January/February 2012 - Breckland Council

INSPIRE!
Become a sports coach in 2012 – page 9
voiceJanuary/February
2012
Your Breckland Council magazine
Breckland Book
Festival success
Sportivate
rewards with
Amazon
vouchers to
be won!
Page 11
Ellie’s dream In this issue:
comes true • British Film Festival
at Peter Andre • Get dancing
showground • Half-term activities
concert • Fly-tippers beware!
Page 12 • Computer classes

In this issue...
3 Share your jubilee memories with us
3 Breckland Book Festival success
4 East Anglian Air Ambulance presentations
4 Take care with new sunbed rules
5 Breckland British Film Festival
6 Get dancing at Litcham!
6 Be part of a community performance
7 Freestyle February half-term arts activities
7 Half-term sports activity timetable
8 Breckland’s torch relay route
9 Become a sports coach in 2012:
Receive up to 75% funding to coach
a selection of sports
9 Coach ‘n’ play!
10 Catering for your training needs
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 us:
Communications Team, Breckland Council,
Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham,
Norfolk NR19 1EE. Tel: 01362 656870
Online: 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 a
memory stick with the independently
produced Link-Up, a fortnightly roundup
of news, also sent out on a memory stick
with equipment on which to play it.
The service is free. Just call John Kitson
on 01953 498609.
10 Meet Gill and Steph, your Breckland
food safety officers
11 Sportivate: take part and win
Aged between 14-15? Amazon
vouchers to be won!
12 Peter Andre makes Ellie’s dream
come true
12 Breckland Pride on display
13 Breckland Older People’s Forum
13 Fly-tippers beware!
A recent prosecution shows we will
take action against illegal dumping
15 Dangerous illegal alcohol on sale
15 Computer classes for beginners
16 Street party workshops
16 What’s On in Breckland
Important Notice. Breckland Council has
been made aware that Royal Mail has
delivered leaflets alongside its magazine. In
some cases the leaflets have been physically
placed within the magazine leading to the
impression that they have been issued by
the Council. The Council wishes to assure
residents that the leaflets have no
association with the Council and an official
complaint has been made to Royal Mail.
Environmentally friendly.
Breckland Voice is printed on FSC
accredited paper which is sourced
from specially sustained and
managed forests. Please remember to
recycle your Breckland Voice.
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 65687
followed by 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
Share
your
jubilee
memories
with us!
How did you
celebrate past
jubilees?
Our memories festival will create
an archive to pass on to future
generations and we need your help
to build an exhibition of memories,
stories, pictures and songs from the
past 60 years to celebrate the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee.
If you are a community group, school, or
individual of any age and would like to
take part, or if you have any memorabilia
that we could borrow or copy please
contact Laura Apps-Green on 01362
656870 or email laura.apps-green@
breckland.gov.uk
Bill Turnbull and Lynda Turner, Executive Member for Localism, Community
and Environmental Awareness.
Breckland’s first Book
Festival is a best seller!
Breckland’s very first Book Festival,
featuring over thirty separate literary
events, has proved to be a bestseller with
residents of all ages. Approaching 1,000
visitors have enjoyed words of wonder,
wit and wisdom this Autumn from a truly
inspirational selection of authors and
celebrities.
The line up of events and workshops
featured nationally recognised names such
as Wendy Cope, Louis De Bernieres, Salley
Vickers and Naomi Woods. We also
welcomed national cricketing treasure,
Henry Blofeld as well as BBC’s Bill Turnbull,
who delighted audiences with hilarious
tales of his trials and tribulations as an
amateur bee-keeper.
At the launch event in October, acclaimed
author Louis De Bernieres gave listeners a
fascinating insight into the process of
writing, and explained:
“… It’s like an itch that you just have to
scratch. I get an idea that will niggle at me
until I begin. If I don’t write I get very
bad-tempered”.
Lynda Turner, our Executive Member for
Localism, Community and Environmental
Services spoke at the launch event. She is a
keen book-lover and said;
“Although we live in a very modern
technological age, and even I have a kindle,
I believe there is still nothing as comforting
as curling up in a chair with a book,
newspaper, magazine or comic, and
actually reading – feeling the paper,
smelling the print, turning the pages –
whilst supporting our local libraries”.
The Festival, which included talks from a
wide range of genres including adult and
children’s fiction, poetry, natural history
and popular science, was organised and
funded by Breckland in partnership with
Norwich Arts Centre and the Library
Service.
The Adult Creative Writing workshops,
where would-be authors learned tips of the
trade from experienced writers, were well
attended. Perhaps the Festival has nurtured
a new generation of writers!
2 Breckland Voice January/February 2012 3

East Anglian Air
Ambulance talks
and presentations
The East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) is
offering the chance for members of the
public to get up close and personal with
the fundraisers of this life-saving charity.
Talks and presentations are available to
anyone who would like to hear how the
EAAA operates and how East Anglia has
benefitted from operating an air
ambulance service.
With Norfolk communities being
wonderfully supportive towards the cause,
the charity believes it is appropriate to
inform the public of what they do.
