End the year on a positive note:
Karen James-Welton AKA Fabulous Miss K:
‘On a professional level I hope to get my book on making vintage part of your everyday wardrobe published and be able to encourage people to move away from fast fashion to a more sustainable way of shopping with workshops and shopping trips.
Personally I want to move towards zero waste lifestyle in the hope to save the planet from the devastation that we have caused. I would hope that this year has taught us to appreciate the simple things in life such as a hug from friends and family, spending time rather than money, and to realise what is really important to us. I very much want travel again and I am determined to make the most of every day and not waste a moment of this precious life as it is so short and fleeting we have to embrace every second and make it count.’
Allison Holloway of WalknCraft:
‘Here are some of our collective hopes: that we find a way out from the virus that has changed the world. We will all have learned lessons from 2020 and how important it has been to pull together as a community for the common good. Let us remember how important family and friends are and we continue to be grateful for the things we have and to the people who have continued to provide a service during these difficult times. That our club can meet again at the Community Centre and our friends stay healthy and the world finds peace. That we carry on seeing nature through fresh eyes and appreciate how wonderful the world around us is and being determined to preserve it for future generations. Let us remember what it was like to breathe clean air and listen to the birdsong and that we commit to saving our planet while we still have a chance.’
Ellie Armstrong of Awearness:
‘2020 has definitely been a challenging year, especially to start a new small business! That being said, it has given us so much free time that we wouldn’t otherwise have, to be creative and reflect on our ideas. We’ve spent a lot of the year walking together on the beach talking through our ideas or on endless video calls to one another celebrating every sale we make, no matter how big or small.
In 2021 we hope to spend more time together amongst nature and really throw ourselves full force into Awearness so that it can grow to become everything that we hope it can be. We’re excited to expand our clothing range beyond tops and t-shirts and grow our range of designs, all whilst being as ‘green’ as possible.
Our biggest ambition for 2021, however, is at the core of why we started Awearness in the first place. We hope to spread further awareness of lesser known endangered animals and make a difference to their lives through sustainable slow fashion.
Here’s hoping 2021 will be a year of ambition, positive messages and growth.’
Kalaina Hughes of Hughes & Friend:
‘We just really hope the events industry can get back on its feet after one of the toughest years it’s ever faced. We have a calendar full of 2021 summer weddings and celebration events that have already been postponed multiple times and we would love for them to go ahead this year. Although we have had an amazing first year of business and the support we have received has been incredible, we feel we have so much more to give. Hughes & Friend is about big sharing feasts and bursting floral installations, and we hope now that there is a vaccine that we will get to provide our services in the way that we had originally planned. Outside of work we are dreaming about having a pint in the pub, at the bar, without a substantial meal in sight!’
Hayley Gerrard of Norfolk and Waveney Mind:
‘My hopes and dreams for 2021 are that I will be able to see and hug all those I’ve not been able to see and hug in 2020 and to party like it’s 1999. Seriously though, I hope that during 2021 we learn from what has happened in 2020 and that things change for the better. These being: building on the strong sense of community, being kind and looking out for one another. That and working from home becomes a permanent option for employees and that we continue support our local charities and businesses and to help them to both survive and thrive.’
Thorraya Button of Oichi Drinks:
‘As 2020 draws to a close, we have been reflecting on the Oichi journey so far. From delivering our first kombucha bottles to friends and family in April, to upscaling, moving premises, wholesaling across the county and going to markets with our kombucha cart. It really has been busy year, full of challenges, change and adapting to the ‘new normal’ that we all find ourselves in. Now we look forward to 2021 by introducing some new product lines of other healthy and delicious fermented foods including sauerkraut and a unique kombucha pickle. As well as launching a wonderful kombucha starter kit with online video tutorials so our customers can enjoy the satisfaction of brewing their own kombucha. We never would have imagined that we would have come so far so fast. It’s not been without hard work and dedication but we feel grateful that we have done it together. Wishing you all a healthy and happy new year.
Shifa and Thorayya @ Oichi ferments.
Suzy Smith of Bace Foods:
‘I read a lovely quote recently in the book North by Scott Jurek. “What matters most is how you walk through the fire” – Charles Bukowski. This seemed very relevant for the times we’re living through. There’s no denying that 2020 has been tough for everyone in different ways. Separated from friends and family, losing loved ones, losing livelihoods and making huge adjustments to our daily lives. The natural world has helped me to get through this year. There’s something stabilising about the changing of the seasons. Noticing leaves unfurl, bluebells carpeting the floor of woodland, marvelling at busy bees, watching leaves turning in Autumn. These natural occurrences help to ground me and show that life goes on. I’m looking forward to seeing the first snowdrops appear, the first bulbs poking their heads through the soil. It’s the simple things that please me and give me hope.
