We’re all vocal locals – Read about people who chose to get involved and ended up making a difference in their local community.
Case Studies
We're all Vocal Locals here
Carly Gerrard had a simple choice - to sit at home and moan about things, or try to do something positive. The 21-year-old mum from Norwich chose not to take the easy option, and is now heavily involved in helping to shape maternity services through her work as part of Norfolk LINk.
The voluntary group looks to influence all areas of the county's health and social care, but Carly has taken a special interest in maternity services, having experienced it first hand for the birth of her son, Finley, now two.
"I've just been through the maternity system, and Norfolk is incredibly short of midwives," she said. "And rather than me sitting at home and whingeing about it, I decided to try to do something productive to try to help the situation."
"We work quite closely with the NHS, and it's a brilliant way of understanding how it works and influencing the decisions taken. It seemed like a really positive way to get involved, and you can do as much or as little as you want; I attend meetings one morning a month."
Members of LINk can choose to contribute to several working groups, depending on the time available.
"It's made me realise that there's nothing to be gained from sitting at home complaining - there are so many little ways you can get involved with the running of the NHS and voice concerns. You are not going to be heard by moaning to your friends about things.
"It's really easy to get started, you can go online and apply, and one of my friends has since signed up."
Find out more about Norfolk LINk here
The voluntary group looks to influence all areas of the county's health and social care, but Carly has taken a special interest in maternity services, having experienced it first hand for the birth of her son, Finley, now two.
"I've just been through the maternity system, and Norfolk is incredibly short of midwives," she said. "And rather than me sitting at home and whingeing about it, I decided to try to do something productive to try to help the situation."
"We work quite closely with the NHS, and it's a brilliant way of understanding how it works and influencing the decisions taken. It seemed like a really positive way to get involved, and you can do as much or as little as you want; I attend meetings one morning a month."
Members of LINk can choose to contribute to several working groups, depending on the time available.
"It's made me realise that there's nothing to be gained from sitting at home complaining - there are so many little ways you can get involved with the running of the NHS and voice concerns. You are not going to be heard by moaning to your friends about things.
"It's really easy to get started, you can go online and apply, and one of my friends has since signed up."
Find out more about Norfolk LINk here
It's a long way from the forests of Tibet to the marshes of east Norfolk, but between them they helped convince Helene Rinaldo of the need for environmental action.
The 53-year-old mother-of-three was spurred into action by reading a report about deforestation in the disputed Himalayan territory, and has put her passion to good use in Postwick, 5000 miles west.
Among the projects Helene has worked on include collating a village trade directory, local food awareness drives and, most recently, a carbon footprinting programme about to be rolled out.
"Our biggest pride is the mini recycling scheme we put in place, collecting printer cartridges, mobile phones and batteries well before the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directives came into force," she added.
Helene, who was born in Vietnam, joined the parish council about three years ago to help turn some of her environmental ideas into action, such as monitoring the village's carbon footprint.
"We are creating a monitoring system to see where we can reduce our carbon," she said. "I wanted to find a way of implementing some of the projects, and it's a great way of helping the village.
Helene started taking a more active community role about three years ago, when her three children, now aged 16, 18 and 24, required less of her time.
And being a Vocal Local is something she feels is vitally important, not just for the community but for people too.
Find out how to become a parish councillor here
The 53-year-old mother-of-three was spurred into action by reading a report about deforestation in the disputed Himalayan territory, and has put her passion to good use in Postwick, 5000 miles west.
Among the projects Helene has worked on include collating a village trade directory, local food awareness drives and, most recently, a carbon footprinting programme about to be rolled out.
"Our biggest pride is the mini recycling scheme we put in place, collecting printer cartridges, mobile phones and batteries well before the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directives came into force," she added.
Helene, who was born in Vietnam, joined the parish council about three years ago to help turn some of her environmental ideas into action, such as monitoring the village's carbon footprint.