It may be surprising to hear that these
major developments have been achieved
without any Government or National
Lottery funding and that the EAAA are
entirely funded by the generous people of
Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and
Bedfordshire.
It currently costs over £4.2 million per year
to keep their vital service flying. This
equates to every person in the four
counties that the EAAA covers paying a
little over a pound a year, to keep their
essential service flying.
However, with aviation costs rising and our
wish to further expand the service they
provide, the way they create awareness for
our cause has never been more important.
This is why they are offering to visit
businesses, organisations, schools, clubs or
any social groups that may be interested in
having a speaker from the East Anglian Air
Ambulance.
For more information about talks from
East Anglian Air Ambulance representatives,
please call Olly Larkin, the Norwich and
North Norfolk Deputy Fundraising
Co-ordinator for the EAAA, on 01603
489406.
New sunbed
rules come
into effect
Businesses in Breckland that allow
under-18s to use sunbeds risk being
fined up to £20,000 under new
legislation.
Our health and safety team will be
joining forces with Norfolk County
Council Trading Standards to carry out
inspections of premises with sunbeds.
The new Sunbeds (Regulation) Act 2010
came into effect on 8 April 2011 and
stops young people using sunbeds in
places including salons, gyms and hotels.
Principal Environmental Health Officer,
Sarah Shipley explains: “We will be
inspecting premises which provide
sunbeds for general public use to make
sure they are complying with the new
law. We sent out information earlier in
the year to all relevant businesses to
make sure they are aware of the new
legislation and understand their legal
requirements.”
The new requirements place duties on
business operators or persons carrying
on a sunbed business including the
provision for use, supply, sale or hire of
tanning equipment.
While the main focus of the new
legislation is to protect young people, it
also requires sun bed operators to
provide more advice and protection for
adults. The use of coin-operated
sunbeds in unmanned sunbed shops will
be banned.
British Film Festival 2012
Date Film Venue
Following the success of the first film festival in 2010, Breckland Council has once
again joined forces with Creative Arts East’s community cinema scheme, Village
Screen, to host a British Film Festival this March.
With 2012 set to be a big year of celebration for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and
the London Olympics, the British Film Festival will celebrate the diversity of British
films from the 1950s to the present day.
If you require any further details on the festival, please contact Sam Dawson, Arts
Development Officer on 01362 656870 or sam.dawson@breckland.gov.uk
Tickets priced at £3 each
(For Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, £3 entry after 2pm. Museum admission charges apply before 2pm)
4 Breckland Voice January/February 2012 5
Saturday
3 March
Wednesday
14 March
Saturday
17 March
Saturday
17 March
Sunday
18 March
Sunday
18 March
Friday
23 March
Saturday
24 March
Sunday
25 March
Withnail
and I
Tinker Tailor
Soldier Spy
The Lavender
Hill Mob
Jane Eyre
The Railway
Children
Is Anybody
There?
The Pink
Panther
Wallace & Gromit:
The Curse
of the Were-Rabbit
Murder on the
Orient Express
Shropham Village Hall,
Rocklands Road,
Shropham NR17 1DU
Garboldisham Village Hall,
Church Road, Garboldisham,
Diss IP22 2SE
Hockham Village Hall,
Harling Road,
Great Hockham IP24 1NT
Tittleshall Village Hall,
High Street,
Tittleshall PE32 2PJ
Gressenhall Farm
and Workhouse, Gressenhall,
Dereham NR20 4DR
East Tuddenham Jubilee Hall,
Mattishall Road, East Tuddenham,
Dereham NR20 3LR
Beachamwell Memorial Hall,
The Green,
Beachamwell PE37 8BB
Garvestone & Thuxton Village Hall,
Dereham Road,
Garvestone NR9 4AD
New Buckenham Village Hall,
Moat Lane,
New Buckenham NR16 2AU
Start
Time
7.30pm
Booking
Details
Tel: 01953 498751
Tel: 01953 498389
Tickets also available at
Shropham Social Club
7.30pm Tel: 01953 681416
7.30pm
Tel: 01953 498447
Email: boxoffice@
greathockham.org
Tickets also available from
the Eagle Pub, Hockham
Other
Information
Doors: 7pm
Licensed bar
Doors: 7pm
Licensed bar
Doors: 7pm
7.30pm Tel: 01328 700952 Doors: 7pm
2.15pm Tel: 01362 869251 Doors: 2pm
7.30pm
8pm
3pm
6pm
Tel: 01603 880774
Tel: 01603 880050
Tel: 01366 328244
Tel: 01366 328565
Tel: 01362 850798
Other ticket outlets: Post office
at Garvestone & Thuxton
Village Hall. Open Mondays &
Thursdays 9am – 12.30pm
Tel: 01953 861114
King’s Store, Kings Street,
New Buckenham
Tel: 01953 860713
Tickets also available
on the door
Doors: 7pm
Licensed bar
‘Real’ popcorn
and hotdogs
Doors: 7.30pm
Themed costumes
– dress the part!
Bring a cushion
Doors: 2.30pm
Refreshments
available
Doors: 5.30pm
Licensed bar and
refreshments
available

Dance at Litcham High School
dance studio this new year!
