The Government asked all local authorities to find suitable accommodation for homeless people in shelters and hostels to enable them to self isolate properly. All those identified have now been relocated to alternative accommodation where they have their own room and are able to follow social distancing guidance. They are also being provided with welfare support, 3 meals a day, toiletries and will soon be provided with clothing bundles.
This was no mean feat and would not have been achieved without the support of partners in west Norfolk providing assistance.
Cllr Adrian Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Housing said: “I would like to thank all of those involved for their efforts in ensuring the safety and protection of the homeless in our area. While we know this is a time of concern for many, our top priority needs to be the most vulnerable in our community. This has been a mammoth task in such a short timeframe and I’m pleased to see that yet again the council has pulled together with community partners including the Purfleet Trust Day Centre, the Winter Night Shelter and Alive West Norfolk to ensure some of our most vulnerable members of the community are protected. Broadland Housing Association also stepped forward with providing accommodation. We wouldn't have achieved this without their support" .
The Purfleet Trust have worked with the council and Alive West Norfolk to ensure the safe accommodation of 26 people.
Paula Hall, Chief Executive of the Purfleet Trust said: “We are continuing to provide wrap-around support to ensure people feel safe and supported during this time as well as complying with social distancing. Whist facing a number of challenges during this period Purfleet staff Kathy Adams and Charlotte Stringer are coordinating continued support from the Trust. Our staff are providing continuity with familiar faces, 3 meals a day, welfare support and ongoing practical support”.
Neil Gromett, Managing Director of Alive West Norfolk said: “We were happy to redeploy Alive staff and support these other partnerships groups to ensure a smooth transition for the homeless in West Norfolk”.
The Winter Night Shelter and the Purfleet Trust Day Centre are now closed. Anyone homeless needing assistance should contact the council on 01553 616200 (option 4 then option 1) during office hours or 01553 616601 outside office hours. Under no circumstances should anyone needing accommodation be presenting directly to emergency accommodation without being instructed to by the council.
If you are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, please let the council know as soon as possible.
Cllr Stuart Dark Portfolio Holder for Emergency Planning / Response to Covid 19 said: “The council is working tirelessly to ensure local communities and businesses are protected at this time. Please follow government advice to stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.”
A new crazy golf game that’s opened in The Walks, King’s Lynn, close to the café is already proving popular.
Cllr Brian Long, Cabinet member for Corporate Services, said: “Our public open space team installed this refurbished crazy golf game at the end of last week and already hundreds of people have stopped to play it"".
“We have also integrated this into the borough council’s Summer of Play programme, where we offer a range of activities for children and young people by giving them something that helps them have fun, socialise and be more active. To play a round here, and hire a club, it costs only £1.50 per adult and £1 per child. This can be booked at the café".
A well-supported community clean up at beaches along the West Norfolk coast on Sunday resulted in around 30 bags of rubbish being removed.
The event was organised by the council’s Single Use Plastics Working Group (SUPWG) and was attended by a number of borough councillors, including the council leader, Cllr Stuart Dark MBE, chair of the SUPWG, Cllr Terry Parish, the council’s cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Paul Kunes, and Councillors Sandra Squire, Carol Bower, Ben Jones, Chris Morley and Anthony Bubb.
The event was also attended by the area’s MP, James Wild, parish councillors, the council’s chief executive, Lorraine Gore, family members and members of the public.
Flags were waved, boats walked down the high street, there was dancing and sea-shanties sung in King’s Staithe Square, along with a festival regatta on the river as part of the 12th King’s Lynn Hanse Festival.
Cllr Graham Middleton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Business, Culture and Heritage at the borough council, said: “The sun was shining and the crowd flocked to see the parade of flags through town and the entertainment on stage in King’s Staithe Square.
“I would like to thank King’s Lynn Hanse Group, Wells and King’s Lynn Coastal Rowing Club, Stories of Lynn, King’s Lynn Town Guides, the teams at the Minster, Hanse House, Marriott’s Warehouse, Clifton House Tower and The Place for making this a great event again and for encouraging people to visit King’s Lynn and enjoy what the town has to offer.”
A floral display has been created in King’s Lynn to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.
Created by Jason Wells with help from Sam Martin, who work for the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, a specially created badge bed in Tower Gardens marks the occasion with flowers. There are a mixture of plants such as Begonias, Pelargoniums, Marigolds, Dahlias and some Cannas as centre pieces.
Cllr Brian Long, Cabinet member for Corporate Services, said: “The message in the Tower Gardens display is to mark the historic occasion of the Queen’s 70 years of service and I’m pleased that everyone in the borough can visit and see it. These plants add a nice splash of colour to our green spaces. It looks stunning and should be in place for people to come and see until early November.”
Children from St Martha’s Catholic Primary School in King’s Lynn have been learning about the town’s history through a fun activity to recreate some of its buildings using recycled materials.
Developed as part of the five-year Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) project, the lessons aim to inspire today’s young people to learn about and protect their historic environment.
Speaking after a visit to see the children working on their buildings, Cllr Richard Blunt, the borough council’s cabinet member for development and regeneration and chair of the HAZ project board, said: “King’s Lynn has a rich and varied history that is important to preserve, from its associations with King John to its strategic importance as a medieval trading port. This project is helping to educate future generations about our local heritage and learn why it is important to conserve it, and I have been amazed to hear how much they know. These are also living buildings that remain part of our culture and they are still used: I was talking to one boy about the town hall and explained to him, ‘that’s my office!’”