"We are creating a monitoring system to see where we can reduce our carbon," she said. "I wanted to find a way of implementing some of the projects, and it's a great way of helping the village.
Helene started taking a more active community role about three years ago, when her three children, now aged 16, 18 and 24, required less of her time.
And being a Vocal Local is something she feels is vitally important, not just for the community but for people too.
Find out how to become a parish councillor here
John Bennett has seen first hand the scars of motorcyclists who had road accidents while not wearing adequate protective clothing.
The 58-year-old runs the Motorcycle Clothing Centre in Wymondham with his wife, Sue, and wanted to do more to cut down the number of customers he sees with serious damage to their skin from accidents at speeds as low as 15mph.
So the former builder and restaurateur joined the Norfolk Motorcycle Forum, run by Norfolk County Council, which has a major input into road safety campaigns targeted specifically at motorcyclists.
The Forum meets twice a year but stays in regular contact via email, and involves members in decisions about every aspect of motorcycle safety, from how best to promote safety messages to motorcycle training schemes.
John is heavily involved in the high-profile Hugger campaign, which was launched in response to alarming statistics that show motorcyclists make up only 1 per cent of traffic on Norfolk's roads, yet represent a staggering 26 per cent of people killed or seriously injured.
"I'm passionate about promoting bike safety and getting the casualty figures down," he said. "You so often see people of all ages riding motorcycles with virtually nothing on - it's horrifying really, and something needs to be done about it.
"I don't want to see it become law to wear protective clothing because that would be too restrictive, but we need to do everything we can to highlight that people are running a serious risk of injury, even if they come off at relatively low speeds.
"There's a huge volume of traffic to contend with now compared to when I was a youngster.
There are more dangers and it's more important than ever that you wear a decent form of protective clothing. There's no excuse - there are even Kevlar reinforced jeans now!"
John has offered to provide part of his shop for use as a first response medical training centre, and has supplied protective neck tubes to the Hugger campaign which are given to everyone who completes the training course.
"It's important that more people like myself in the retail sector should take part in campaigns like this," he added. "Because I've been part of it since day one this shop is known as Hugger Central!
"I'd encourage people to be as active as they can and promote the cause. More people need to get behind the campaign and get involved in having their say generally."
Click here to find out more about the Hugger Campaign
The 58-year-old runs the Motorcycle Clothing Centre in Wymondham with his wife, Sue, and wanted to do more to cut down the number of customers he sees with serious damage to their skin from accidents at speeds as low as 15mph.
So the former builder and restaurateur joined the Norfolk Motorcycle Forum, run by Norfolk County Council, which has a major input into road safety campaigns targeted specifically at motorcyclists.
The Forum meets twice a year but stays in regular contact via email, and involves members in decisions about every aspect of motorcycle safety, from how best to promote safety messages to motorcycle training schemes.
John is heavily involved in the high-profile Hugger campaign, which was launched in response to alarming statistics that show motorcyclists make up only 1 per cent of traffic on Norfolk's roads, yet represent a staggering 26 per cent of people killed or seriously injured.
"I'm passionate about promoting bike safety and getting the casualty figures down," he said. "You so often see people of all ages riding motorcycles with virtually nothing on - it's horrifying really, and something needs to be done about it.
"I don't want to see it become law to wear protective clothing because that would be too restrictive, but we need to do everything we can to highlight that people are running a serious risk of injury, even if they come off at relatively low speeds.
"There's a huge volume of traffic to contend with now compared to when I was a youngster.
There are more dangers and it's more important than ever that you wear a decent form of protective clothing. There's no excuse - there are even Kevlar reinforced jeans now!"
John has offered to provide part of his shop for use as a first response medical training centre, and has supplied protective neck tubes to the Hugger campaign which are given to everyone who completes the training course.
"It's important that more people like myself in the retail sector should take part in campaigns like this," he added. "Because I've been part of it since day one this shop is known as Hugger Central!
