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Norwich High School for Girls GDST on Newmarket Road in Norwich has been awarded The Sunday Times East Anglian Independent Secondary School Of The Year in the 2023 Parent Power League released on Friday 9th December 2022.Parent Power 2023 identifies the highest-achieving schools in the UK. The definitive school rankings use the most recent moderated public examination results from the state and independent sectors. The Sunday Times commended the school for jumping 141 places since 2019 in the national ranking to 88=, and also referenced the school winning the TES Independent School Awards Wellbeing Initiative of the Year in 2021. Helen Davies, Parent Power Editor at The Sunday Times, referenced how the pandemic allowed the school to stop and look at what they were doing and why. Overall, girls have triumphed in the Parent Power League with girls-only schools appearing to have coped better with the effects of the pandemic in both the private and state sectors. Cheryl Giovannoni, Chief Executive, GDST, said: “A huge congratulations to all our students and staff at Norwich High School for Girls. This impressive leap by more than 100 places on the Sunday Times Parent Power List since 2019 is a testament to the commitment and hard work of the Head, Alison Sefton and all the staff who have worked tirelessly through some challenging times.” You can read the full article here  

A Stansted Express Stadler train on test in the snow in Faurei, Romania. Credit: Greater Anglia/Simon Busser Did you know that Greater Anglia’s new trains are tested in extreme weather conditions and have special features so passengers can enjoy comfortable and reliable journeys all year round? From being sent to an industrial freezer to being blasted with water to check for leaks, no stone is left unturned to ensure that the company’s new fleet of 191 trains will perform as reliably as possible. Being ready for winter and bitter temperatures is a key focus of the whole of the rail industry in the UK – and Greater Anglia is no exception. As part of the rigorous testing requirements for a new set of trains, a carriage is transported to Vienna, Austria and put into a special chamber in a process called ‘climatic testing’ to ensure it can withstand a freezing chill. The chamber is taken down to a temperature of -25°C, with ice forming on the carriage windows and bodywork while engineers, wrapped up in hats, scarves and gloves, check that all systems work as expected. Checks are carried out on CCTV cameras, heating and cooling systems, electronic information displays inside and outside the train, windscreen wipers, demisters, motors, brakes and doors to makes sure they can work in sub-zero temperatures. Ice on the windscreen of an Alstom-built commuter train in the climatic testing chamber. Credit: Greater Anglia All of Greater Anglia’s new trains are also equipped with snow brakes. This system applies the brakes very gently on each set of wheels throughout the train in turn automatically, like dominoes, ensuring that heat is put into the brakes and that they can still stop the train very quickly on the coldest of days. Couplers, which allow two trains to be joined together, are also heated to prevent delays when another train is attached. Meanwhile, modern heating systems inside the train keep customers warm and comfortable. It isn’t just the winter that can pose a challenge though. Torrential rain can hit at any time in the UK and to test how a train handles it, every train undergoes an extreme wet weather check. The company’s new commuter trains, for example, pass through a specially designed rig which blasts water at it from a variety of angles at high velocity, with engineers checking panels and systems inside the train for leaks.  Spring and summer can bring warmer, sometimes sweltering conditions, but customers can remain nicely cool with air conditioning that circulates cold air throughout the train every six to nine minutes. Underfloor heating on Greater Anglia’s new commuter trains stops any cold spots forming. The system is self-monitoring so automatically adjusts the temperature to help with comfort inside the carriage. A Stadler-built bi-mode train, in use on Greater Anglia’s regional routes. Credit: Greater Anglia The heating and air conditioning system on the Stadler-built trains that run on services between London – Norwich, London – Stansted Airport and the regional network from Ipswich and Norwich, Cambridge and Marks Tey is also controlled automatically by the train. On all of the new trains, the air conditioning system also balances the mix between fresh air and recirculated air to help use less energy. Autumn, too, can sometimes bring its challenges through slippery rails. As thousands of leaves fall onto the tracks, they stick to damp rails and passing trains compress them into a thin, slippery layer on the rail which – much like black ice on the roads – can affect braking distance, reducing grip and acceleration. This can ultimately cause delays as train drivers have to brake and accelerate more gently than normal. Greater Anglia’s Alstom-built commuter train. Credit: Greater Anglia All of Greater Anglia’s new trains are fitted with the very latest Wheel Slide Protection (WSP) systems which have been thoroughly tested and developed over many years to be optimal and makes our trains resilient to the effects of slippery rails. Like ABS in cars, WSP helps the trains’ wheels to brake more evenly in slippery conditions and stops them from locking up and sliding, preventing wheel damage and wear. Modern traction control systems stop the trains from slipping when accelerating too. The trains come with an automatic sanding function that works when the brakes are applied, which releases sand, giving the steel wheels more grip in slippery conditions and making the brakes even more effective. The company’s trains on the regional, Stansted Express and London to Norwich routes are also fitted with spring-loaded blocks on the wheels, similar to that on a mountain bike, that continually rub against the wheel, cleaning it of any debris. Martin Beable, Greater Anglia’s engineering director, said: “It’s fantastic to have new modern trains that are tested so very vigorously to withstand everything that the British weather throws at them and with special features which keep customers comfortable in all seasons. “We are one of the best performing train companies in the country and we – as always – will work hard to maintain these high standards, while we continue to bring the rest of our excellent new trains into service.” Greater Anglia runs services between London Liverpool Street and Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire and all of its new trains are longer with more seats than carriages of the company’s old trains. They all come with USB and plug points, fast free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, improved accessibility features including an accessible toilet on every train, better passenger information screens and dedicated cycle spaces. They also come with regenerative braking, which delivers energy back into the electrical supply network, rather than wasting the energy through heat as is the case with conventional systems.