Move It Breckland
8-11 years / Thursdays 3.45pm-4.30pm
A creative dance group for young people who like making their own
moves! Participants will learn to develop choreographic skills and
creativity through movement as well as learning some contemporary
technique. This group will suit young people who enjoy being
creative, listening to all sorts of music and working with others.
Adult Beginners Contemporary Breckland
16+ / Thursdays 6.15pm-7.30pm
Refreshing and invigorating sessions with emphasis on ease and
effectiveness of movement. Build flexibility and strength through exercises
and choreographed sequences. Gentle pace - suitable for beginners or
those wishing to work more slowly and methodically.
All classes will be held at Litcham High School Dance Studio.
Cost: The cost for the term will be £40 for the adults’ class and £25 for the
children’s classes (10 weeks). Term dates: The term dates are Thursday 12 January –
Thursday 22 March (excluding half term week 16 February) Tutor: Laura McGill.
To book please call Norfolk Dance on 01603 283399.
Move On Breckland
12-16 years
Thursdays 4.45pm-6pm
A committed group with a focus on
contemporary technique and
choreography. Participants will explore a
range of themes and ideas through
sequences and choreographic tasks,
whilst working on their performance
skills. This group would suit anyone who
enjoys being creative through dance.
Exciting opportunity to be part of a
community dance performance!
Norfolk Dance will be creating a new
outdoor site-specific intergenerational
dance piece in the Breckland area.
We are currently looking for people who
are interested in being involved in this
exciting new venture. Rehearsals will take
place in February and March with a
performance in April.
If you are interested in being part of a new
group to create and perform an original
dance piece regardless of your age or
experience please contact Laura McGill on
01603 283399 or email laura@
norfolkdance.co.uk
Freestyle February
half term art activities
Activity Mon 13 Feb Tues 14 Feb Thurs 16 Feb Fri 17 Feb
Family Percussion
and Drumming
10am - 12 noon
Cartoon Creatures
1.30pm - 3.30pm
Swaffham
Community Centre
Contact:
Don Saunders
01953 880175
Swaffham
Community Centre
Contact:
Don Saunders
01953 880175
Family Drumming Sessions
For reception age children and upwards.
£2 per child (free admission for Thetford
Library workshop). These workshops are fun
and fully inclusive! Learn about pulse, tempo
and dynamics through playing beats, games
and rhythms from around the world. No
experience necessary. A drumming and
percussion session for all the family!
Cartoon Creatures
For reception age to 11 years old.
£2 per child. If you have ever wanted to
know how to put the “Ooh” into ‘Scooby’
It’s holiday time again, and
the Breckland Freestyle
Sports team will
be out and about delivering more fun
sports based activities for children
across the district to take part in.
The sessions, which are for children
between five and ten years old cost £2 a
child and include activities ranging from
quick-cricket to dodgeball, rounders to
athletics. Parents can drop off the
children or stay and watch. If
you intend to leave your child you must
have completed a consent form. Children
must wear loose comfortable clothing
Thetford Library
(10.30am – 12 noon)
Contact:
01842 752048
Old Buckenham
Primary School
Contact:
Alex Hunter
01953 860233 Ext 252
and the “Ahh!” into ‘Bambi’, come along to
this wildlife based workshop and find out
how to draw cartoons and animal
caricatures! We will then create habitats for
your creatures, photograph them and send
you the pictures! You can also make a sketch
pad to take home to turn into your very
own comic book! Places are limited, so
booking is recommended. We also ask that
parents stay with their children throughout
the session.
Dereham Church
Infants School
Contact:
Helen Fletcher
07900 607963
Dereham Church
Infants School
Contact:
Helen Fletcher
07900 607963
Activity Weds 15 Feb Thurs 16 Feb
Thetford Street
Dance Classes
11am - 1pm
Abbey Neighbourhood
Centre
2pm - 4pm
Meet Up Café,
Red Castle Furze
Community Centre
Half term sports activities
and bring a drink to avoid dehydration. Parental
Consent Forms are now available to download
from the Breckland Council website so, if you want
to print one off, complete it and bring it along.
11.30 – 1pm
Thetford
Carnegie Rooms
Watton Sports Centre
Contact:
Don Saunders
01953 880175
Watton Sports Centre
Contact:
Don Saunders
01953 880175
1.30pm – 3pm
Thetford
Carnegie Rooms
Street Dance Classes
For 11 – 16 years. £2.50 per person.
This fun and exciting class is designed for
those with a limited dancing background
and will teach the basic skills of the hip-hop
style. Improve your skills and gain
confidence as you learn the latest moves to
your favourite hip-hop tracks. Dance classes
led by Bonnie Boslem. Classes can be
booked by calling Norfolk Dance on
01603 283399. www.norfolkdance.co.uk.