"I'd encourage people to be as active as they can and promote the cause. More people need to get behind the campaign and get involved in having their say generally."
Click here to find out more about the Hugger Campaign
It's a mantra repeated in rural villages up and down the country:
"There's nothing for the youngsters to do."
But while most people merely shake their heads and sigh, Sharron Freemantle decided to do something about it in the west Norfolk village of Northwold.
Now, five years on, she says the village's youth club has become an integral part of a close-knit community, providing a fortnightly focus for youngsters aged seven to 14.
"There's a lot more social interaction between the children and the adults in the village now," said the 49-year-old, who moved to Northwold from Hampshire.
"The youngsters have got involved with the village carnival and other events, and some of the older ones have even come back to do their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. I think it's very important for community cohesion."
Sharron, who is a member of the village's Women's Institute, decided to get involved after writing a letter to her MP.
"There were one or two issues I felt quite strongly about so I wrote to my MP, and it's at that stage I thought that if I'm asking him to do something I had better do something as well," she said.
"It's too easy for people to sit behind closed curtains and say this or that is not good. There are things people can do, even if it's just something small."
The youth club was helped on its way by an initial £50 loan from Sharron's husband Steve, a parish councillor, followed by a £250 grant from the council.
The existing sports and social club let the fledgling club use its premises for free, and further grants let to the purchase of sports equipment including giant parachutes and table tennis. Jewellery makers, card makers and dog
groomers have all given demonstrations at the club, while the police have also given talks.
Sharron, who also helps run the village's annual produce show - in its 65th year - is keen to stress that it's a real team effort.
"A lot of people have come together to make it work, and I'll admit that initially I didn't think it would last like it has," she added.
"But I think it's been a success because we started with the seven year olds and they have grown up with it. It wouldn't have worked if we had just started a youth club for 16 year olds."
But however you think you can help, Sharron's message is clear: "Just do it."
"There's nothing for the youngsters to do."
But while most people merely shake their heads and sigh, Sharron Freemantle decided to do something about it in the west Norfolk village of Northwold.
Now, five years on, she says the village's youth club has become an integral part of a close-knit community, providing a fortnightly focus for youngsters aged seven to 14.
"There's a lot more social interaction between the children and the adults in the village now," said the 49-year-old, who moved to Northwold from Hampshire.
"The youngsters have got involved with the village carnival and other events, and some of the older ones have even come back to do their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. I think it's very important for community cohesion."
Sharron, who is a member of the village's Women's Institute, decided to get involved after writing a letter to her MP.
"There were one or two issues I felt quite strongly about so I wrote to my MP, and it's at that stage I thought that if I'm asking him to do something I had better do something as well," she said.
"It's too easy for people to sit behind closed curtains and say this or that is not good. There are things people can do, even if it's just something small."
The youth club was helped on its way by an initial £50 loan from Sharron's husband Steve, a parish councillor, followed by a £250 grant from the council.
The existing sports and social club let the fledgling club use its premises for free, and further grants let to the purchase of sports equipment including giant parachutes and table tennis. Jewellery makers, card makers and dog
groomers have all given demonstrations at the club, while the police have also given talks.
Sharron, who also helps run the village's annual produce show - in its 65th year - is keen to stress that it's a real team effort.
"A lot of people have come together to make it work, and I'll admit that initially I didn't think it would last like it has," she added.
"But I think it's been a success because we started with the seven year olds and they have grown up with it. It wouldn't have worked if we had just started a youth club for 16 year olds."
But however you think you can help, Sharron's message is clear: "Just do it."
When Siobhan Meade lost her sight as a teenager, she could have retreated from a world she could no longer see. Siobhan was born blind, but doctors managed to save some of the sight in her right eye before she lost all of her vision again at the age of 16.
It was a crushing blow but, after two years spent coming to terms with her disability, she decided to change her life, and the lives of people in her Great Yarmouth community.
