Monday 1^st June marks the 2^nd anniversary of the City Host scheme delivered by Norwich Business Improvement District (BID) and also the start of Volunteer Week.

Hard to miss in their highly visible BID branded “Here to Help” tabards, the City Hosts welcome, guide and assist visitors throughout the BID area, providing help and advice to enable them to gain the maximum benefit and enjoyment from their visit.

Now entering their 3^rd year the scheme relies heavily on the valuable time given by a team of over 40 volunteers who are out on the streets of Norwich come rain or shine.  The team are very diverse and aren’t just for Norwich natives; including students and those relatively new to Norwich but they all have a shared passion and enthusiasm for the city and are keen to share their insights.

Norwich City Hosts play a big part in key Norwich events – they were out in force for the Christmas light switch on and are now looking forward to GoGoDragons where they will be sporting new tabards helping to promote the trail.  The Hosts will also be out and about during Norwich BID’s Head Out, Not Home free summer evening events programme which commences on 25 June.

Stefan Gurney, Executive Director, Norwich BID said, “I am very proud of our City Host scheme and I give enormous thanks to all the volunteers who dedicate their time to assist others in the city centre and who are so passionate about Norwich.  The scheme is proving popular, with Lincoln and Lowestoft now adopting volunteer ambassador projects.  We look forward to seeing the scheme grow and encourage new volunteers to come and get involved”.

The team from Pandora’s Kitchen are big supporters of the scheme and said, “We love what the hosts do for our fine city, such a welcome sight in rain or shine.  Their support for everything associated with Norwich and in particular the smaller, independent outlets is much appreciated”.

The scheme is endorsed by Lord Coe and last year the Lord Mayor of Norwich donned a blue tabard to experience what it’s like to be a City Host.  The scheme is now been used as a national exemplar to other BIDs in the UK including Lincoln BIG and Lowestoft Vision.

Maureen Keddy, Lincoln BIG said, “We were invited to visit Norwich to learn more about the Host scheme and how this might benefit the development of the Lincoln Ambassador scheme. Our visit was incredibly positive and enormously helpful; we met several volunteer hosts who are all clearly very proud of their city”.

“It was very evident that Norwich City Hosts are having a really positive impact on people’s experience of the city, they are helping people find interesting and different places to visit, and promoting the city as a friendly, lively and interesting place to be.  The scheme is proving very successful and local people are used to seeing Hosts out and about in Norwich”.

“There are many similarities between our volunteer schemes and sharing the good practice which is clearly working well in Norwich gave Lincoln Ambassadors a real boost and renewed enthusiasm to make our Volunteer scheme the best it can be”.

Jason Cookson, BID Co-ordinator of Lowestoft Vision said, “We are going to be introducing ‘Lowestoft Discoverers’ later in the year which is based on the Norwich City Host scheme albeit on a smaller scale.  Visiting Norwich City Hosts was refreshing with many interactions with the public, all of whom found the information on offer a great help”.

The scheme also assists the volunteers, some of which are students, to develop new skills which can help them enhance their CV and future job prospects.  Becoming a City Host is also a great way of meeting new people whilst learning and sharing information about Norwich.

Lauren Norman said, “Without the scheme I would not have developed the confidence needed to pursue my career goals.  I aspire to a career in law, and that mainly involves advising people, but I’m really shy.  However, after becoming a City Host I’ve found that I’m talking to people more and my confidence as increased in my seminars”.

The hosts are not only available out on the streets of Norwich, they can also be found on social media – stay up to date with them on Twitter @NorwichCityHost.

Norwich City Hosts are always looking for new volunteers to join the team.  Unlike other volunteer schemes, the City Hosts operate on a flexible basis to fit around home and work life commitments.  For more information about the scheme and how to become a Norwich City Host please call 01603 757931, email [email protected] or visit www.norwichbid.co.uk.

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