Great Yarmouth and Gorleston are set to shine even brighter during this year's Organ Donation Week with six of the borough's most iconic buildings illuminated to raise awareness and encourage discussions about the importance of organ donation.

For Organ Donation Week this year - celebrated nationally from September 18 until 24 - the aim is to encourage at least 25,000 people to save future lives by taking two minutes to confirm their organ donation decision at www.organdonation.nhs.uk

The six buildings that will be bathed in a vibrant display of pink lights include Town Hall, Tollhouse, St George's Theatre, the Minster Church of St Nicholas, the Arc Cinema and Gorleston Pavilion.The illuminations will run for seven evenings from Monday, September 18, from dusk until late, providing a picturesque backdrop for people  to enjoy. 

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is delighted to announce that it has, once again, been honoured with the prestigious RSPCA PawPrints: Stray Dog Services Award (Gold). This recognition underscores the council's unwavering commitment to the welfare of stray dogs and its dedication to providing outstanding animal care services.

Launched in 2008, the RSPCA PawPrints Awards celebrate the outstanding work of local authorities across the UK in animal welfare, responsible pet ownership and the provision of services for stray dogs. Awards are granted based on the achievements and standards set by participating councils.

This recognition is a testament to the tireless work of the council's Animal Control Team, which has consistently demonstrated compassion, expertise and dedication to improving the lives of stray dogs in the Great Yarmouth area.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council is asking for feedback on its exciting plans to revitalise the iconic Winter Gardens, restoring the iron and glass structure to its former glory as a People’s Palace on the town’s seafront thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Winter Gardens is the last surviving Victorian glass house in the country and, in 2021, was one of five transformational projects across the country to be awarded a Heritage Horizon Award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Made possible thanks to funding from National Lottery players, the Heritage Horizon Awards were developed to support innovative projects that will revolutionise UK heritage.

With beautiful indoor planting, community spaces and café areas, the revitalised Winter Gardens will offer a special atmosphere brought to life with opportunities for leisure, entertainment and learning. It will breathe new life to the heart of one of the country’s most important seaside towns.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has announced the launch of a new social media campaign aimed at encouraging people and local businesses to actively participate in keeping the borough’s beaches free of litter.

The beaches of Great Yarmouth borough have long been a cherished destination for locals and visitors alike. Their natural beauty and golden sands providing an oasis of relaxation and recreation. However, as the popularity of the beaches continues to grow, so does the need to protect them from litter and other pollution.

The new campaign highlights the importance of correct waste disposal, including the use of designated recycling bins and encouraging the reduction of single-use plastics.

The Visit Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival, held this past weekend, has been hailed as a tremendous success, attracting tens of thousands of visitors and raising essential funds for East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA).

The event, which took place on Saturday, July 1 and Sunday, July 2, was organised by Great Yarmouth Borough Council with funding from Visit Great Yarmouth and additional sponsorship from Wellington Pier.

From motorbikes to trikes and vintage cars to modern supercars, the event's automotive showcases captivated enthusiasts and casual attendees alike. The festival grounds buzzed with excitement as attendees had the opportunity to get up close and personal with a stunning collection of vehicles, appreciating their design, craftsmanship, and historical significance.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council and East Suffolk Council have joined forces to launch an important new volunteering project, called Cultural Connections Volunteering, across the two Council areas.

People are invited to the free launch event taking place at the Time and Tide Museum on Blackfriars’ Road in Great Yarmouth on Thursday, June 29, from 6pm until 8pm. Her Worship the Mayor of Great Yarmouth, Councillor Penny Carpenter, will officially launch the project, before encouraging attendees to enjoy one of the free heritage walks led by The Shoebox Experiences or join a special out-of-hours tour of the Time and Tide Museum, featuring the new Bare Bones exhibition.

Running until March 2025, Cultural Connections is a two-and-a-half-year initiative which aims to utilise the momentum generated through the two council’s joint City of Culture bid to build on the volunteer offer across Great Yarmouth and East Suffolk. 

Determined walkers defied sweltering conditions to complete a 32-mile trek and raise more than £40,000 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

The charity’s Pier 2 Pier challenge took participants along the stunning Norfolk Coastal Path from Cromer to Great Yarmouth. Eighty-eight people took part – another nine signed up but had to pull out because of injury or illness – and that tally included families who have received support or continue to be supported by EACH. Others represented businesses who were keen to get involved and raise funds.

The walkers set off at 7am and the first person to cross the finish line, Lee Hopkins, reached Cromer nearly nine hours later at 3.50pm. The final walkers finished around 8pm.

Great Yarmouth's Wellesley Recreation Ground, which contains what is thought to be the oldest wooden football grandstand in Britain - and possibly the world - is set to reopen to the public following major improvements.

The regeneration project, a collaborative effort between local authorities and community stakeholders, has transformed Wellesley Recreation Ground into a state-of-the-art facility. The reopening marks the result of months of dedicated planning, development and investment, with the aim of creating a park that meets the evolving needs and desires of the people in the borough.

To celebrate this significant occasion, Wellesley Recreation Ground will be hosting a reopening ceremony on Saturday, June 17,  from 9.30am. The event will feature exhibition matches with representative teams from Great Yarmouth Town FC, including girls, youths and under 18s and will offer the opportunity for people to explore and experience the new facilities.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council has been working with a wide range of community groups to involve them in the ambitious new project to restore the town’s iconic Winter Gardens

As part of its consultation work around the exciting regeneration scheme, the council team has been running workshops, site visits and events to explain the plans for the seafront landmark and seek community feedback and input.

The Winter Gardens is the last surviving Victorian glass house in the country and, in 2021, was one of five transformational projects across the country to be awarded a Heritage Horizon Award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund made possible thanks to funding from National Lottery players/ The Heritage Horizon Awards were developed to support innovative projects that will revolutionise UK heritage.

Thanks to public feedback, a walking trail to highlight some of the tremendous 'ghost signs' in the town centre has successfully launched.

Time and Tide Museum and Great Yarmouth Borough Council teamed up to create a trail that would send participants back in time whilst exploring the parts of the borough’s history which are hidden in plain sight.

'Ghost signs' are old shop signs and architectural features that have survived despite changes in the use of buildings.

The trail team asked residents to share their memories, photographs, and other images and that has helped create a unique downloadable map that can be used to explore the historical advertising and signs across the Town Centre.