Latitude Festival returns for an incredible sold out 5th Edition on 15-18th July 2010 set in the beautiful countryside of Henham Park Estate on Suffolk’s Sunrise Coast.

Celebrating its fifth year, Latitude continues to lead the way as a bold and pioneering festival cherry-picking the very best from the worlds of music, theatre, comedy, literature, film, poetry, dance, art, fashion and cabaret and bringing them together for one glorious weekend. It is a place like no other; an intimate world away from reality that encourages you to be all that you’ve ever wanted to be whilst indulging in the spirit of exploration and discovery.

Latitude 2010 is sold out, tickets will not be available anywhere onsite so please do travel to the festival unless you have tickets purchased from an authorised outlet. Please do not buy tickets from touts, any tickets which are not genuine will be turned away from the festival.

Festival Republic have been working closely with Suffolk Constabulary and Suffolk County Council Highways to develop traffic management plans which aim to ease congestion around the site, minimise disruption to the road network and ensure regular road users are affected as little as possible.

The A12 and the A145 in the vicinity of Henham Park will be busy on Thursday, Friday and Monday as festival goers head to or from Latitude Festival and so drivers are advised to allow extra time for their journeys or use alternative routes wherever possible.

Peak traffic flows are likely on the A12 northbound and the A145 southbound during the late morning and afternoon of Thursday 15th July and the morning of Friday 16th July as festival goers arrive on site. Most traffic is expected to depart the site late in the evening on Sunday 18th July and before noon on Monday 19th July when traffic will be heavy on the A12 in both directions and the A145 southbound.

- The routes to the festival will be well signposted and have been publicised by the organisers via promotional literature, the internet and in written information sent out with all tickets to the event.

- Those travelling from the south on the A12 will be directed straight into site from the A12.

- Those travelling from the Lowestoft direction on the A12 will be directed straight into site from the A145 via Middle Barn Lane which connects the A12 and the A145.

- Those travelling south on the A145 from the Beccles direction will be directed straight into site from the A145.

- Day ticket holders will be directed straight into site from the B1123.

- Temporary speed limits of 30mph and no stopping orders will be in force along the A145 and A12 and the first section of the B1123 in the vicinity of the gates into site from Thursday to Monday and will be enforced by Suffolk Constabulary

- Temporary Traffic lights will be in operation on the junction of the A145 and the A12, the junction of Middle Barn Lane and the A12 and at some exit gates on the A12 all day on Monday. Please allow additional time for your journey on the A12 and A145 on Monday or consider alternative routes where possible.

- A one way system westbound will be in situ from the entrance to Henham Quarry along Middle Barn Lane and Craven Manor Lane to the junction with the A145 from Thursday to Sunday night.

- A one way system eastbound will be in situ from the A145 along Middle Barn Lane and Craven Manor Lane to the entrance to Henham Quarry on Sunday night and Monday day time.

- A no right turn order will be in situ on the A12 turning right onto Middle Barn Lane on the Monday.

NHS Norfolk is warning members of the public that there is a significant chance that temperatures will reach very high levels over the coming weekend and is reminding people how they can protect themselves from the associated risks of prolonged temperatures and sun exposure.

With the World Cup final and the Lord Mayor’s Procession in Norwich both taking place this weekend, people may be spending a lot of time in the sun or be consuming alcohol. But with latest weather predictions suggesting temperatures could reach around 30°C in the shade, NHS Norfolk is urging people to be aware of the dangers of spending too much time in the sun or in conditions of high heat.

People are also encouraged to consider the risks for those people around them who may be especially susceptible to the risk during periods of high temperatures, such as the very young, the elderly, and people who regularly use multiple medications. People who consume alcohol may also feel more effected by the heat, as alcohol tends to dehydrate people without them realising.


What are the dangers of spending too much time exposed to the sun?
Spending extended periods in conditions which are too hot can have a damaging and dangerous effect on the body. Among other things, these dangers include:

- Dizziness and fainting: Commonly due to dehydration, people often report feeling light-headed and may faint after being exposed to heat for a period of time.

- Heat exhaustion: This also tends to occur as a result of dehydration, which results in a rise in body temperature to between 37ºC and 40ºC. Left untreated, heat exhaustion may evolve into heatstroke.


