Health and wellbeing support in North Norfolk

Discover a wide range of activities and advice for adults and children in North Norfolk to boost your health and wellbeing.

The survey results we ran in May 2023 demonstrate that being outside in nature and spending time with friends, family, and pets are essential for the wellbeing of people living in North Norfolk.

Nature connection

Sustainable living and environmental awareness for young people

The Papillon Project is an educational charity that promotes sustainable living and environmental awareness among young people. Working with secondary schools and sixth-form colleges in Norfolk is our continued privilege to inspire young people to grow their food for themselves and their local community.

Social meets and peer support

Get Me Out The Four Walls offers peer support and informal social meets for parents and carers living in Norfolk and Suffolk to overcome social isolation. Our team of volunteer ambassadors organises our informal social meets.

Get into walking, jogging or running

Parkrun is free, and you only need to register once, whether walking, jogging, running, volunteering or a combination.

Walking group

Walking group run by Coastal Health and Wellbeing in Wells.

Forest school and outdoor learning

Wild by Nature is a safe outdoor learning, play and connection with nature for children, parents and carers.

Inclusive access to Blakeney harbour

The North Norfolk Wheelyboat 'Poppy' is a specially designed ferry boat that enables disabled people to access Blakeney Harbour.

Motor cruiser trips and sailing sessions

Our Wellbeing on the Water initiative offers anyone receiving palliative care or a terminal disease diagnosis the chance to come and have a relaxing motor cruiser trip or sailing session free of charge. You can also bring family and friends, which are included at no cost.

Therapeutic gardening

The Nurture Project is a social enterprise operating a therapeutic year-round garden project, supporting adults with mild to moderate mental health issues. It aims to provide an impartial and safe space for adults to improve their mental and physical wellbeing in a friendly but structured environment. No gardening experience is required, and participation is offered on a one-to-one and small-group basis.

Connect with nature

The Norfolk Green Care Network believe in the power of connecting with nature and welcomes all who are interested or actively involved in fostering Green Care activities that deliver a 'nature connection' for people.

Volunteering opportunities

Join the Good Neighbour Scheme

The North Walsham Good Neighbour Scheme is a volunteer-run scheme that offers short-term practical support to people in North Walsham.

Improving wildlife habitats in Cromer

Cromer Green Spaces aims to improve the beautiful seaside town of Cromer for wildlife. If you have the time, knowledge or skills that could benefit wildlife in Cromer, they would love to hear from you.

Become a countryside volunteer

Become a volunteer and meet new people. We'll even provide gloves and tea and coffee. We welcome anyone over 16 to our sessions.

Carry out practical conservation work with our NNDC rangers to help improve habitats for wildlife, where you can lend a hand with physically active work and learn new skills such as tree planting and pruning, making wildlife homes, and much more! 

Help improve the Norfolk countryside

The Felbeck Trust helps to restore and improve the Norfolk countryside for the benefit of wildlife and to provide places of peaceful enjoyment for local communities and visitors alike.

Practical management work, species surveys, nest-box building and more are all done by volunteers, so extra pairs of hands are always welcome! They provide tools and refreshments.

Get involved with Cats Protection

Cats Protection welcomes volunteers with open arms. Whether young or old, male or female, there's a place for you with them.

Animal rescue

Volunteering to help at FAITH Animal Rescue is an amazing and fulfilling way to spend your free time helping with the care of animals in need.  Help is needed at the rescue centre, caring for the animals, such as cleaning cat cabins, walking dogs, mucking out horses, sheep, and pigs, and more.

Become a seal warden

Help the Friends of Horsey Seals by volunteering to become a seal warden.

Help the canal recovery project

The North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust is made up entirely of volunteers in many different roles, but as their volunteers' lives and circumstances change, they could always do with more help. They welcome young people interested in obtaining a certificate that may aid further education or qualifications. 

North Norfolk beach cleans

Beach cleans are therapeutic, great for wellbeing and good mental and physical health, an excellent way to meet like-minded people, get some fresh air and exercise and keep our beaches safe and pleasant for us all to enjoy while protecting our marine environment and wildlife, so please come along and get involved.

Support our Norfolk rivers

The Norfolk Rivers Trust are looking for volunteers. If you are a conservationist, angler, bird lover, or someone who likes to be beside the river or all these things and would like to be added to their list of enthusiastic supporters, then please get in touch.

Volunteering opportunities across North Norfolk

The North Norfolk Volunteer Hub has volunteering opportunities across North Norfolk.

Healthy mind, healthy life

 

History and local heritage 

The Restoration Trust initiates and runs projects connecting people with mental health issues to heritage, including archaeology, ancient landscapes, historic places and archives. Stimulating friendship, curiosity and imagination, these projects help people feel more human again.

Support with common mental health and emotional issues

Wellbeing Norfolk and Waveney provide a range of support for people with common mental health and emotional issues, such as low mood, depression or stress. They work with you to help you make the necessary changes to improve your wellbeing and quality of life.  Their services are free and are available to people aged 16 and over living in Norfolk and Waveney.

Free educational workshops and courses

The NSFT Recovery College provides free educational workshops and courses for anyone over 16 in Norfolk and Suffolk. Courses are designed to support people to invest in their wellbeing, find empowerment on their mental health journey, and become experts in their recovery.

Support for mental health and wellbeing

They provide various services and groups to support people's mental health and wellbeing. When you're managing a mental health problem or supporting someone who is, having access to the correct information and support is vital. 

Groups and activities for men

Menscraft run various groups and activities across Norfolk for men who want to do something, get out and about, meet people or just chat.

Football programme for men 

Active Norfolk's All To Play For is a weekly socially inclusive drop-in football programme for men aged 18 and over struggling with poor mental health, which has made a significant and positive impact on the lives of participants.  It is open for anyone to join and completely free.

REST Aylsham

REST Aylsham is a partnership project that brings together mental health support, local services and a place where everyone can feel welcome. REST stands for Recover, Eat, Support, and Talk, reflecting how we can connect more in our community.

Children and Young People's Health Services

Emotional and mental health information is available for children, young people, parents, and carers.

Answers to your health questions

Trusted help, advice and information for 11 to 24 year olds.

Online support and counselling for young people

Kooth is a free, safe and anonymous place for young people to find online support and counselling.

Improve your health and wellbeing

Healthier North Walsham gives you access to useful organisations in the area that can help you to improve your health, both mental and physical, and to find support in your community, whether you need a friend to connect with, a hand with your shopping, or a local group to get you out and about.

Counselling and group sessions for people on low incomes

Fig branch provides treatment for people on low incomes who cannot afford private therapy. They offer individual psychotherapy, group treatment sessions, and a range of holistic therapeutic single-day events, such as gardening groups, bird watching, relaxation or meditation, coffee mornings and creative writing.

Hop on the WOW bus

The WOW bus travels across Norfolk and Waveney to support those who need extra help with their health and care. Services currently offered on the bus will vary between vaccinations, screening, and health and financial advice.

Ready to Change

Be healthier this year, and start with Ready to Change. Make positive changes to your life, whether it's eating healthily, drinking less, quitting smoking or moving more.

Help in a crisis

Use 111 or contact a Samaritan for immediate advice and support.