The cost of living and the current economic environment is at the forefront of most people’s minds. For many thoughts are with key issues of keeping a roof over their families’ heads, putting food on the table and keeping warm. Those on the lowest incomes will be hit hardest. Many employers are thinking about what support they can give to their employees and workers at this time. This may come as a surprise, but not all support needs to cost money. Here are our top items to consider:

1. Can you offer a cost-of-living-bonus? In this situation, you must assess the impact on all individuals, particularly for those receiving Tax Credits or Universal Credit, as this approach may prove consequential.
2. Flexible working to support individuals who need to take on a second job, however, remember to assess the implications for the business, particularly where you have restrictive covenants in place, as you want to avoid a conflict of interest or burnout.
3. Let your workforce know they can get free, confidential and independent money and debt advice from the Government: https://moneyandpensionsservice.org.uk/financial-wellbeing-in-the-workplace/
4. Promote all the benefits you currently offer and how to make the most of them. For example, counselling services help with stress and anxiety.
5. Start to normalise conversations about money worries. Create an environment that makes individuals feel heard and understood. Train your managers to provide the right support to their teams.
6. Bring in the experts and provide workshops for financial management, financial planning, budgeting etc. You would be surprised how many people lack knowledge on these issues.
7. Get creative and find a way for employees to share ideas and practical advice to support each other through this difficult time.

It is worth noting that in-work poverty is real, and even before the cost-of-living crisis, it affected one in eight workers in the UK. The problem is most prevalent in accommodation and food services, with construction, wholesale and retail, amongst others, not far behind. Other factors such as pay, hours, location and barriers to childcare and transport all play a part. So, what can you do on a wider scale to support your workforce? Here is the outline of a three-pronged approach to address the key issues:

• Review your reward strategy. Are you paying a fair and liveable wage allowing individuals to lead a dignified life with access to opportunities and choices?
• Empower your workforce to support their own financial well-being as part of your wider well-being strategy.
• Develop a learning culture to show individuals a clear path to progression by developing skills, removing barriers and challenging perceptions.

This text was originally written by MAD-HR Ltd. Copyright © 2022 MAD-HR Ltd. All rights reserved: https://www.mad-hr.co.uk/blog/how-can-employers-help-with-the-cost-of-living Image credit: Canva Pro 2022 / MAD-HR

