A community support marketplace held at a primary school proved so successful there are already plans for another.

A range of organisations were invited to take part in the inaugural event at Gaywood school, designed to help families who may be facing barriers when trying to access support they need.

“Families often face complex challenges – ranging from financial pressures and health concerns to educational needs and emotional wellbeing. Extra support agencies help bridge these gaps by providing specialist knowledge, practical assistance and early intervention,” said Lara Wardill, pastoral support, attendance and safeguarding officer.

After discussions with Lex Smith, Early Help Community Worker in West Norfolk, the idea of creating a marketplace at the school, a member of the West Norfolk Academies Trust, developed. It was very well supported, both from local organisations and families.

“As the organiser, I really wanted to put together an event that gave everyone in our school community a chance to come together in a relaxed, stress-free environment. It was all about creating space where people could feel comfortable and connect with local support services without any pressure.”

Executive headteacher Neil Mindham said: “I was delighted that we were able to host this Community Marketplace Event in our school. Bringing together so many local services and organisations under one roof was a wonderful opportunity for our families to find out what support was available to them.

“We were incredibly proud of our partnerships with these teams and hope that everyone who came along felt welcomed, informed and inspired by the wealth of expertise in our community. This is something that we hope to host termly as a valuable ongoing resource for our families.”

Extra support agencies help to bridge any gaps in health and welfare by providing specialist knowledge and offering practical help and signposting. Among those taking part were Mental Health Support Teams, Family Voice, Norfolk Family Hubs and King’s Lynn Foodbank.

“We fully intend to run it again. It is clear that this kind of event fills an important gap,” added Ms Wardill.