Date 10am – 12pm 1pm – 3pm
Mon 13 Feb Mundford Village Hall Great Hockham Village Hall
Tues 14 Feb Swanton Morley Village Hall* Yaxham Village Hall*
Weds 15 Feb Ashill Community Centre Necton Community Centre
Thurs 16 Feb Attleborough Sports Hall Kenninghall Memorial Hall
Fri 17 Feb East Harling Great Hockham Village Hall
*Note:10.30am and 13.30pm starts in Swanton Morley and Yaxham respectively
6 Breckland Voice January/February 2012 7

Breckland’s torch relay
Helping you to celebrate London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games
In light of the disappointing news that
the London 2012 Olympic flame will
not be travelling through our district,
Breckland Council’s Sports and Arts
development teams, in partnership with
several of our local sports clubs, schools,
town and parish councils are aiming to
make sure that this doesn’t mean we
have to miss out on all the fun. So we
have decided to collectively stage our
very own Breckland Torch Relay 2012!
And what’s more, we are offering
community groups a chance to get
financial assistance to help celebrate with
us on our way around the district!
Shape the route!
We are offering a 2012 celebratory grant
scheme to help our communities stage
celebratory events inspired by London
2012 that will shape the route our torch
takes, as it winds it’s way through our 5
market towns and surrounding areas.
Starting on 17 June former Olympian,
Paul Evans, will run the first leg at the
Breckland Village Games in Watton,
finishing on 22 July, where it will make
the final leg of it’s journey at the
Dereham 5K Road Race.
The dates that the Breckland Torch will
travel through each market town and
surrounding area are set our below.
Groups applying to stage activities must
hold events within the week that the
torch plans to move through their specific
area as pictured in the map.
• Watton: 17 - 24 June
• Attleborough: 24 June - 1 July
• Thetford: 1 - 8 July
• Swaffham: 8 - 15 July
• Dereham: 15 - 22 July
If you’re a community group within the
Breckland area and want to celebrate
London 2012 by holding an event,
workshop or activity, apply for a grant
today! And equally if you are simply
interested in taking part in the relay
get in touch.
Dates Torch Relay visiting the area
● Red = 17 – 24 June
● Yellow = 24 June – 1 July
● Green = 1 – 8 July
● Purple = 8 – 15 July
Colkirk
● Blue = 15 – 22 July
Oxborough
Narborough
Narford
Beachamwell
Gooderstone
Foulden
Cranwich
Didlington Ickburgh
Mundford
Weeting
with Broomhill
South
Acre
Weasenham
All Saints
Rougham
Swaffham
Cockley Cley
Newton
Hilborough
Weasenham
St. Peter
Wellingham
East
Lexham
North
Pickenham
South
Pickenham
Great
Cressingham
Thetford
Litcham
Kempstone
Great
Beeston
Dunham
Little
Dunham
Sporle with
Redgrave
Lynford
Stanford
Necton
Ashill
Little
Cressingham
Sturston
Tottington
Croxton
Tittleshall
Holme
Hale
Saham
Toney
Fransham
Merton
Wretham
Kilverstone
Brettenham
Mileham
Watton
How to apply
For full details of this grant scheme and
an application form, please go to www.
breckland.gov.uk/category/department/
communities/festival-breckland or
contact Sam Dawson or Stefan Clifford
on 01362 656870.
Whissonsett
Horningtoft
Thompson
Griston
Stow Bedon
Hockham
Roudham
Bridgham
Gateley
Brisley
Stanfield
Bittering
Longham
Beetley
Gressenhall
Wending
Bradenham
Ovington
Scarning
Carbrooke
Caston
North
Elham
Shipdham
Harling
Riddlesworth
Shropham
Larling
Hoe
Cranworth
Scoulton
Guist
Snetterton
Twyford
Bintree
Billingford
Dereham
Garboldisham
Swanton
Morely
Yaxham
Whinburgh
Little
Ellingham
Great
Ellingham
Rocklands
Quidenham
& Eccles
Blo’
Norton
Foxley
Bawdeswell
Bylaugh
Garvestone
Elsing
North
Tuddenham
Mattishall
Hardingham
Attleborough
Kenninghall
North
Lopham
South
Lopham
Sparham
Lyng
Banham
Hockering
East
Tuddenham
Besthorpe
Old Buckenham
New
Buckenham
Become a sports
coach in 2012
With the London Olympics only 7
months away, we are opening up a new
Sports Coach Development Bursary
scheme to complement our 2012
initiatives, and raise the quality of
coaching and volunteering within our
clubs across the district.
We want to help fund aspiring Breckland
based coaches with 75% (up to £300) of
their total course costs in our priority
sports, and 50% (up to £150) in bursaries
for all other sports.
We want to develop people who are
prepared to work with us to deliver our
Sportivate and holiday activity programmes
in a variety of sports
ranging from Dodgeball
to Archery. If you receive
a bursary it will be on the condition
that you deliver 6 hours of
coaching for us free of charge.
The “Priority sports” that we will fund
75% of fees (up to £300) are:
• Basketball • Tennis
• Dodgeball • Archery
• Gymnastics • Table Tennis
• Badminton • Squash
Whilst the coaching course you would like
to attend might be taking place later in the
year, the closing date for all applications is
March 10th 2012. For further details on
the scheme and to download an
application form please visit www.
breckland.gov.uk/Coachdevelopment
or contact Stefan Clifford on 01362
656870 or email stefan.clifford
@breckland.gov.uk
Want to coach Dodgeball?
Want to play Basketball?