I’m determined to remain optimistic and focus on new beginnings in 2021. I’ve got some fresh challenges to keep my mind sharp and to provide distraction. We’ve got a gorgeous new puppy called Monty so he’ll encourage us out into nature, regardless of the weather. There’s lots of scientific evidence to suggest that nature bathing helps our mental health. I’m looking forward to the prospect of gathering friends and family around my table once more to share meals and chatter. We will get through this together and be stronger for it. Happy new year and I wish you all well as you navigate the fire.’
Amanda Matthews of Refill Leiston:
‘As I’ve said previously, it’s been a strange year for setting up a business, especially a retail one! However, as hard and ‘not to plan’ as its been, its also been encouragingly positive! There’s been a shift in people’s views this year: people wanting to shop small and support local; people realising how important it is to slow down and refocus, and, most important of all, people realising that we need to do more to protect the world around us – and that doing so doesn’t need to be hard or expensive!
My hopes for 2021 are that we can continue to build from the positives we found in this crazy year – just hopefully with more hugs!’
Jayne Raffles of Egg Consultancy:
‘What have I learnt in 2020? Be grateful for the simple things: family, health and dear friends. Being able to enjoy the simple pleasures of our fantastic Norfolk countryside, from the windswept beaches to woodland walks.
I’m hoping 2021 will bring all of the above but more freedom to explore and enjoy time with the people I really cherish spending time with. Covid has exposed the real joy and importance of companionship. I’m hoping and praying that hospitality, leisure and arts can emerge from a truly shocking year. Seeing the incredible resilience and pure genius of business owners changing and adapting business models, makes me so very proud and hopeful we will survive whatever is thrown at us. Working within the hospital catering environment has been a life changing experience, making me truly grateful and appreciative of our magnificent NHS.’
Angela Brett of Chadwicks:
Pete Sargent, author of My Word!
‘After nearly 25 years of city life I’m returning to the countryside. From January I’ll be swapping the fine city of Norwich for the wide open spaces and big skies of my native fenland. It’ll be a different life. There should even be a new book in it! I may even get a bit fitter from all the cycling I’m planning. My hopes are for a new start, fresh inspiration and a change of fortune. And I wish the same for everyone else in 2021.’
Simon Wright, Chief Executive of Nelson’s Journey
‘Bereaved children have had so many challenges in 2020. Attendances at funerals were limited, schools and youth groups were closed or restricted, and families and friends couldn’t meet up to support each other as they would have done in previous years. 2020 was also a year in which people came up with new ideas to share memories of those people who died, and technology allowed families and friends to support each other across great distances through difficult times. Our hope is that whatever 2021 brings, it will include more opportunities for children and families to share their memories and understand their feelings openly and together. Nelson’s Journey is very grateful for the support of the Norfolk community in 2020, without which our work with families couldn’t happen. Our fundraising fell significantly due to the pandemic, but people dug deep so we could continue our work. Thank you so much to those who keep on supporting us into the New Year so that we can help bring back smiles to Norfolk’s bereaved children.’
Donna Tarr of Norfolk Nordics
‘The term ‘health is wealth’ springs to mind. Without good health nothing truly matters. 2020 has been tough but I found Nordic walking and I hope I can share my passion with more people in 2021. It is so important to find an activity that keeps you moving, keeps you active and, most importantly, as healthy as you can be. Make 2021 the year to eat a little better and move a bit more to improve your mental and physical health. That’s what I’ll be doing.’
Jonathan Houseago – champion of Hedgehog Highways
‘As I write this update things are going very well with the Hedgehog Highways in Thurston. The developers Persimmon Homes and Hopkins Homes are continuing to build the new houses and the Hedgehog Highways are being put into those developments. In the new year with Covid restrictions permitting I hope to visit the developments at College Park and Thurston Park to see their progress. Each of the new house holders for each development will receive a leaflet in their welcome pack explaining the hedgehog highways and on how to make their gardens hedgehog friendly.
In order to try and make the whole of Thurston village Hedgehog friendly and to promote hedgehog highways in the rest of the village I have posted Hedgehog highways leaflets through 500 of the village homes letterboxes (I still have another 500 to do the rest of the village). The leaflet included a link to the ’Thurston Hedgehogs’ facebook group page which I have setup. It gives members the opportunity to discuss anything to do with hedgehogs, post videos and pictures of their night visitors and ask for help in installing hedgehog highways. The group currently has 57 members.
Hedgehogs continue to be an endangered species and if we don’t do anything to stop their decline we could loose them altogether in the next 10 years. in order to stop this decline Government legislation is needed to make developers include Hedgehog Highways in all new housing and industrial developments and to put Hedgehogs on the schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. Please consider signing these two petitions:
https://www.change.org/p/help-save-britain-s-hedgehogs-with-hedgehog-highways
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/550379?fbclid=IwAR2U3U5YQ_bUcRJjd8AU0aHgOu5N_Sf24BIjoURItHPwUb4sBzDRxRzyuSw