Background

 

First Focus is a very well respected up and coming charity situated in the ancient market town of Fakenham in North Norfolk.  We have been operating since 2002 and during our first year we had 350 people use our facilities, opening only one session a week (10 am to 2 pm).  We eventually opened two sessions a week and now our numbers have increased to over 3,900 a year.

 

We were set up initially to assist people who suffer disabilities/illnesses of varying degrees, their families and carers, within Fakenham and the surrounding areas.  This will enable them to easily access the necessary information they needed under one roof, which has helped to make their lives less stressful and to give them the feeling of well-being, knowing that they are not on their own.

 

Support Groups

 

Since our inauguration we have expanded into a much more rounded organisation which includes more support and help for vulnerable people.  We run a club for survivors of strokes, and a club for people who suffer from diabetes.  We also have a resident representative from Disability Rights Norfolk (DRN) in attendance every Thursday.  Recently First Focus has organised a Coeliac support group. 

 

Other Organisations

First Focus is a member of Voluntary Norfolk which acts a voice for community and voluntary organisations, ensuring that whatever the organisation size, the value of volunteers and voluntary organisations is recognised and represented when public sector partners and government consider local and national policies and funding.

First Focus are also members of West Norfolk Voluntary & Community Action, which is a voluntary organisation set up and owned by local groups to support, promote and develop local voluntary and community action. WNVCA supports their members by providing them with a range of services and by acting as a voice for the local voluntary and community sector.

 

Interest Clubs

 

We have a Table Top Gardening Club, an Art Club and a Writers Workshop which has proved to be very popular.  There is also a Family History Researcher regularly available at First Focus.

 

Also, the Willow Enterprise Club which is aimed at people that require information and assistance to set up their own business.

A group of Volunteers are currently being trained to present Reminiscing sessions and there are volunteers who will help with Basic Computing on the laptops we have available for this purpose.

 

 

Theme Days

 

These are ‘specialist days’ when we invite representatives from specific groups such as The British Heart Foundation, Arthritis Care and others to attend First Focus to give advice to our clientele. 

 

More information about these Groups, clubs and Theme Days can be found in the ‘What’s On’ section.