Homelessness
Both local and national bodies are offering advice to anyone concerned about their housing situation, whether they’re close to losing their home or starting to worry as bills rise.
In Norfolk, the Norfolk Community Advice Network (NCAN) run a helpline open 10am-4pm Monday to Friday on 0333 996 8333, and can be reached by email on helpline@ncan.co.uk
Advice and support is also available from the national foundation Shelter: anyone in Norfolk can call 0808 800 4444, open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am-5pm on weekends and bank holidays.
Alternatively visit their website for support at england.shelter.org.uk/get_help
For those concerned with rising bills and the cost of living, the Norfolk Assistance Scheme remains open, offering support for those in financial hardship across the county. Find out more, including how to apply, www.norfolk.gov.uk/nas or call 0344 800 8020.
For other assistance and support through the winter, Norfolk residents can visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/wintersupport
Winter Planning
Planning work is co-ordinated by an NCC internal working group and who work with external partners including the NHS. Storm Arwen caused considerable disruption in parts of the country in 2021 and the Scottish government has published a series of useful reports on the lessons to be learned. Like other local authorities NCC are reviewing contingency plans in light of those reports. As we approach the peak winter weather season, the county council has put some advice on its website, so that people can make some prudent plans now, in the remote possibility that anything similar happens here. They have an external web page (Norfolk Winter - Norfolk County Council) as well as space on the intranet which will act as resource hubs for information that we will build over the coming months as we get more intelligence about imminent issues eg storms etc. Formal comms (social media, media and member comms) are planned for early January. The website includes links to practical guidance for example if we experience power cuts https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/safety/norfolk-winter/winter-power-cuts as well as links to weather and flood information.
Community support provided by Norfolk County Council reaches over 130,000 householdsSchemes operated or funded by Norfolk County Council have received over £50 million since 2021, providing community support including the provisioning of community food hubs, distributing grab-and-go bags at our libraries, and investing in community warm banks this winter.
The amount of information on available support is sometimes overwhelming and to make life easier for residents and to help accessing trusted and safe information, NCC has collated key information and guidance at www.norfolk.gov.uk/costofliving.
For anyone who can’t get online they have produced a new 8-page ‘Help with Living Costs’ booklet packed with information on where people can get help and support during times of need. This week 25,000 copies are being distributed to organisations and venues across the county including libraries, community supermarkets, community hot spots, the voluntary sector, and faith groups. It will also be made available in multiple languages and accessible formats as well as distributed electronically to schools, parish and district councils and other partner organisations.
The provision of the Household Support Fund has so far supported 130,000 households, including help with the cost-of-living for 30,000 free school meal eligible children. The Norfolk Assistance Scheme has supported more than 6,000 people, providing emergency financial help, essential household goods and furniture, and advice, support, and guidance to people suffering financial hardship.
The Norfolk Social Infrastructure Fund, administered by the County Council, provides funding for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations who are helping Norfolk’s communities. By the end of January 2023, the fund will have distributed £2.25m directly to organisations so that new community initiatives and projects can be delivered on the ground. This year saw a 208% increase on the number of applications from 2021.
The full breakdown of funding includes:
£27 million invested in delivering Multi Use Community Hubs in King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth in partnership with the Borough Councils, and as part of the Town Deal programme, supporting skills, health, and wellbeing
£20 million of funding for residents in hardship between 2021 and 2023 through the Household Support Fund
£2.25 million for the Social Infrastructure Fund, with a further £750,000 to be awarded in Spring 2023
£500,000 of funding for community food hubs, with the Norfolk Community Foundation leveraging further private investment and funding
£220,000 has been invested to provide 110 warm hubs in communities this winter
£150,000 of extra investment in VCSE organisations
This funding has enabled Norfolk County Council to achieve a wide range of community support, including:
130,000 households supported via the Household Support Fund
12,000 people supported in accessing community food hubs
Over 6,000 people supported by the Norfolk Assistance Scheme
4,500 grab and go bags handed out across all 47 of our libraries
More than 1,200 Ukrainian guests helped to settle in Norfolk, including over 400 children.