A Greater Anglia bi-mode train. Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia’s new four-carriage bi-mode trains have been crowned “most reliable train of their type” in the country in independent industry awards for the second year running. Greater Anglia, along with their maintenance partner Stadler, scooped three industry reliability awards for the train operator’s new trains at the annual Golden Spanner Awards, held by Modern Railways Magazine. The four-carriage Class 755 trains, which operate on rural lines in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, were named the most reliable train of their type in England, Scotland and Wales based on the ‘miles per technical TRUST incident’ (MTIN) statistics – which cover faults that cause a delay of three minutes or more. These bi-mode trains, which are powered by diesel and electricity, recorded an average of 17,676 miles between incidents – the best in the country and improving from 14,767 miles between incidents last year. As a result, the trains, which were built and are maintained by Stadler, won the golden spanner in the category of new diesel trains. There was also recognition for Greater Anglia’s three-carriage bi-mode trains, which won a bronze spanner for the lowest average delay per technical incident. In addition, Greater Anglia’s Class 745 intercity trains which operate between Norwich, Ipswich, Colchester and London picked up a silver spanner award, meaning they are the most improved train of their type, with a 126.9% year-on-year improvement. Martin Beable, Engineering Director, Greater Anglia, said: “Our new trains have transformed rail travel in the region, and we’re thrilled they have been recognised with these awards. “The fact that we have received a gold, silver and bronze award shows we are making good progress in all aspects of fleet performance, from having a low number of technical incidents, to getting trains moving again and recovering quickly from incidents that do occur, to wider improvements in overall fleet performance.” “I would like to thank the teams at Greater Anglia, Stadler and Rock Rail who were all integral to these notable achievements. These awards are testament to the hard work of our colleagues, who work around-the-clock to keep trains running.” Paul Patrick, managing director of Stadler Rail Service UK; said: “Stadler trains are safe, reliable, with a focus on comfort and green technology. The performance of the fleets we built for the East Anglia network and maintain at Crown Point are testament to effective partnership working with Greater Anglia and our shared commitment to continuous improvement for the benefit of passengers.” Greater Anglia is currently in the process of replacing all trains in its fleet with brand new ones, which are all longer, with more seats, USB and plug sockets, fast free Wi-Fi, air conditioning and improved accessibility features as well as dedicated cycle spaces.

The first bus services to benefit from funding secured from the Department for Transport are in operation. The Coastliner 36 service, operated by Lynx, will continue to run its summer timetable throughout the winter months. This means that on Sundays and Public Holidays there will be an hourly service running from King’s Lynn to Fakenham along the coast – (instead of every 2 hours). There are also enhancements to the 35 service which runs from King’s Lynn to Hunstanton which means that buses will now run every 20 minutes on Sundays and Public Holidays (instead of every 30 minutes). These are the first in a number of service enhancements which are being funded by the £49.55 million funding which Norfolk County Council was successful in securing from the Department for Transport (DfT) to use on improving bus services across the County over the next three years. Approximately £12 million of the funding has been allocated to provide new or expanded bus routes and increase service frequencies on key routes, including more evening and weekend services. More new and improved routes across Norfolk will start early in the new year and will be announced soon. Cllr Martin Wilby, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said; “Securing this money is a major boost for travel across Norfolk and it’s great to see our plans for improved bus services coming to life so quickly thanks to this funding. More services and increased frequencies are key to enabling people to travel around the county by public transport and hope that increasing this key service in the West will benefit many people throughout the winter months.” Graham Smith, Commercial Manager at Lynx said; “The enhancement of frequency to our Sunday/Public Holiday buses between King’s Lynn, Hunstanton and along the Coast towards Wells-next-the-Sea will be welcome news to existing and new customers alike. Whilst services are generally quieter in the winter months there’s still demand for travel and this funding is invaluable in ensuring access to employment, shopping and leisure facilities.”   Bus Minister Richard Holden said; “People up and down the country deserve a clean, reliable and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided Norfolk County Council with almost £50 million to boost its bus services. Supporting Lynx in running its Summer timetable also through the Winter is great for local passengers, who will now benefit from new routes and more frequent services to make the most of the fantastic work, business and leisure opportunities Norfolk has to offer.”

TRIGGER WARNING – this episode contains mentions of eating disorders, miscarriage, child-loss, suicide, and self-harm. If you’re a male business leader, this episode may be of particular interest. Our special guest is occupational health specialist Hilary Horton. Hilary has decades of personal and professional experience and insight into the complexities of women’s health. She chats to Mark about how managers and business owners need to educate themselves to better support their teams. Many modern businesses haven’t kept up with societal change, and women still face barriers in the workplace, particularly around maternity leave, depression, menopause, complex premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and even religious understanding. Hilary highlights the importance of empathy and education for leaders, particularly male ones, as businesses that tap into the power of women in the workplace and embrace and support them, are the ones who are often more successful. Hilary is a former military nurse, who learnt empathy and leadership in her very early years, as part of the ‘over-spill’ working class community in the West End of London. She made it to be Head Girl at school, and realised young that if you have a skill, it’s your duty to pass it on. After a spell of mental health issues during her broad and fascinating career working in prisons, hospitals and the military, and studying psychology, Hilary made it her life’s mission to advocate for better health support within the workplace. Mark also chats to Hilary openly about his own personal experiences being child-free and how this impacts his life at work, and they discuss what leaders can do to support employees going through grief and loss of all kinds, from miscarriage to divorce, to the loss of a pet or taking time off because of menopause symptoms, and why these factors need to be considered in appraisals and in the construction of policy and procedures, as people deliver their best at work when they feel supported; we are all human after all. Show notes Hilary’s business – Enspirita Hilary’s LinkedIn Chris Anthony on Impromptu Business Chat Books Tales of the Sea – Maggie Chiang Man’s Search For Meaning: The classic tribute to hope from the Holocaust – Viktor E. Frankl In Search of Mary Seacole: The Making of a Cultural Icon – Helen Rappaport You can also now watch us on YouTube! Click here GET IN TOUCH! Leave us a voice note here, we would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, and you might even feature in our next episode! You can also email us on podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk Listen here! © Larking Gowen LLP