The 26-year-old is a key member of the consultation committee which is overseeing local healthcare developments on the Shrublands estate in Gorleston where she lives.
She also played a leading role in the Participatory Budgeting exercise, which made grants totalling £10,000 to community projects including a local fete, new play equipment, a memory group for older people and help for disabled swimmers. Siobhan also works with the Great Yarmouth VIP User Group, which helps people with visual impairment, and contributes community journalism to the recently launched 96k TalkBack website.
"We now have about 50 members of the VIP group, and it's great because people now know what services can be used. We're campaigning for redevelopments like that on King Street to take people with visual impairments into account, and it's important that we have our say."
This desire to influence and hold public bodies to account for the good of her community is what drives Siobhan to give up so much of her time helping others"
"Lots of people complain but don't want to do anything about improving things, which I don't think is right. By getting involved you can have a voice. I've made new friends and made a difference - it feels like a real achievement. I'm a people person and I believe in people." Find out more about 96ktalkback here
It was a crushing blow but, after two years spent coming to terms with her disability, she decided to change her life, and the lives of people in her Great Yarmouth community.
The 26-year-old is a key member of the consultation committee which is overseeing local healthcare developments on the Shrublands estate in Gorleston where she lives.
She also played a leading role in the Participatory Budgeting exercise, which made grants totalling £10,000 to community projects including a local fete, new play equipment, a memory group for older people and help for disabled swimmers. Siobhan also works with the Great Yarmouth VIP User Group, which helps people with visual impairment, and contributes community journalism to the recently launched 96k TalkBack website.
"We now have about 50 members of the VIP group, and it's great because people now know what services can be used. We're campaigning for redevelopments like that on King Street to take people with visual impairments into account, and it's important that we have our say."
This desire to influence and hold public bodies to account for the good of her community is what drives Siobhan to give up so much of her time helping others"
"Lots of people complain but don't want to do anything about improving things, which I don't think is right. By getting involved you can have a voice. I've made new friends and made a difference - it feels like a real achievement. I'm a people person and I believe in people." Find out more about 96ktalkback here
When teenager Stuart Green first noticed the posters at school calling for youth councillors, he dismissed it as not for him. But the more the 17-year-old from Dereham thought about it, the more he thought it might be fun to get involved and try to make a difference.
Before long, he was campaigning for election at Northgate High School to serve for two years as one of 15 youth councillors in the Breckland area.
That was in February 2009, since when Stuart has been elected to the UK Youth Parliament, been involved in dozens of youth projects and helped hand out £10,000 to schemes in Breckland that make a real difference to the lives of young people.
"It's been really, really good - I've really enjoyed it," he said. "I've done so many things I would not have done otherwise, like give presentations to rooms full of adults. The first time I was really nervous, but now I just give them without thinking about it."
"I'd encourage everyone to have their say. It might be really small but it could still make a change to yourself or other people. I've made a lot of new friends and met people I wouldn't have met before. I'd like to stay involved in some way when my term ends next February to keep in the loop."
Crucially, Stuart says people can put as much or as little time as they can afford into being a Vocal Local.
"You can decide how much time to put into it, but it really is worthwhile," he said. "The youth council meets for two hours each month, so it's not too much time to give up."
Find out more
Before long, he was campaigning for election at Northgate High School to serve for two years as one of 15 youth councillors in the Breckland area.
That was in February 2009, since when Stuart has been elected to the UK Youth Parliament, been involved in dozens of youth projects and helped hand out £10,000 to schemes in Breckland that make a real difference to the lives of young people.
"It's been really, really good - I've really enjoyed it," he said. "I've done so many things I would not have done otherwise, like give presentations to rooms full of adults. The first time I was really nervous, but now I just give them without thinking about it."
"I'd encourage everyone to have their say. It might be really small but it could still make a change to yourself or other people. I've made a lot of new friends and met people I wouldn't have met before. I'd like to stay involved in some way when my term ends next February to keep in the loop."