How can I protect myself?
To avoid becoming dehydrated and developing the complications above, there are some key ways in which you can stay safe:

- Try to plan your day in a way that allows you to stay out of the heat.

- If you can, avoid going out in the hottest part of the day between 11 and 4pm.

- If you can’t avoid strenuous outdoor activity, like sport, DIY, or gardening, keep it for cooler parts of the day, like early morning or evening.

- If you must go out, stay in the shade - wear a hat and light, loose-fitting clothes.

- Whenever you go out, take plenty of water with you.


NHS Norfolk's Assistant Director of Public Health, Jonathan Williams, said: "The heat can affect anyone, but those who are more at risk include people over 75, babies and young children. People should avoid going outside during the hottest part of the day - from 11 and 4pm, and if they have to go out stay in the shade.


"Drink regularly even if you do not feel thirsty, ideally water or fruit juice. You should contact your GP, pharmacist or NHS Direct, if you feel unwell or have any unusual symptoms."


For more advice about how to look after yourself and others during hot weather - go to www.norfolk.nhs.uk and search for ‘heatwave’. Or visit www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Summerhealth/Pages/Heatwaveamberalert.aspx

If you are concerned about your own or someone else’s symptoms during the heatwave, call your GP, pharmacist or phone NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for advice.

Nick Baker introduces us to an unsual garden visitor - the mole. This is a rare chance to get up close to this elusive and rarely seen creature. Marvel at his flexible pointy nose and massive tunnel digging feet (that's the mole, not Nick!).

Two local NHS Foundation Trusts have linked to provide their members with more information about how to cope when family or friends with dementia go into hospital.

Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are hosting a joint event called Coming into hospital - improving care for patients with dementia. It is being held from 2pm to 5pm on Tuesday 10th August at the John Innes Conference Centre, Norwich.

The event is open to members of both NHS Foundation Trusts and the general public. Book for the event by ringing the Membership Office at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on 01603 287634 or e-mailing membership@nnuh.nhs.uk

David Prior, Chair of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our staff are working closely with those in mental health to learn new skills and ensure we provide the best possible care for patients with dementia.”

Maggie Wheeler, Chair of Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said: “As a mental health trust we have considerable experience and expertise in working with people with dementia.


“But people with dementia also get cancer, have heart disease, break their legs - they need to know that as well as the excellent physical care they require, the special needs of their dementia will also be understood. That is why understanding dementia is vital to all of us in our community - and why I welcome this joint initiative”.


Facts on Dementia:


- Approximately 600,000 people in the UK have dementia. This represents 5% of the total population aged 65 and over, rising to 20% of the population aged 80 and over (www.dh.gov.uk). As we get older our chances of developing dementia increases sharply, but younger people can get dementia as well.


- It is estimated that by 2017 there will be 12,740 people with dementia in Norfolk, a rise of 132 per cent, and that by 2021 there will be 14,260 people with dementia in the county.


- Studies estimate that two thirds of acute hospital inpatients are 65+ years old and that 31% of this older population will have dementia at any one time. A further 22% will have some form of cognitive impairment (figures taken from whocareswins, 2005). The NNUH has about a thousand beds; meaning that even at conservative estimates, over 200 of these patients will have dementia at any one time.


- The Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust will be opening a Dementia Intensive Care Unit in March 2012.

The Bure Valley Railway, as an eighteen-mile round trip, is Norfolk longest fifteen inch gauge line and runs between the pretty market town of Aylsham and the ‘Capital of the Norfolk Broads’, Wroxham, with stops in Brampton, Buxton and Coltishall. Many of the services on the line are run by steam engines and are a great way of seeing some of the prettiest countryside in Norfolk.

The Broads are fantastic for family holidays and those who take a Norfolk Broads cottage have a wealthy of opportunities for family fun days out, such as the Bure Valley Railway, sailing, canoeing and windsurfing on the Broads and numerous other outdoors activities in beautiful surroundings!

So, why not ride the Bure Valley Railway this July and enjoy a FREE British classic to cool you down on the way!