• Nearly a third of businesses in the region admit that the rising price of materials and products is one of their top concerns in the run-up to Christmas; supply chain disruption is also seen as a top challenge
• Despite significant pressures, East Anglia businesses are more optimistic about business prospects going into 2023, compared to this time last year.

Rising costs for recruiting the best talent, together with the price of products and materials in the build-up to Christmas, are the top concerns for East Anglia businesses in the coming weeks, according to the latest report from accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP. The bi-monthly Rethinking the Economy survey of 500 mid-market businesses has revealed that the rising cost of products and materials is causing the greatest concern for nearly a third of businesses in the region – with more than a quarter admitting that the demands of increased wages are adversely impacting on the cost of recruitment. The survey showed that 29% see supply chain disruption as one of their biggest challenges in the final few weeks of the year, together with the ongoing effects of Brexit (29%), such as increased customs legislation, supply chain problems, and immigration restrictions impacting access to labour. As businesses in the region face significant cost pressures and disruption to the delivery of products and services, many are taking proactive steps to address the latest challenges facing their business. According to the Rethinking the Economy survey, more than a quarter of East Anglia companies intend to pause international expansion plans, while a further 23% intend to seek investment to cover financial shortfalls. However, despite the challenges facing businesses in the final month of the year, an overwhelming number of East Anglia businesses surveyed (87%) stated that they feel more optimistic about business prospects going into 2023, compared to this time last year, marking a shift in sentiment since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Peter Harrup, Partner and Head of BDO LLP in East Anglia, commented: “Hearing businesses report that they are in a better place than this time last year is a positive, but there’s no doubt that trading conditions remain extremely challenging for many East Anglia businesses, following a period of sustained pressure over an extended period of time. “However, despite the concerns surrounding rising costs and supply chain disruption, there is a real resilience and determination amongst East Anglia businesses to ride out the economic storm thanks to a clear focus on growth.” The Rethinking the Economy survey showed that 68% of East Anglia businesses have changed their approach to raising funding in the last three to six months due to the economic climate, with more than a quarter admitting that they are seeking funding earlier than planned to support new product and service development. Harrup added: “This positive approach to funding and growth lays the perfect foundations for 2023. However, businesses in the region cannot do it alone. With rising costs set to be an enduring theme throughout next year, East Anglia businesses are calling for more targeted support to help drive growth in mid-market businesses – the engine of the UK’s economy.” According to the survey, 23% of regional businesses believe the Government should be working towards new trade agreements to create opportunities for market growth and exports, with a further 23% looking to the Government for new policy frameworks for recruitment and workforce upskilling. The aim of the frameworks is to tackle labour access issues, increase access to overseas workers, as well as help businesses access the skills they need. Image provided by BDO LLP

In what has been a landmark year already for me, I can now add qualified Judge with The Societies of Photographers to my list of things to be thankful for. Earlier in the year I qualified as a Fellow with The Society of International Commercial & Industrial Photographers with a specialism in creative product photography at the international convention in London. This coincided with it being 10 years since my diagnosis with MS, so it was even more meaningful for me. Having trained at their judging school and then working as a junior judge for about 15 months learning the ropes from experienced team members, my “judgement day” arrived. Head of judging Terrie Jones announced to me that I had passed my assessment and would now be a full member of the judging team. This is a group of some of the best photographers from around the world with specialisms in various genres of photography. The team judge qualifications, monthly competitions and the highly prestigious annual international 20×16 print competition at the Convention. So, I am honoured to be in their company, maintaining and furthering the standards in the photography industry. The training to become a Judge has had an impact on my day to day work too. I cast an even more critical eye over the work I produce for clients and keep striving to raise my standards still further. If you are unsure how successful your business’ images are then I can use my training to help you conduct an image audit. This is a good way to ascertain whether your images are doing their job and communicating as clearly as you might like. It has been a pleasure spending time recently helping to train local businesses to do their own photography in house where budgets would not have allowed hiring someone in. The Go Digital scheme has allowed them to raise their game and improve their marketing. They haven’t even had to spend a fortune on kit. As a consultant I can help them avoid unnecessary expenditure and find cheaper, just as effective ways to get the job done. I love seeing businesses thrive and enjoy working with local clients as well as national and international ones. The support and encouragement from other businesses in Norfolk has helped me to reach new heights. Networking doesn’t always need to be about finding new leads or a quick route to more work. Sometimes it is about learning from others who have had similar experiences and finding the right people to give you a positive mindset to succeed.  