Crucially, Stuart says people can put as much or as little time as they can afford into being a Vocal Local.
"You can decide how much time to put into it, but it really is worthwhile," he said. "The youth council meets for two hours each month, so it's not too much time to give up."
Find out more
Food lovers in north Norfolk are in for a treat in September when up to 60 producers come together in the district's first food and drink festival.
And the man behind the two-day festival, to be held at Holkham Hall, says it's about time the area shouted a little louder about its world-class fare.
Teddy Maufe, a tenant farmer on the Holkham Estate, is leading the chorus after joining the North Norfolk Business Forum to come up with ways to promote local producers.
"There's a feeling in me, as a north Norfolk man, that we hide our lanterns under a bushel, and this business forum was like the key to really doing something about it," he said.
"I was born here and worked most of my life here - I love north Norfolk and I think that our food and drink is undersold to the Norfolk public. The area is genuinely rich in wonderful food and drink and perhaps there should have been something like this before, but I'm really pleased that now we have a vehicle to drive it along."
Teddy, 58, runs the farm with his wife Sally, growing sugar beet and malting barley which is supplied to 15 local micro breweries, whose beers are sold at the farm's Real Ale Shop.
He will have a stall at the festival, but his main motivation is to provide a platform for dozens of small producers.
As well as the day-time stalls, the festival will provide evening networking opportunities for producers to meet the owners of local gastro pubs and other outlets.
"We want to give the small producers, whether it's a fisherman or someone who rears pigs, the opportunity to show his wares not only to the public but also to possible business partners," added Teddy.
But whether it's organising large scale events or merely having your say on a local committee, Teddy is adamant that more people need to get involved in making a difference.
"That's basically why I got involved - because I could see that we could really do something positive to help people," he said. "I do think it's important because I think in England we are very good at crying into our beer and not doing anything about things.
"As well as just saying something should be done, there are real opportunities to join committees, town councils, and form or join business groups like the North Norfolk Business Forum to make a real difference." Find out more about the North Norfolk Business Forum here
And the man behind the two-day festival, to be held at Holkham Hall, says it's about time the area shouted a little louder about its world-class fare.
Teddy Maufe, a tenant farmer on the Holkham Estate, is leading the chorus after joining the North Norfolk Business Forum to come up with ways to promote local producers.
"There's a feeling in me, as a north Norfolk man, that we hide our lanterns under a bushel, and this business forum was like the key to really doing something about it," he said.
"I was born here and worked most of my life here - I love north Norfolk and I think that our food and drink is undersold to the Norfolk public. The area is genuinely rich in wonderful food and drink and perhaps there should have been something like this before, but I'm really pleased that now we have a vehicle to drive it along."
Teddy, 58, runs the farm with his wife Sally, growing sugar beet and malting barley which is supplied to 15 local micro breweries, whose beers are sold at the farm's Real Ale Shop.
He will have a stall at the festival, but his main motivation is to provide a platform for dozens of small producers.
As well as the day-time stalls, the festival will provide evening networking opportunities for producers to meet the owners of local gastro pubs and other outlets.
"We want to give the small producers, whether it's a fisherman or someone who rears pigs, the opportunity to show his wares not only to the public but also to possible business partners," added Teddy.
But whether it's organising large scale events or merely having your say on a local committee, Teddy is adamant that more people need to get involved in making a difference.
"That's basically why I got involved - because I could see that we could really do something positive to help people," he said. "I do think it's important because I think in England we are very good at crying into our beer and not doing anything about things.
"As well as just saying something should be done, there are real opportunities to join committees, town councils, and form or join business groups like the North Norfolk Business Forum to make a real difference." Find out more about the North Norfolk Business Forum here
Download case studies
To download the case studies take a look at the How to be a Vocal Local section of the Your Norfolk Your Say website. Click here to go to www.yournorfolkyoursay.org