Local Tom

Carlton Court is a mental health hospital that has wards providing specialist care for older people and is part of the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. It provides both community and inpatient services for older people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Carlton Court is currently inviting tenders from interested parties who would be able to provide a mobile hairdressing service for the 5 inpatient wards at the hospital.

Michelle Allott, Modern Matron at Carlton Court for Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said:

“It is important that we aim to meet all our service users’ needs alongside their treatment and medical care. Maintaining the aspects of peoples’ lives that are important to them and their values is central to the person centred care we strive to deliver at Carlton Court. For many of our service users, personal appearance is very important, especially having their hair done.“

Family members and carers have highlighted the importance of having their loved ones appearance maintained, especially as in other ways so much of the person may become lost due to their illness.

A mobile hairdresser at Carlton Court is seen as a very important addition to patient care and will not only help maintain individual dignity but will also provide a therapeutic activity for many people.

If you are interested in submitting a tender please send an expression of interest to:

Michele Allott
Carlton Court Hospital
St Peter's Road
Carlton Colville
Lowestoft
NR33 8AG

Along with the written expression of interest you will need to send an up-to-date price list and submit evidence of public liability insurance.

Norwich Puppet Theatre has been awarded a £60,000 Arts Council England Grant through the National Lottery for two new productions with leading puppetry company Indefinite Articles and highly-reputed puppeteer Peter O’Rourke. Rehearsals for The Chalk Giants are now beginning and the show opens at Norwich Puppet Theatre on 24 July for a 2-week run before showing at the Edinburgh Festival in late August. A gala performance is planned to take place in Norwich in September, with two further public performances before the show then goes on tour to schools and other venues across the East of England. Tickets for the performances in July are already on sale and schools interested in booking a place on the tour should contact the Puppet Theatre. The second production with Peter O’Rourke, a fresh take on the classic tale Little Red Riding Hood, will begin to be developed in 2011.

Whilst the Norwich Puppet Theatre, as an arts charity, still faces challenges with the sustainability of its core funding, the latest project award from the Arts Council reflects their support for the Theatre’s exciting vision for the future.

“We are delighted to have received funding for the new productions. It marks the beginning of a new chapter at Norwich Puppet Theatre. Following core funding cuts in 2008, as experienced across the arts sector, the theatre has been reshaping itself, programming high quality puppetry and offering a wide range of educational activities. Our vision is to produce once more, high quality puppetry productions for regional audiences to enjoy. This will re-establish Norwich on the map as a centre for puppetry excellence – The Chalk Giants is our first step along this road. We hope people will support our latest venture and come along to see The Chalk Giants this summer!” - Nic Hopkins, Chair of the Board, Norwich Puppet Theatre.


The Chalk Giants, which is ideal for families with children age 5 and over, is based on an old English folk-tale and creates a world of magic and mystery with chalk drawings, light and shadow puppetry. Writing for the production has been commissioned from Guyanese-born John Agard and music has been commissioned from Jonathan Lambert. The story, which was researched and developed with local people and schools, references features of the landscape, both real and legendary, through improvised storytelling about the Icknield Way in Suffolk (known as the ‘chalk belt’) and its local myths.

Indefinite Articles’ work with Norwich Puppet Theatre has enabled them to explore new aspects of puppetry: “The Chalk Giants is an exciting production as we will be interacting with the audience with improvisation and scripted narrative. By working within one of the few building-based organisations dedicated to the development and advocacy of puppet theatre in the UK, we have been able to focus on further exploring the theatrical use of puppets and objects in the translation of narrative ideas. We hope to engage people with chalk as a material which is both vital and tactile (one now almost obsolete in the classroom) and to excite and inspire them with the animated lines and images created in the performance. We are proud to be sharing the exciting venture with Norwich Puppet and are delighted to be able to use the theatre, with its great facilities for puppeteers, as our base” - Sally Brown and Steve Tipaldy, Indefinite Articles.

Norwich Puppet Theatre, one of only two theatres in England dedicated to puppetry, is 30 years-old at the beginning of December. Celebrations kick-off with a special exhibition at Fusion in the Forum, Norwich, from 29 November - 3 December. The birthday will also include a party and an auction of glove puppets signed and decorated by a host of celebrities. The anniversary programme is set to run over several months. More information will be announced with the launch of the theatre’s autumn programme. The season will also see the unveiling of the theatre’s new visual identity developed by East Publishing, which will be evident with a striking new events brochure and website.