Coach Dodgeball
We are hosting a UKDBA Dodgeball Level
2 coaching course at Attleborough Sports
Hall on Friday17 February, 9.30am - 5pm.
Participants must be 18 years or over,
and the course fee is £100.
However, if you are prepared to offer six
hours of free coaching, you could qualify
for a £75 grant towards the total cost of
the course (see coach development grant
scheme above).
Anyone interested in getting qualified to
coach this new and exciting sport should
email stefan.clifford@breckland.gov.uk
or call 01362 656870.
Active Norfolk will be holding their annual
coach development week in the Easter
Holidays this year at Easton College,
Norwich, and Kings Lynn’s, Lynnsport.
For information on all the courses please
go to www.activenorfolk.org/
coachedweek
Play Basketball
Attleborough High School Basketball
Academy is holding a 2 day training
camp on the Monday 13 and Tuesday
14 February in Attleborough Sports Hall
between 10am and 3pm.
The 2 day course costs £28 and each
participant receives a free t-shirt. Open to
all children from 8-18 years old.
The Academy is open every Saturday.
Juniors train from 9-12pm and adults train
from 12-2pm. Please contact Levy Utku at
Attleborough High School on 01953
452335 to book a place or for more
information.
8 Breckland Voice January/February 2012 9

Catering for your
training needs
The Food Safety Team is responsible for
ensuring that all food sold in Breckland
is clean and safe for the consumer to
eat. Any premises which stores, prepares,
produces, cooks or sells food must
comply with strict hygiene standards.
The Team provide food safety training to
ensure that there is excellent food hygiene
practices and culinary skills in Breckland.
Courses currently on offer include Level 2
Food Safety Award, a Refresher course and
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical
Control Point) Training Course.
The training will enable employees who
handle food to gain a firm grasp of the
importance of food safety systems,
techniques and the procedures involved,
an appreciation of food safety hazards and
“It was very useful that the course
was taught by the actual
inspectors as I received a lot
more relevant information than on
a previous food hygiene courses
I have attended. A very good
course, informative and fun.”
“I think this was a well-prepared
course. Thank you.”
the confidence and expertise to deliver
food safely to customers.
Since we began providing training in 2001,
over 4,000 food hygiene certificates have
been awarded. Training is provided across
Norfolk, with two key facilities, one in
Dereham and the other in Thetford. All
courses can also be held at businesses
own premises if needed.
Courses can be booked by telephone on
01362 656870 or at one of our Customer
Service Centres.
For further information and course dates,
please contact the team on 01362
656870 or visit the website www.
breckland.gov.uk/environmentalhealth
Customer testimonials
“Although I’ve done Food Safety
courses previously, it was really
good to refresh on this information
as its easy to forget things and
become complacent. Really well
presented. Thoroughly enjoyable.”
“Thank you for an informative
and enjoyable day on a subject
that I did not think could be
made that interesting!”
Food Safety
Comes First
Training
Breckland Council makes
food safety easy…
www.breckland.gov.uk/content/
food-hygiene-training
or call 01362 656870
Meet your
Breckland
food safety
trainers
Gill Rosindell
A Chartered Environmental Health
Practitioner, with a wealth of practical
experience in food safety and occupational
health & safety derived from a 30 year
career working for city/rural/coastal and
port health authorities
Stephanie Waterman
An Associate Member of the Chartered
Institute of Environmental Health with a
wide range of practical experience in food
safety derived from a 16 year career
working for city and rural local authorities.
Sportivate: Aged 14-25?
Get active with friends and
win a £30 Amazon voucher!
We are pleased to offer our second round
of Sportivate courses for January to April
2012. With funding secured from the
Sport England legacy fund, we are
working in partnership with Parkwood
Leisure and local schools to offer sports
activities with an added bonus.
This term we are offering archery, hulahooping,
badminton, swimming, spinning
and dodgeball so with all this choice there
should be something for everyone. What’s
more there is an added bonus. Each course
comes with a £30 incentive; every
participant who attends five out of the six
course sessions, will be entered into a prize
draw to win a £30 Amazon voucher!
Pictured above are some 6th form students
from Attleborough High School who
recently took part in a six week hula-
hooping course. The lucky winner of the
voucher Rachel Hughes said: “Sportivate is
brilliant, I have never been particularly
sporty, but hula-hooping is something that
just sounded like it might be fun. I went to
the first session and never looked back!
To think that I have found myself a
completely new activity, made new friends
AND won myself a £30 voucher seems a
little bizarre – but in a good way. Everyone
14-25 should give Sportivate a go… what
have you got to lose?”
All Sportivate courses are run informally
and offer a chance for you to get a few
friends together and try something you
might not usually do. And you don’t
necessarily need to be sporty – our
spinning and hula-hooping courses offer
you the chance to get a little exercise
whilst cycling or dancing to music, our
dodgeball course offers you the chance to
really let off steam with friends in a fun
and safe environment. Archery will test
your aim, whilst swimming is both
therapeutic and aerobic.
With all these benefits it seems crazy not
to sign up! For more information please
visit www.breckland.gov.uk/sportivate for
more information on the courses we offer.