Above: One of Greater Anglia’s new trains at Lowestoft Credit: Greater Anglia Attracting passengers back to East Anglia’s rural rail branch lines was the focus at Greater Anglia’s annual community rail conference held last week. Community Rail Partnerships, station adopters, local authorities and other organisations from across East Anglia came together with Greater Anglia representatives at the annual Community Rail Conference to discuss how to ensure a bright future for the region’s local rail branch lines. Nationally, rail passenger numbers are back up to 80-85% of pre-pandemic levels so the focus was on how to continue to attract passengers to use their local rail lines, building on the transformational benefits brought by Greater Anglia’s new trains. Discussions focused on how to help community rail lines recover beyond the pandemic; how to maximise the positive impact of the new trains; how community rail partnerships can help strengthen further their links with local communities, involving schools, colleges and local authorities to help bring about positive changes locally, and how to improve diversity and inclusion. The conference was attended by East Anglia’s six Community Rail Partnerships (CRPs), Station Adoption community volunteers, local authorities, Transport Focus, the Community Rail Network (which represents CRPs and promotes community rail at a national level) and the Department for Transport. Jonathan Denby, Greater Anglia’s Head of Corporate Affairs, said, “Community rail initiatives help to bring railways closer to the communities they serve, encouraging more people to take the train and supporting local communities by making it easier for residents to travel for work, learning, shopping or leisure and for visitors or tourists to get around with benefits for the local economy. “Most community rail lines saw significant growth in passenger numbers in recent years before the pandemic and our new, high quality, longer trains provide a fantastic opportunity to encourage more people to take the train. “We’ll continue to build on our strong track record of partnership working, which has seen community rail lines become more and more popular with customers, whilst train services and stations have become more integrated with local communities’ needs, with more frequent services, all year round, in place on most routes.” He added: “A huge thanks to all involved for making the conference such a positive, effective event with clear goals and a shared desire to ensure our local lines continue to thrive and maximise the impact of the exciting transformation delivered by the introduction of our new trains.” To date in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire, partnership working has helped to boost tourism and local economies and improve health and well-being through the production of local area guides, guided walks, special event trains, volunteering initiatives, community art projects, wildlife initiatives, partnership initiatives to deliver service improvements and station upgrades and wider community involvement schemes.

Above: Greater Anglia’s Crown Point Depot Credit: Greater Anglia Greater Anglia’s Norwich Crown Point Depot is celebrating 40 years of servicing Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex’s trains. The depot, which employs over 100 staff, has seen many changes over the years, most recently undergoing an extensive redevelopment to accommodate Greater Anglia’s new train fleet. The work began in 2018, with Greater Anglia investing over £80 million in the project to transform the depot with better facilities to maintain and clean the company’s 58 new Stadler trains, as well as a new train washing facility, improved servicing equipment and the ability to store and dispense more fuel. The work included the installation of an £8.7 million new bogie drop facility – which allows engineers to repair, remove and replace components on the underneath of train carriages, such as the wheelsets and underframe equipment. New equipment transfer turntables and support offices were also added. Greater Anglia now operates the depot in partnership with Stadler, the manufacturer of the new fleet of trains. The landmark project ushered in a new era for the region’s railways and secured the depot’s future with train maintenance expertise staying in Norwich to continue the city’s long-standing crucial role in the delivery of the region’s train service. That presence is valuable to the local and regional economy, with benefits for Norwich and Norfolk both from having employees based at the depot and from the linked supply chain. Greater Anglia’s Managing Director, Jamie Burles, said, “The depot has been vital to ensuring we provide the best possible service to passengers across East Anglia since 1982 and will continue to play that crucial role well into the future. “The team there does a fantastic job day-in, day-out, and I would like to thank them for their dedication to providing a reliable and punctual train service for the region.” Crown Point Depot was officially opened on 27 October 1982, by the chairman of the British Railways Board, Peter Parker. It replaced Norwich engine shed and allowed InterCity trains that had been serviced at Great Yarmouth to move to a central location. It was electrified in 1985, along with the Great Eastern Main Line. As part of the privatisation of British Rail, in 1997, it was taken over by Anglia Railways. It has since passed with the East Anglia franchise to One Railway, National Express East Anglia and now Greater Anglia. New branding is due to be unveiled to mark the depot’s 40^th birthday and the completion of the redevelopment work. Video: Above: Crown Point Depot, Norwich Credit: Greater Anglia Above: Plaque at Crown Point Depot Above: An Open Day held at Crown Point Depot in the 1980s Above: Depot staff in 2014 with a train named ‘Crown Point’ Above: New walkways in the newly redeveloped depot. Credit: Greater Anglia