Since opening in 1980, hundreds of puppetry professionals have developed their art and skills in devising, directing and performing puppet theatre in Norwich. They have become some of the leading names in the puppetry community, at the heart of the art form in the region, the UK and Europe with hundreds of performances reaching audiences across the world.

“We are immensely proud of the part Norwich Puppet Theatre has played in the development of puppetry as an art form and in training some of the leading puppeteers in the sector. Amongst the Theatre’s alumni and the companies with whom they have gone on to work are Ray DaSilva (the founder), Peter O’Rourke (Spitting Image, Little Angel Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company), John Roberts (Puppetcraft), Sean Myatt (Nottingham Trent University), Joy Haynes (Banyan Theatre), Zannie Fraser (Ripstop Productions), Mark Pitman & Iklooshar Malara (Garlic Theatre), Luis Boy, Mark Whitaker (with Horse and Bamboo Theatre and others), Sam Dutton (Royal Shakespeare Company and others) to name but a few” - Ian Woods, General Manager, Norwich Puppet Theatre.

Now is the time of year when gardens in Norfolk are reaching their summer peak. With warm sunny weather forecast take the opportunity to enjoy the splendours and sights of some truly fabulous new gardens and at the same time help raise much needed funds for the charities that the National Gardens Scheme supports. July brings the interest of a new NGS open garden nearly every week of the month welcoming visitors into them. Garden enthusiasts are spoilt for choice with many other regular gardens open providing a garden trail of interest across the county.


The Bear Shop, Elm Hill, Norwich is opening for the first time for the National Gardens Scheme, the location featured in many famous films. It is open 11 - 4.30, Admission £3 or combined with Strangers Hall £4.50, children free The garden is considered to be based on a design by Gertrude Jekyll, a small terraced garden behind a C15 house in the historic Cathedral Quarter of Norwich.

Four Seasons, Cheney's Lane, Forncett St Mary makes its debut on Sarurday,10th July, open 11 - 4, admission £4.50, children free. It is a richly planted 2½-acre garden, wide range of herbaceous plants, roses, and trees, many of which are raised here. It is the home of a former nursery. The owners, now retired, have more time to devote to enriching the plantings still further.


Heronsbridge, Bawburgh Road, Marlingford opens with 4 Mill Road on the 11th July. It is open 11 -5 with a combined admission of £4, children free. There is a story to this garden (ask the owner). The River Yare runs the length of the garden, with plenty of wildlife especially the kingfisher. The beds are a mixture of herbaceous perennials and shrubs. There are fruit and other trees, one old ash which is kept for nesting birds and other inhabitants. Gravel drive, small step to grass, slope down to river, some beds at drive level.

Two new gardens open on the 25th July. Dale Farm, Sandy Lane, Dereham opens 11-5, admission £3.50, children free. It is a 2 acre plant person’s garden with spring fed lake. Over 700 plant varieties featured in exuberantly planted borders and waterside gardens. Kitchen garden, orchard, naturalistic planting areas and wood sculptures. Garden completely redesigned in 2007. Gravel drive and some grass paths. Exhibition of natural wood sculptures.

Sharane, Lynn Road, West Rudham opens 11-5, admission £3.50. It is a third of an acre plantsman’s garden, created over several years by enthusiastic owners. Densely planted colourful borders of perennials, hostas, ferns, roses, iris, some exotic plants and grasses, with a collection of over 90 dazzling day lilies. Other features of interest, small pond with wildlife, raised vegetable beds, greenhouses and fruiting bushes and trees.

Norfolk County Organiser Anthea Foster said “Many new gardens open each year, often with another garden nearby. It forms not just a great day out for the garden visitor but gets the whole community involved and raises its profile locally. It encourages gardeners to down their tools and sit on a garden bench in a stranger’s garden while supporting the charities of the National Gardens Scheme.

For more garden days out ideas visit your local Tourist information, garden centre, nursery or open garden to pick up a Norfolk NGS Garden Guide or visit www.norfolkgardens.org.

If your garden is blooming now is the time to contact County Organiser Fiona Black to discuss opening your garden for the NGS. Tel 01692 650247.


