAGE
Various gardens around the village are
open to visitors. Plants for sale,
refreshments in Village Hall, cream
teas. Organ recital in Church £3.00 per
person entry. Garden Show stalls on
the Village Green.
Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June
11am - 4pm
THELNETHAM CHURCH
FLOWER FESTIVAL
Enjoy this year’s Flower Festival on
the theme of well known books, local
history displays and homemade
refreshments in the idyllic surroundings
of this 1000 year old church. Free entry
but donations welcome More details on
01379 898713.
Sunday 5th June 9am - 12pm
FRETTENHAM UNDER FIVES 4TH
ANNUAL VILLAGE GARAGE SALE.
Refreshments and maps will be
available on the day from Jasmine
Cottage (on site of Frettenham Primary
school). For more info contact Jayne
Galey on 01603 737678.
Saturday 11th June
BAWDESWELL VILLAGE CINEMA
PRESENTS ‘MADE IN DAGENHAM’ (15)
Bawdeswell Village Hall - doors open
7pm. £3.50 adults, £2.50 children U18,
£10 Family (2A+2C) and £1.00 for every
extra child. Call 01362 688749 for further
information or see our web site at
www.eastinvolve.net/bag
Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th June
11am - 5pm
MILEHAM VILLAGE OPEN GARDENS
14+ gardens will be open. £3 per
programme – admits two adults.
Children Free. Refreshments and
tickets in Village Hall.
Sunday 26th June 12 noon – 5pm
BEACHAMWELL VILLAGE OPEN
GARDENS DAY
Large variety of open gardens,
Dereham Brass Band on the village
green, the King’s Morris Dancers, organ
recitals in the church, treasure hunt,
variety of stalls, raffle and tombola.
Ploughman’s lunches and strawberry
& cream teas. Adults £3, Couples £5
Children free of charge. In aid of St
Marys Church, Beachamwell.
Enquiries 01366 328817.
Saturday 2nd July 10am and 6pm
OPEN GARDENS EVENT MUNDFORD
Various themes including a Bonsai
garden, Koi carp pond, beautiful displays
of flowers and gardens specifically to
attract wildlife. Refreshments, books,
games and puzzles available.
Proceeds to St Leonard’s Church
Mundford and the Norfolk and Norwich
Association for the Blind. Children free.
Programmes £3 available in advance
from Mundford’s Post Office and News
agent stores and also on the day from
any garden taking part (sunflower signs
will be on all taking part) Mrs. Pat Tuck
on 01842 878483.
Saturday 2 July – 7.30pm
SUMMER CONCERT
St John the Evangelist Church at
Rushford will be the setting for the
singers of “The Edmund Octet” and the
“Glebe Voices”. In aid of the fabric of the
ancient thatched church. Tickets £10
(children under 14 - £5) and include a
glass of wine and small eats. Book early
- contact Anne on 01842 753634.
For even more events in the Breckland area,
visit our website www.breckland.gov.uk
Please check details with event organisers
before turning up in case of changes after
going to print. We hope you have a great day!
Saturday July 2nd to 17th 2011
TEDDY BEAR FESTIVAL
GREAT ELLINGHAM
Come and walk the teddy trail in
the village, with over 100 straw teddy’s
on display.
Saturday July 2nd
GARAGE SALES – GREAT ELLINGHAM
Friday 8th – Sunday 10th July
ART ExHIBITION, ST JAMES CHURCH,
GREAT ELLINGHAM
Saturday 9th July
TEDDY FUN DAY, GREAT ELLINGHAM
Teddy Bears Picnic, bring along your
teddy for the Teddy Slide, Craft Stalls,
Art Exhibition and lots more. Proceeds
to local groups and to the East Anglia
Children Hospice. www.greatellingham.
org.uk Tel: Peter on 01953 456716.
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July
11am - 5pm
HIDDEN TREASURES WEEKEND.
Eccles, Hargham Quidenham & Wilby.
Four parish churches, schools, 96th
Bomber group museum, local history
photographes, events. For information
visit www.norfolktreasures.com or
contact 01953 454528.
Saturday 16th July, 11am - 2pm
SUMMER FETE
Dereham St Nicholas Junior School,
Littlefield’s. Car boot sale, inflatable
assault course, bouncy castle, stalls,
games, fire engine, police, school
band, dance & musical performances,
ice creams, bbq and lots more!
Sunday 17th July 1pm – 4.30pm
JOINT FUNDRAISING FETE
Hockering Playing Field. Organised by
Hockering Playing Field and St
Michael’s Church. Free admission.
An afternoon of entertainment for all
the family – sports activities, stalls,
light refreshments, ice-creams,
BBQ and live jazz music. For further
information contact Jackie on
01603 880109.