A campaign to recruit more charity shop volunteers has been hailed an “outstanding success” after inspiring more than 100 newcomers. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) launched its fortnight-long ‘Be the difference’ initiative on 10^th October to source extra help in its 44 stores. Posters were put on display and there was widespread local press coverage across the region, including features on existing volunteers. As a result, 104 new volunteers stepped forward and that tally consisted of 36 in Norfolk, 26 in North Essex, 20 in Suffolk, 16 in Cambridgeshire and six in EACH’s Royston shop, just across the Hertfordshire border. Hannah Milbourne, Volunteer Services and Development Manager, was thrilled with the outcome but stressed that extra help is always needed. “Our campaign was an outstanding success and we were delighted to welcome so many newcomers to the team,” she said. “Others are still coming forward, since we put these figures together, so it’s been a real victory. “As we said at the time, volunteers have an absolutely crucial role to play. “They make such a difference and, quite simply, we wouldn’t be able to run our shops – and therefore go on to provide the care that we do to families – without them.” Particular triumphs included 15 new volunteers offering to lend a hand in Dovercourt and ten in EACH’s shop in Felixstowe Road, Ipswich. Other individual successes included seven in Clacton, where EACH has a popular furniture showroom, and five apiece in Attleborough, Aylsham Road, in Norwich, Cherry Hinton Road, in Cambridge, Unthank Road, in Norwich, and Whittlesey. Four new volunteers came forward in Cromer and Wymondham, joining the family of more than 1,000 Retail volunteers across East Anglia. “While delighted with the campaign, as ever, we always need more help,” added Hannah. “We’d be very pleased to hear from anyone interested in joining our team and, while we’d obviously love people to offer a regular slot, just a morning or afternoon makes the world of difference, particularly during the festive season. “We have shops across the region, in the heart of the community, and there are various roles available, from serving customers to sorting and organising donations and listing eBay items. “The hours are completely flexible, to fit in with busy lives, and a friendly welcome is assured. “We’re often a bit thin on the ground at this time of year as people understandably have more commitments in the build-up to Christmas. “We’d love to hear from anyone interested in helping out, even if it’s just a short-term arrangement like students being home on their university holiday.” EACH, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions, relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income. This year alone it needs to raise £6.5 million from its Retail operation, which includes stores across the region in addition to a busy Retail Distribution Centre, in Thetford. On average, its shops take £100,000 per week which and the team recently celebrated a record-breaking week, taking £136,434. For more information, speak to a member of staff in-store or contact volunteer services on 01223 205183. Alternatively, email volunteerservices@each.org.uk There are other ways to support EACH, including helping its facilities, events, fundraising and administration teams, or being part of the charity’s Help at Home service. Image credits EACH

Above: Norwich station Credit: Greater Anglia Rail passengers can talk directly to Greater Anglia rail managers during a ‘Meet the manager’ feedback session at Norwich station. For passengers using the train operator’s services in and out of Norwich, the ‘Meet the Manager’ event will take place from 1600-1800 on Wednesday 7 December. The session is aimed at listening to customers’ feedback and comments to help continually improve the service. Martin Moran, Greater Anglia’s Commercial, Customer Service and Train Presentation Director, said, “It’s really important to us to hear from passengers about what matters to them and answer any questions they may have. “We are keen to listen and understand people’s experiences so that we can work to continually improve our service and meet customers’ expectations and needs.” The company will also hold a further Meet the Manager event at London Liverpool Street in January and virtual Meet the Manager events. Those who cannot make the events but would like to contribute their feedback can do so via Greater Anglia’s online survey at greateranglia.co.uk/survey