Founded in 1927, The NGS has raised more than £25 million for charity in the last 10 years.
www.norfolkgardens.org

Henry Moore Textiles, a major exhibition of Moore’s fabric designs from the 1940s and 1950s, opens at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts on Tuesday 22 June and runs until Sunday 29 August. Henry Moore’s passion for colour and form is revealed in this exhibition which brings together dress and upholstery fabrics with large-scale wall panels, drawings, lithographs and sculpture. Henry Moore Textiles is a critically acclaimed touring exhibition, developed by The Henry Moore Foundation.

“Henry Moore is best known for his monumental sculpture and visitors to his studio and home at Perry Green are often astonished to discover that the artist also worked on an intimate scale. The textile designs in this exhibition reveal many illuminating aspects of his work, with links to his interests in non-Western art, organic form and perhaps surprisingly, vivid colour.” - Anita Feldman, exhibition curator and Head of Henry Moore Collections and Exhibitions, The Henry Moore Foundation, Perry Green

Moore was first approached for fabric designs by Czech textile manufacturer Zika Ascher in late 1942 or early 1943. Ascher had settled in London with his wife Lida, having managed to escape the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia while on honeymoon in Norway. They set up a new textile production company and soon commissioned leading artists to create designs for scarves, to be produced in rayon and parachute nylon, as well as silk. Moore worked closely with Ascher on the project, and later went beyond the brief to create designs that could be used for dress and upholstery fabric. By the late 1940s Moore had moved on from repeat textile designs and was experimenting with limited editions of textile panels comprising single figure motifs, that could be hung as objects of art in themselves.

The project gave Moore an opportunity to experiment with designs that would be accessible to all, and particularly suited his socialist belief that modern art should be a part of everyday life. As Manchester’s Daily Dispatch proclaimed in 1953, “We can’t all afford to hang a Picasso on the wall - but very soon we’ll be having Henry Moore curtains at the windows!” Moore’s own home at Hoglands featured bedspreads and curtains made by his wife Irina from the fabrics he designed.

Ascher was impressed with Moore’s work, writing to him in 1970, “I feel that some of the non-figurative designs show the real strength of your art.” The textiles found wide appeal, with his Barbed Wire design appearing in the 1947 British film They Made Me a Fugitive. For the public, aspirations of glamour were firmly linked to the stars of cinema, and Moore’s dress fabrics were an affordable way to emulate their screen idols.


During the war and in the post-war years, Utility regulations limited textile production, leading to a ‘make-do-and-mend’ climate and an often drab colour palette in clothing and domestic fabrics. Ascher’s project saw the potential to inject a new creativity into British textiles and give the country something to look forward to. Moore’s colourful designs looked forward to a new era, while his recurring mother and child motif became an evocative symbol of community and stability after the dark days of the war.


The influence of the war shows in the more hard-edged designs on display, which incorporate images of barbed wire and safety pins. Other designs feature more whimsical subjects seen nowhere else in his work, such as sea creatures, caterpillars and piano keys. The colours of the designs are particularly unexpected from an artist who felt that colour was a distraction from the appreciation of form, and therefore did not paint his sculptures: vivid pinks and greens, zigzag motifs and swirls of interspersing colours are common elements.

“It’s always fascinating to discover less well-known aspects of a great artist’s work and I know that for many people the exhibition will be a revelation, especially in the light of Henry Moore’s early fascination with the kind of world art that is so well represented in the Sainsbury Centre’s permanent collections.” - Nichola Johnson, Director, Sainsbury Centre.

Henry Moore Textiles runs concurrently with unearthed, an exhibition of prehistoric ceramic figures from the Balkans and Japan.

Loddon Mill Arts is delighted to have commissioned an exhibition of new works by one of Britain's leading artists and Norfolk resident, David Dane.

The Exhibition runs from 19th - 31st July, 2010, between 10:00 and 16:00 daily and is 'free' for anyone to attend.

It also includes an exhibition by artist in residence Theo Fenning.

