Friday Politics: Downham Market councillor Josie Ratcliffe on Swan Youth Project, ‘Gingerbread Trail’ and funding for improvements to heating

In our latest Friday Politics column, Cllr Josie Ratcliffe discusses Downham’s Swan Youth Project, a ‘Gingerbread Trail’ and funding for improvements to heating…

“Do you want to make the world around you a better place to live? Do you want to see your values making a real difference in people’s lives?”

This is how I was encouraged to stand for election to the borough council back in 2019.

I realised I hadn't heard from any local councillors since moving to Downham Market a few years earlier.

Perhaps they were making a difference in our community? It wasn't possible to tell. So I decided that, rather than complaining, I would stand for election myself.

Since being elected to represent East Downham ward, I've learned about sources of support for residents and shared that information in my ‘Focus’ newsletters.

One of our outstanding local organisations is the Swan Youth Project (SYP). SYP welcomes and supports all young people who drop into their sessions, working with the whole family if appropriate, and young carers receive expert and sympathetic support.

Earlier this month, SYP invited supporters to meet their team and hear how they've helped some young people who were facing challenging situations.

Chair of Trustees, James Bagge, welcomed everyone including Terry Jermy MP and me to their presentation evening.

In fact, we three were opponents in this year's general election, but we share many values and we each want the best for our communities, including supporting SYP.

Back at the borough council, our Housing Standards team runs those ‘Beat your Bills’ roadshows you might have seen advertised.

Among other advice, they are experts on government funding for improvements to home insulation and heating.

It's great that 130 local households have already had fully funded work done, achieving warmer homes with lower bills and reduced carbon emissions.

Your improvements might be funded if your household meets any one of these criteria:

- Combined household income under £31,000 per year (before tax etc.)

- Someone has a listed health condition that make them vulnerable to the cold

- Receiving certain benefits

If a household is eligible, the householder selects a Trustmark-approved supplier to do the work, and we have some excellent local tradespeople.

For information visit www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/eco4 or call 01553 616200. The web page includes an eligibility checker.

Speaking of local tradespeople, some of ours recently created the ‘Downham Market Gingerbread Trail’.

Downham Market is known as the Gingerbread Town because of its carrstone buildings.

Pick up a passport, follow the map to find gingerbread houses in shop windows and collect a stamp at each one.

Passports can be collected from Mabel Bakery on the High Street and other shops on the trail. I'm pleased this lovely community initiative was supported by ‘Love your Town’ grants from the West Norfolk Council, plus Norfolk County Council and Mabel Bakery.

Good luck collecting your stamps!