To book onto a course, please call the
numbers in the table. Participants will need
to complete a registration form on arrival
at their first session. We look forward to
seeing you at a Sportivate session soon.
To book a course please see contact details
below.
Venue Activity Day Date & Time Booking
10 Breckland Voice January/February 2012 11
Dereham
Leisure
Centre
Thetford
Leisure
Centre
Swaffham
Leisure
Centre
Swaffham
Community Centre
Attleborough
High School
Watton
High School
Archery Fridays 20 Jan - 10 Feb / 4.00-5.30pm
Spinning Wednesdays 22 Feb - 28 Mar / 5.00-5.45pm
Swimming Saturday 25 Feb - 31 Mar / 3.00-4.00pm
Dodge Ball Fridays 24 Feb - 30 Mar / 4.30-5.30pm
Swimming Thursdays 23 Feb - 29 Mar / 5.00-6.00pm
Hula Hooping Fridays 24 Feb-30 Mar / 4.30-5.30pm
Archery Tuesdays 6 Mar - 27 Mar / 4.15-5.45pm
Spinning Mondays 20 Feb - 26 Mar / 6.00-7.00pm
Archery Fridays 24h Feb - 30 Mar / 5.00-6.00pm
Badminton Saturdays 25 Feb - 31 Mar / 10.30-11.30am
Dodgeball Monday 5 Mar - 19 Mar / 7.00-9.00pm
DodgeBall Tuesdays 21 Feb - 27 Mar / 4.00-5.00pm
Hula Hooping Fridays 20 Jan - 10 Feb / 4.00-5.30pm
Swanton Morley Hula Hooping Saturday 25 Feb - 24 Mar / 10.15-11.30am
Dereham Leisure
Centre Reception:
01362 693419
Thetford Leisure
Centre Reception:
01842 753110
Swaffham Leisure
Centre Reception:
01760 724046
Sally-Ann Palmer:
01760722800
Levy Utku:
01953 452335
Emily Harper:
01953 881514
Helen Denny:
07919568210

Ellie and her family pictured with Peter Andre backstage at his recent
Norfolk Showground concert. Photo supplied by www.ido-photography.co.uk
Peter Andre makes
‘Child of Courage’
Ellie’s dream come true
National pop star and Jungle celebrity
Peter Andre made a Norfolk schoolgirl’s
dreams come true. Courageous 14 year
old Ellie Loades from Colkirk was
introduced to her idol backstage, after
attending his concert at the Norfolk
Showground last year.
Ellie said: “It was really amazing to meet
him – he’s my idol. In ‘Peter Andre; My Life’
he is really nice and down to earth and he’s
just the same in real life”.
Earlier this year the plucky youngster, who
attends Fakenham High School, was a
runner-up in the Pride in Breckland Awards
‘Child of Courage’ category.
Despite suffering from cystic fibrosis, Ellie is
a regular at her local drama group, taking
part in productions as well as helping out
with scenery, costumes and props.
At the Awards Ceremony, all Child of
Courage nominees were presented with a
gift; Ellie’s was a signed photo of her hero,
Peter Andre, and this currently takes pride
of place on display in her bedroom. Her
father, Nick was declared the overall
winner on the night in recognition of the
selfless care he provides for both his
daughter and his wife, who is has multiple
sclerosis and is wheelchair bound.
Ellie will be able to re-live her special
evening, as cameras were rolling
throughout the evening for the ITV2 hit
reality series ‘Peter Andre; My Life’.
The next Pride in Breckland Awards
will be in 2013, keep an eye out for
nomination forms on
www.breckland.gov.uk
Pride on
display!
Our Pride in Breckland initiative is a
fantastic campaign with the community
at its heart. It aims to create a cleaner,
greener and safer district for our residents
and future generations.
Now into its fifth year, the campaign is going
from strength to strength with hundreds of
residents, partners and volunteers taking part
in environmental and community events
throughout the year. Many successful projects
have already been delivered as part of the
Campaign, the aim of which is to develop a
sense of respect and ownership of our
environment and improve the quality of life
for all in the district.
Most recently this has supported our 12
days of Giving Scheme which assisted with
the staging of a whole variety of events over
the festive period that raised money for
good causes or simply recognised the
generosity that is displayed within our
community throughout the year. Other
successful applications have included
funding to stage renewable energy days,
community clean ups and computer literacy
education programs for the elderly that
have been rolled out in the most rural areas
of the district.
Breckland in Bloom
Spring is in the air and we would like to
receive applications from people who want
to take part in Breckland in Bloom. If you
are a community group or a member of a
Town or Parish council, apply for funding
today to help with the cost of creating floral
displays in your village or town.
For 2012 we would like to see a particular
focus on red, white and blue colours that are
synonymous with this year’s London
Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
For further information contact the Pride
Team on 01362 656870.
Breckland Older
People’s Forum
The Breckland Older People’s Forum is an
independent information, campaigning
and consultative group. With free
membership, once you join you will be
on a mailing list to get news and details
about all relevant activities. You will also
be welcome to attend open meetings to
get information, advice and have your
say on matters that affect you.
Grandparents get a new
voice online
A new social network has been set up for
the UK’s grandparents. Gransnet, from the
creators of Mumsnet, is a forum-based
website aimed at the older generation.