The exhibition can be previewed at a special exhibition launch concert on Sunday 18th, July 2010 at 18:00 given by the Henschel Quartett. The 'internationally renowned' Henschel Quartett, are Artistic Patrons of Loddon Mill Arts, and return to the UK in July. Billed as 'One of the outstanding German string ensembles of the moment' by the New York Times, they will perform works by Haydn, Schumann & Schulhoff at Loddon Mill Arts, Norfolk.

The Concert begins at 18:00. Doors open at 17:00. There will be the opportunity for champagne tasting during the interval, hosted by our sponsors Adnams of Southwold. Tickets are £15. Ticket Hotline: 01508 521800

Diary Dates regarding Wildlife and Garden Events at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve in Norfolk.




July 10th & 24th/August 7th 2010Event: Dragonfly Walks
Join our resident expert Thomas Spencer for the chance to have Pensthorpe dragonflies and Damselflies identified for you. Dazzling masters of the air, dragonflies are a fascinating feature of Pensthorpe. Enjoy seeing how many species you can find. Prior booking essential. Appropriate clothing and sensible footwear essential.
Time: 12.30pm
Price: Adults £11.00, seniors £9.50, children £7.30, Season Card Holders £2.00

July 3rd, July 17th, July 21st, July 31st 2010
Event: Butterfly Walks
Our resident expert Thomas Spencer will show you the various habitats which attract 21 species of butterfly to Pensthorpe. Come and see how many you can find. Prior booking essential. Appropriate clothing and sensible footwear essential.
Time: 12.30pm
Price: Adults £11.00, seniors £9.50, children £7.30, Season Card Holders £2.00


September 25th and 29th 2010
Course: Photography Workshop Moths & Waterfowl with Mike Powles
Go behind the scenes at Pensthorpe and photograph some of the birds we have on show, then get up close to the delicate nature of moths. During the course of the day Mike will help you with composition, exposure, field craft, equipment choices, getting the best from your equipment and much more. You should bring your own camera and appropriate clothing/ footwear for the day. Mike Powles is an award-winning wildlife photographer who has been featured on BBC Springwatch.
Time: 7:00am - 13:00pm
Price: £65.00 per person. Booking esential. Light lunch included.
Other Photography workshops available:
September 29th - Moths & Waterfowl

October 9th 2010
Tour: Farm Landrover Tour with Bill Jordan
Join owner Bill Jordan as he takes you through our Conservation Grade Farm, learn how this type of farming benefits the farmer and the surrounding countryside. The journey should last approximately one hour and is followed by a cooked breakfast in our cafe.
Time: 8:30am - 9:30am
Price: £11.50 per person. Includes cooked breakfast. Booking essential as space is limited.

First Monday of every month – March to December 2010
Course: Optic Days
Get the low down on binoculars, scopes and all the hi-tech equipment used for birdwatching and photography. Come and see demonstrations and try a wide range of models, all under the instruction of experts from Viking Optics. Beginners to experts welcome.


For More Information:
Telephone: 01328 851465
Or visit www.pensthorpe.com

The new BFI restoration of Cavalcanti's 'Went the Day Well' opens 9 July 2010.

To book tickets, visit http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_sou...

Cavalcanti's wartime film, based on a story by Graham Greene, still unsettles, even shocks, with its subversive, almost surreal spectacle of a cosy English village under Nazi attack in the Second World War.

Disguised as British soldiers, the invading Germans insinuate themselves into a pretty village inhabited by British character players so familiar to wartime audiences that they must have seemed like family members. Always the mischievous foreign observer, Cavalcanti kicks away their usual charm, letting them kill and be killed in a violent battle for their green, pleasant land. Critics' reactions at the time were mixed; but now we can properly relish this visionary film, as jolting and quizzical about British life as anything by Powell and Pressburger.

This film is screening as part of Long Live Film, a major project celebrating the 75th anniversary of the BFI National Archive. Further information at http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive75

Over the past decade Norwich-based community choir, Hearts and Voices has raised over £8,000 for local and national charities. To mark its 10 year anniversary Hearts and Voices has decided to focus its fundraising efforts closer to home to raise money for the Sing Your Heart Out project (SYHO).

The award-winning SYHO project began in 2004 with the support of the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. SYHO is open to anyone who wants to sing - and there is no requirement to read music. Participants are guaranteed great fun, and the chance to sing enjoyable arrangements of popular songs, and easy harmony songs from all over the world to benefit their mental health.

