The document discusses efforts taken in the village of Ryburgh, North Norfolk to strengthen their community. It describes how the village launched a community-owned shop and post office, started a community car scheme, and were shortlisted for an award. This was enabled by village residents investing in the shop, identifying issues like access, and effective consultation. The opening of the shop in 2009 has served as a community hub. Challenges included the closure of services, but new initiatives like the Good Neighbor Project aim to support isolated residents through volunteer assistance.

1. Strengthening Communities Rybugh in North Norfolk -An example of how it can be done

2. What’s been done in Ryburgh? Launched Community owned shop including Post Office Community car scheme supported by Parish Council Short-listed for Pride in Norfolk Village of the Year 2009 Community newsletter launches 2009 ‘Ryburgh People’ Good Neighbours Project –planned Access to Services Project-planned

3. What has enabled this community? Linking up services in the village Go ahead attitude- shares were bought by village residents for the village shop totalling £26,000 as well as securing total funding for the shop of £130,000 Focused attitude , issue in village around access to village shop identified and then followed through.

4. Forward thinking Parish Council supporting development of new services Effective community consultation- village residents were asked what they wanted from the shop.

5. Opening of shop 2 nd March 2009 Great Ryburgh Community Shop & Post Office Opens!

6. Village shop as the hub

7. Parish Council support October 2006 Ryburgh Parish Council invited Norfolk RCC along to discuss close of shop. Oct 06-May 07 Meetings between Norfolk RCC and group wanting to take things forward May 07 Public meeting about village shop

8. June 07-March 09 CIC Established and funds raised for shop Funders include: Norfolk Community Foundation, Co-Op, Norfolk County Council, and EEDA. 2 nd March 2009 Shop opens!

9. Challenges that village faced Primary school closed Village shop closed Post mistresses retired Limited activities for young people Youth club closed some anti-social behaviour on the playing field.

10. Good Neighbour Project What is it? -Voluntary local initiative run by group of local people. -Groups respond to need of local people Ie Giving a lift to Drs surgery, shopping, befriending/home visiting, gardening etc -Similar projects running successfully in Bedfordshire, Wiltshire and Suffolk for past ten years. (Above Glemsford Good Neighbour Project in Suffolk)

11. Case Study Dorothy Page – Shotley and Erwarton Good Neighbour Project in Suffolk Age 82 living on her own, one of her sons before suddenly very ill. Suddenly she was left with son’s dogs and a round taxi trip to hospital costing £25 to see her son. Good Neighbour project found volunteers to take her to hospital and to walk the dogs daily over the next 2 months. Other volunteers helped with cleaning windows, fixing a broken bed and taking Dorothy to the eye clinic.

12. Who will benefit? Community as a whole- more cohesive. Project is flexible-each community can determine what tasks they will assist with Support may range from supporting a parent with supervising homework time to taking an older person to a Drs appointment. Community benefit-create more links between members of the community. Isolated members of community- gives them a safety net. Volunteer benefits-Feel part of the community.

13. How will it work? Each project will have a mobile phone Steering committee members alternate having phone. When they receive call for help they will assess request and contact available volunteer. Volunteer will visit client and assist. Steering committee will keep log of tasks completed. Average number of calls per scheme 24 per month ( Suffolk ACRE- Good Neighbours scheme)