The site gives the country’s 14 million
grandparents an online space to discuss
A 24 year old man pleaded guilty at
Norwich Magistrate’s Court for flytipping
offences, which he carried out
on Croxton Heath.
He pleaded guilty to fly-tipping a
mattress, a fridge, a kitchen table, a sofa,
a wooden cabinet, a coffee table, four
kitchen chairs, a snooker table, four
subjects including relationships, hobbies,
news, culture and grandparenting.
Your Human Rights –
A Guide for Older People
There is little information available about
human rights and how they relate to older
people. Too often a person may not realise
that they are able to do something about
their situation, or even that there is
something wrong with the way they are
being treated. It is vital that older people
are able to access information about their
human rights so they can challenge poor
treatment and demand better services.
Funded by Comic Relief and produced by
Age UK the updated British Institute of
Human Rights (BIHR) “Guide on Older
Watch out: we will
prosecute fly-tippers!
dining chairs, one easy chair, four black
bags containing clothing, a Hoover vacuum
cleaner, a black office chair and a television
cabinet.
He was fined £400 and ordered to pay
£500 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
He was caught after a vigilant resident saw
his van reversing up a narrow track at
Croxton Heath. He thought the van looked
suspicious and was so concerned that he
wrote down the number plate and reported
it to the Council. These prosecutions
People and Human Rights” is now available
online www.bihr.org.uk/documents/guides
/a-guide-for-older-people-2nd-edition
Age UK Norfolk News
Age UK Norfolk provides information and
advice about older people’s entitlements
and benefits. In the last 12 months they
have made 868 home visits and reviewed
the benefits of 541 people. They helped
517 people to complete Attendance
Allowance applications and 80 Disability
Living Allowance applications.
They also assisted people to claim Pension
Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit
and Carers Allowance, so helping to get
over £1.5 million extra in benefits for
Norfolk’s Older People. The service is free
and confidential to all by contacting
01603 767111 between 10am and 4pm.
Breckland Older People’s Forum AGM will
be held on Tuesday 27 March at the
Ecotech Centre, Swaffham from 10am.
The theme of the event is Energy – cut
your energy bills, save money by saving
energy, get information and advice from
experts in person.
Everyone is welcome
If you wish to stand for a position as a
Trustee please contact Laura Apps-Green.
For further information about the Older
People’s Forum please telephone 01362
656870 or email laura.apps-green@
breckland.gov.uk
demonstrate that the council will continue
to use enforcement action to tackle fly
tipping. Cleaning up after fly-tippers costs
the council and local landowners
thousands of pounds each year and
damages our precious green countryside.
The council will not tolerate that, and we
will prosecute offenders. We would like to
thank those who brought this crime to our
attention and we would encourage others
to report environmental offences so that
we can take action.
12 Breckland Voice January/February 2012 13

Warning over
illegal spirit
A national alert has been issued to warn
shoppers of illicit vodka that is ‘potentially
damaging to health’. Bottles of the illegal
spirit, ‘Drop Vodka 70cl’, have been found on
sale at outlets throughout the UK in a
number of towns and cities including
Norwich, typically in small independent
retailers such as corner shops and garages.
The Food Standards Agency has warned
that the liquor contains Propan-2-ol and
other substances which can be potentially
damaging to health.
We are working with our businesses to
protect the public and ensure that this
potentially dangerous vodka is removed from
sale. Our officers have written to Breckland
businesses to notify them of this hazard and
will be helping proprietors check stocks and
identify any rogue items. Lack of information
on labelling means that it has not been
possible at this stage to identify the
manufacturer, or to trace its distribution.
The main distinctive marks by which the spirit
can be identified are:
• The Duty stamp does not fluoresce under
UV light.
• The duty reference on the illicit bottles
A000000000618 belongs to Glen Catrine
Bonded Warehouse Ltd. Drop Vodka is not
a Glen Catrine product.
• The barcode 0123456789 is not valid.
• No spirit manufacturers lot number on
bottle.
• No manufacturers name and address shown.
• Front and rear labels are self-adhesive.
• Bottles show bottle made by ‘Ol glassware’.
• The general print quality of the labels is poor.
For further information, contact Breckland’s
Food Safety Team on 01362 656870.
Computer class for
total beginners
A computer class aimed at complete
beginners launched last year has gone
from strength to strength.
Tom Lewis, from Little Fransham, started
the ball rolling when he approached Pride
in Breckland to support a joint project with
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service.
Each time he carried out a Home Fire
Safety Check or fitted a fire alarm the Pride
in Breckland initiative gave £10 towards a
community project. The project to benefit
from the fund that Tom accumulated was a
new computer class for absolute beginners
aimed at people over the age of 50.
Tutors, Bryan Darnell and Steve Blake, teach
students how to log on, edit text and
format pages, how to use the web and basic
web security. Mr Lewis said: “If you are 50 or
over and have zero or very little experience
when it comes to using a computer and the
internet then this is the computer class for
you. At the end of the ten week period you
will amaze yourself at what you can do and
discover on a computer”.
Pride in Breckland has loaned the group 7
laptops and a wireless printer, which has
helped to keep the cost of the courses
down.