The singing sessions have been such a success they have spread across Norfolk, but the project is in need of funds to continue past March 2011.

A “Songs of the Earth” concert will be performed by Hearts and Voices to raise funds for the SYHO project in South Norfolk. Songs will have a connection to the earth and will range from well known classics such as “I can see clearly now the rain has gone”, to spiritual and world songs. The concert will be held at St Mary’s Church, Attleborough, NR17 2RH on Saturday 24 July.

Advance tickets are £6 or £4 concessions and can be reserved on 01508 489619 or from The Book Fountain, Wymondham or Nuts & Bolts, Attleborough. Tickets will also be available on the door at £7.50 or £5 concessions.

For further information or to donate money to Sing Your Heart Out please visit www.syho.org

NHS Norfolk’s Stop Smoking Service has helped more people than ever before to stop smoking.

It helped 4457 smokers in Norfolk (excluding Great Yarmouth) in 2009/2010 according to the latest figures, compared to 4282 the year before and 4039 in 2007/08.

NHS Norfolk's Stop Smoking Commissioning Manager, Jennie Pusey, said: "We are continuing to build on the success of the NHS Norfolk Stop Smoking Service and we are pleased to see it has helped nearly 4,500 people to a healthier lifestyle.

"We believe there are something like 117,000 smokers in the NHS Norfolk area and we know that if they stop smoking they will greatly reduce their risk of dying prematurely through cancer, heart disease or suffering from chronic breathing problems."


People wanting help to quit can call the Stop Smoking Service on 0800 0854 113.

NHS Norfolk commissions services which aim to make finding support to give up smoking as accessible and flexible as possible. These include the Norfolk Stop Smoking Service, which is provided by Norfolk Community Health and Care (NCH&C), and offers patients professional support, tips and nicotine replacement therapy (such as gum or patches) to help them give up the habit.

People can also obtain information about the support on offer to help them stop smoking from their GP practice or can stop into their local pharmacy for advice.

NHS Norfolk has also recently commissioned the Keystone Development Trust to provide a stop smoking service for migrant workers in the Thetford area.

Thursday (July 1st) is the third anniversary of smoke free legislation coming into effect in England and Wales. The legislation outlawed smoking in pubs, clubs and all public buildings and has had a major effect on public health. Research has suggested the legislation has brought about 1200 fewer heart attacks across England in its first year alone. It saved the NHS an estimated £8.4 million and may have prevented almost 200 deaths.

The Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians recently reported says that about 2 million children in the UK currently live in a household where they are exposed to cigarette smoke and many more are exposed outside the home. Children are particularly vulnerable to passive smoke exposure.

It reported tobacco smoke is responsible for:

- Over 20,000 cases of lower respiratory tract infection
- 120,000 cases of middle ear disease
- At least 22,000 new cases of wheeze and asthma
- 200 cases of bacterial meningitis
- 40 sudden infant deaths, one in five of all sudden infant deaths

Each year, these cases generate over 300,000 UK GP consultations and about 9,500 hospital admissions, and cost the NHS about £23.3 million.

NHS Norfolk's Tobacco Control Manager Clive Slater said: "The success of the smoke free legislation in terms of compliance is clear cut and it has delivered remarkable results in terms of public health.

"It has brought excellent benefits for individuals who have been spared the risks of passive smoking at work and when they go into public buildings."

A survey has shown more than 40 per cent of parents are illegally fronting, and I am sure they must know its against the law...


Many parents know fronting is illegal, and really believe they stand to save over £180 pounds.

Don't forget if a driver is found to be fronting they could have all or part of their claims refused by their insurance company, complete with their policy cancelled and face a prosecution for fraud and leave them with a criminal record.

Perhaps the current economic situation is causing more people to jump on the bandwagon and try fronting, but parents must realise that it may seem harmless to do this but in long term are helping towards prosecution and the chance of not obtaining insurance in the future, and setting poor examples to their children.

Through doing this parents are not helping their young drivers to the importance of responsible driving.

It is a known fact the quicker younger drivers start their own insurance and start their own no claims discount by being the main driver, the more affordable this will make insurance for them in the future...