Norfolk County Deal update - thin gruel
Councillors have agreed to progress a £612.9m County Deal that will also transfer more powers and funding from the Government to Norfolk.
Following a debate at full council on 17 January, the council’s cabinet agreed to progress the deal at their later meeting on 17 January.
According to the report to cabinet, the deal would mean that, from 2024 onwards, the County Council could:
target funding and resources to Norfolk’s own priorities, with a new investment fund of £20m per year for 30 years.
unlock housing and employment sites with an injection of £12.9m capital funding in this Spending Review period and new powers to drive regeneration, housing and development priorities.
invest in the skills we know we need, with devolution of the adult education budget and input into the new Local Skills Improvement Plans.
invest in local transport planning and consolidate transport budgets to direct funding to better meet our local needs and priorities.
strengthen the local business voice to inform local decision making and strategic economic planning through the future integration of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.
have a council leader who is directly elected by the public, with the first election in May 2024.
raise our influence regionally and nationally, enabling our voice to be better heard by Government to shape future policies and funding decisions for the benefit of our County.
A six week public consultation on the deal will be launched on 6 February.
The full council will decide whether to support the change to an elected leader, in December. If approved, an election will be held in May 2024.
Further details on the County Deal, including the full text, here.
You can register for updates at countydeal@norfolk.gov.uk
Multiply free maths courses and new Multiply Champions in Norfolk
Multiply is a new government-funded programme to help adults across the UK to improve their numeracy skills.
The Multiply project awarded Norfolk County Council £4.7 million to provide numeracy support, training and qualifications until April 2025 which would be delivered by partners such as Norfolk Adult Learning, City College Norwich, the College of West Anglia, and East Coast College.
The Multiply project enables Norfolk County Council to distribute funding to learning partners to deliver a variety of courses to boost confidence and skill with maths. The range of courses include preparation for maths qualifications, such as Functional Skills, help with managing money, and courses aimed at specific workplaces which will be delivered alongside employers.
Good maths skills can help you find more job opportunities and lead to higher wages. Or they can help you prepare for further study. They also help in everyday life, such as helping children with homework and budgeting money.
You will be able to take part if:
You are over 19
You do not have maths GCSE at grade C (or equivalent)
You live in Norfolk
Norfolk County Council has also hired 7 new Multiply Champions, one for each District, to promote numeracy skills in people over 19 without a GCSE at grade 4/C. Making maths accessible, approachable, and engaging is one of the key challenges for the new Champions. They will attend events, community hubs, and libraries to help inspire people to take up a variety of courses on offer. People can view the available Multiply courses in Norfolk on the Norfolk County website here. Active Travel England funding for Norfolk Norfolk County Council has been successful in securing £657,388 funding from Active Travel England to support the improvement of active travel options across the County. The money comes from the Active Travel Capability Fund of £32.9 million which expects to see millions shake up the way they travel. The investment is to help local authorities in England design, develop and consult on high-quality active travel schemes. The funding received is the full amount that the County Council requested in a bid submitted in September. The bid outlined that Norfolk would use the money on active travel projects to enable more people to walk, wheel and cycle. More information about Active Travel England here Norfolk’s highway biodiversity and cutting use of weedkillers The locations of 5 new roadside nature recovery study areas, set to be a blueprint for new reserves and nature and wildlife friendly verge management across the county, have been revealed. Sites near Taverham, Wells-next-the-Sea, King’s Lynn, Heacham and Flitcham will be considered by councillors next week as part of plans to increase the number of roadside nature reserves to 300 (from the current 110) by 2024. Members of the committee will also be considering a draft policy set to cut the use of weedkiller on highway areas, schools, care homes and county farms. The Infrastructure and Development select committee will meet at 10am on 18 January, the papers for the meeting are available here.
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