The cost of a ten week course is £50 and
the courses have proved to be so popular
that tutors, Bryan and Steve, have had to
extend their tuition across the district.
Courses will be held at the following
locations:
• Wendling Village Hall on Mondays
10am – 12pm from 13 February 2012.
• Bob Carter Court, Mattishall on
Tuesday 1pm – 3pm from 14
February 2012.
• Church House, St Nicholas Church,
Dereham on Thursday 10am – 12pm
from 16 February 2012.
• Longham Village Hall on Saturday
10am – 12pm from 18 February 2012.
There are a limited number of spaces
available so please call as early as possible
to book your place. Call Bryan or Steve on
01362 850130 or 01362 695388.
14 Breckland Voice January/February 2012 15

What’s on in Breckland
Beginning 17 January, 7.30 - 10.30pm
MODERN JIVE CLASS
Every Tuesday. Suitable for all levels of
experience. Dereham Memorial Hall For
more information, tel 01362 655122.
Thursday 26 January, 10.30am - 11.30am
MINI MUSEUM CLUB: SNOW AND FROST
Under 5’s event. 50p per child including
museum admission. Come and join us to
sing, explore and play together in the
Ancient House. Find out about cold weather
through stories and song, create your own
snowflake and snow globe to take home.
29 January, 3pm
‘THE ART OF DIPLOMACY AND THE
REMINISCENCES OF AN AMBASSADOR’
Swaffham Assembly Rooms. Sir Richard
Parsons. Enquiries 01366 328648
Monday 13 - Friday 17 February, 10am - 4pm
I LOVE GRESSENHALL
Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse. Do you
know Mr Valentine? Come along to find
out more about this Norfolk character.
Follow the trail to collect clues about him,
create your own ‘Mr Valentine’ in Art Attack
and check out some of our collection of
Valentine objects. Standard Museum
admission prices apply. There is an
addition charge for Art Attack! 50p for pass
holders & £1.00 for other visitors.
Wednesday 15 February, 11am - 2pm
TOYS AND GAMES FAMILY EVENT
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!
Street Party workshops
2012 is a perfect year to celebrate
being part of your community with the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the 2012
Olympics being hosted in London. We
would like to encourage large streets
and small cul de sacs to come together
and hold a street party involving as
many people as possible.
We are holding a number of street party
workshops to provide support and advice
to help you plan the perfect event!
Come and discover what toys and games
people enjoyed in the past. Try your hand
at Tudor skittles and Royal coits. Make your
own Victorian toy to take home with you.
£1 or 50p for Friends and Museum Pass
Holders (includes museum admission).
Friday 17 February, 11am - 2pm
HOUSE ALIVE! TUDOR TIMES
Free. Join our costumed characters, The
Thetford Treasures, to find out about the
first people who lived in the Ancient House.
Handle real Tudor objects and try your
hand at using a Jetton board.
Wednesday 15 February, 11am – 2pm
TOYS AND GAMES
Come and discover what toys and games
people enjoyed in the past. Try your hand
at Tudor skittles and Royal coits. Make your
own Victorian toy to take home with you.
Ancient House Museum, White Hart St,
Thetford. For more information please call
01842 752599.
Saturday 25 February, 7.30pm
THE EDMUND OCTET
Gentlemen singing a wide range of music,
ranging from Mozart to jazz. Tickets £5 at
the door. The United Reform Church, Earls
Street, Thetford.
Friday 2 March, 7-11pm
RED CARD COMEDY CLUB
For more information tel 01603 219034
Dereham Memorial Hall, Dereham.
Please come along, to book your place
please call Laura Apps-Green on
01362 656870 or email laura.Appsgreen@breckland.gov.uk
Next workshops will be held:
• Tuesday 24 January, 6pm – 8.30pm
at Little Ellingham Old Hall School
• Monday 6 February, 6pm – 8.30pm
at Longham Village Hall
Thursday 8 March, 10:00am
OXBURGH HALL VOLUNTEER
RECRUITMENT DAY
Oxburgh Hall needs you! Price: No
Additional charges. Oxburgh Hall,
Oxborough, PE33 9PS. Tel: 01366 328258
Sunday 11 March, 12.00pm
OXBURGH HALL ‘POT A PANSY’ DAY
Make a gift for Mum. Price: Child £0.50
(per pot). Oxburgh Hall, Oxborough, PE33
9PS. Tel: 01366 328258
Thursday 23 February, 10.30am - 11.30am
MINI MUSEUM CLUB: TEDDY BEAR’S PICNIC
Under 5’s event. 50p per child including
museum admission. Come and join us to
sing, explore and play together in the
Ancient House. Bring your teddy along too!
Tuesday 20 March, 2.30pm to 3.30pm
FREDERICK SAVAGE OF KING’S LYNN:
THE VICTORIAN STEAM & FAIRGROUND
RIDE ENGINEER
Talk £3 (includes museum admission). Free
for Friends and Museum Pass Holders
Join Tim Thorpe, Collections Officer to find
out about Frederick Savage and the Lynn
Mart. Advanced booking essentia, places
limited. To book please call 01842 752599.