Village church hosting mental health and loneliness awareness event for Norfolk Day 

10th April 2018

Sophie Wyllie, Yarmouth Mercury, reports

(from left) Rev Rosie Bunn, rector of Belton and Burgh Castle benefice, and committee members of the Village Voice publication, Bill Richmomd, Brian Swan, Dr Regi Alexander and Ernie Tuxford, outside All Saints' Church, Belton, which is holding an event to discuss tackling loneliness and mental health on Norfolk Day. Picture: SOPHIE WYLLIE
 

A rural community will be brought together on Norfolk Day to discuss tackling loneliness and mental health issues.The event at All Saints’ Church, on Church Lane, Belton, near Great Yarmouth, on July 27 will bring together community groups and medical experts

Celebrating Community-Combating Loneliness and Building Community- Understanding Mental Health is open to everyone from across Norfolk

It has been organised by monthly community magazine, Village Voice, which is distributed across Belton and surrounding villages

Bill Richmond, 75, from Nursery Close in Belton, who is graphics editor of the Village Voice, said: “We want people to find out what is in their community and help them

The Norfolk Day event is about providing information about social activities in the village and surrounding areas.  The day is also about encouraging people to talk about mental health and let people know what help is out there.  We are very encouraged by Norfolk Day. It brings the community together”

The community section, from 2pm-5.30pm, will allow residents to speak with groups, clubs, charities and health providers in the area

They will also get the chance to discuss issues including bereavement

This part of the day will be hosted and chaired by Rev Rosie Bunn, rector of the Belton and Burgh Castle, who said: “We do a lot of work in the community on loneliness. Belton is a really good village”

The mental health talks from 6.30pm-8.30pm will be chaired by Village Voice editor, psychiatrist and Belton resident Dr Regi Alexander

Norfolk Day ambassador, the Very Rev Jane Hedges, Dean of Norwich Cathedral, said: “The event at All Saints, Belton, is an excellent example of how people in our communities can offer friendship and support to one another so that together we can tackle issues such as loneliness and mental health problems. I hope this will inspire others to think of imaginative ways of reaching out to their neighbours not only on Norfolk Day but throughout the yea”

To share your ideas on how you plan to celebrate Norfolk Day email norfolkday@archant.co.uk, tweet @norfolk or log on to the Norfolk Day Facebook group

Norfolk Day shop

An online shop has been launched selling Norfolk Day marketing material which event organisers can display on the day.
The shop is selling a four-pack of flags, four-pack of A3 posters and 20 balloons at £4, while 5m of bunting is £7.50.
Celebration packs containing all of the above are available for £15

Norfolk Day takes place on Friday July 27 and is intended as a day of fun in which individuals, community groups and businesses are encouraged to get involved by hosting or participating in events

The initiative was launched by the EDP and Norwich Evening News in partnership with BBC Radio Norfolk and has the backing of business and community organisations who are planning events for the day

Details of events will be revealed in the newspaper, online and via social media

To order Norfolk Day materials, visit The Norfolk Day Shop
Estimated delivery time is 28 days