Could you spare two hours to help tackle loneliness?

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Sometimes, just a couple of hours can make a real difference to someone’s day.

The Thetford Rickshaw Project is looking for volunteers to help bring companionship, fresh air and enjoyment to local residents who are experiencing loneliness or isolation.

The project offers free rickshaw rides around Thetford and along the river, giving people who may struggle to get out the opportunity to enjoy their local surroundings while spending time with others.

Two ways to get involved

There are two volunteer roles available, each playing an important part in creating a positive experience for passengers.

Rickshaw riders

If you enjoy cycling, you could become a Rickshaw Rider. The rickshaw is fitted with an electric pedal-assist motor, so you don’t need to be a super-strong cyclist. Your role will be to take passengers on short, enjoyable rides around the town.

Chatty Chums

If cycling isn’t for you, you can volunteer as a Chatty Chum. You’ll accompany solo passengers on their ride, providing friendly conversation and helping to make the experience enjoyable and sociable.

Helping people reconnect

The Thetford Rickshaw Project aims to reduce loneliness by helping people who may otherwise struggle to get out and about. Whether it’s enjoying the scenery, sharing stories or simply having someone to chat with, every ride can make a meaningful difference.

Just two hours of your time could help brighten someone’s day and strengthen connections within the local community.

Find out more

If you’d like to become a volunteer or would like more information about either role, please contact:

Amber: amber@keystonetrust.org.uk

Easter raffle raises £450 for charity

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Warren’s Easter raffle was a great success this year, bringing colleagues together for a good cause and raising an impressive £450 for the British Heart Foundation.

The raffle saw strong support from across the business, with plenty of ticket sales and a good range of prizes up for grabs. A full list of winners was shared on the day, rounding off what was a positive and well-supported event.

A big thank you goes to everyone who bought tickets and helped make the raffle such a success, as well as to those who kindly donated prizes. Contributions like these play an important part in supporting charities that make a real difference.

Christmas raffle success for Macmillan

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This year’s Christmas raffle was a huge success for our chosen charity, Macmillan Cancer Support.

Thanks to everyone who took part, we raised £570 through the raffle, with a further £430 raised from the sale of Chromebooks. This brought the total donation to an incredible £1,000, which will go directly towards supporting the vital work Macmillan does.

Charity fundraising has become a very important part of life at Warren Services, and it’s something we’re very proud of. Each year, the generosity and enthusiasm shown by our team helps us make a meaningful contribution to causes that matter.

A big thank you to everyone who got involved, and special thanks to Christine and Becky Webb for their help in making the raffle such a success.

Bury St Edmunds rickshaws – community support on wheels

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The photo below captures just some of the dedicated volunteers behind Bury St Edmunds Rickshaws, a brilliant local initiative making a real difference in the town.

Both the Bridgman and Ross families have personally sponsored one of the rickshaws for several years, helping the project grow and thrive. Today, the group operates six rickshaws and supports the community in a variety of ways, which includes offering free rides around the town for elderly and infirm residents, as well as collecting surplus food and donated goods from local shops, supermarkets and businesses.

All items collected are passed on to charities supporting people in need, including those experiencing homelessness and local food banks. It’s a practical, people-focused approach that combines kindness, sustainability and community spirit.

Expanding the idea to Thetford

Richard Bridgman explained how the success of the project sparked a new idea.

Inspired by how well the scheme works in Bury St Edmunds, he began exploring the possibility of launching a similar initiative in Thetford. Earlier this year, Breckland Council purchased the first rickshaw for the town, marking an important first step.

Support is already in place, with Keystone Trust agreeing to help run the Rickshaw Project from their Riversdale Centre. While there are still challenges and processes to work through before it becomes fully operational, the foundations are firmly being put in place.

Watch this space

As plans develop, volunteers will be needed across a range of roles to help bring the Thetford Rickshaw Project to life – drivers and coordinators along with support roles behind the scenes, there will be plenty of opportunities to get involved.

To learn more about the Bury St Edmunds project, visit bserickshaw.org.uk. Further updates on the Thetford initiative will be shared as plans progress.

Only The Brave – Supporting Nathan Cubley and the East Anglian Air Ambulance

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On 21 September 2025, Warren’s very own Nathan Cubley will be lacing up his trainers and taking on Only The Brave, a tough challenge event in aid of the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA).

The East Anglian Air Ambulance is a cause close to many in our region. They provide advanced critical care, 24/7, 365 days a year, responding to the most seriously ill and injured people across East Anglia – by both air and road. On average, their crews attend eight critical emergencies every single day, with each mission costing around £4,250.

What makes their work even more remarkable is that the charity receives no regular government funding. Instead, it relies entirely on the generosity of the community. Every donation helps their highly skilled doctors, paramedics, and pilots deliver life-saving treatment when it is needed most.

Nathan is proud to take part in this event and is hugely grateful for all the support received so far:

“I’d like to thank everyone who has sponsored me – every penny will help save lives across East Anglia.”

If you’d like to show your support, you can visit Nathan’s fundraising page here:
👉 Donate to Nathan’s Only The Brave challenge

Good luck, Nathan – the whole Warren team is behind you!

Easter raffle raises £500 for local NHS charity

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We were delighted to receive a thank you letter and certificate from the team at My WiSH Charity, who recently received a £500 donation from Warren – raised through our Easter raffle.

The funds have been directed towards the WiSH Upon A Star Appeal, which supports the care of young patients across the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. Whether children are being treated in hospital, at home or at a child development centre, this appeal ensures they receive the support they need.

Sally Daniels, Fundraising Manager at My WiSH Charity, wrote:

“Thank you so much to everyone at Warren Services for donating £500 for our WiSH Upon A Star Appeal. This appeal allows us to enhance the care of young patients.”

We’re incredibly proud to support such a meaningful cause, and it’s a great reminder of the impact we can make when we come together as a team – even through something as simple as a raffle.

A big thank you to everyone who bought tickets, donated prizes, and helped organise the event. Your generosity has helped to brighten the lives of children and families in our local community.

Spreading Christmas Cheer with the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal 2024

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This year at Warren, our annual Christmas raffle was about more than just festive fun, it was about giving back to our community. We were proud to support the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal 2024, a local initiative dedicated to spreading holiday cheer to families in need across Norfolk.

About the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal

For many families, the holiday season brings added pressures, and the need for support is greater than ever. Nourishing Norfolk’s food hubs play a crucial role in providing affordable food and essentials to thousands of people throughout our community. This year, they asked businesses like ours to help stock Christmas crates full of holiday treats and essentials, ensuring that every family could enjoy a festive meal, regardless of their circumstances.

A stocked Christmas crate costs less than £5 per family and includes items like gravy, stuffing, and mince pies – simple treats that can make a world of difference. With a total goal of £1,500, the appeal aimed to provide over 300 families with a little extra joy this Christmas season.

How we supported the cause

At Warren, we rallied behind this wonderful initiative through our Christmas raffle, with all proceeds going directly to the Nourishing Norfolk Christmas Appeal. As always, we included supplier gifts in the raffle, and we encouraged everyone to buy tickets to help us raise as much as possible for this fantastic cause.

A warm meal, a festive treat, and the knowledge that their community cares – these are gifts that can transform the Christmas for families facing challenges. Every donation, big or small, had a real and lasting impact. Thank you for your generosity, and for making a meaningful difference this festive season.

Movember at Warren: Raising Awareness for Men’s Health

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This year, several of our team members joined the global movement of Movember, growing moustaches throughout November to raise awareness of men’s health issues. While we weren’t the best at capturing before-and-after pictures of everyone, we’re proud to share a snap of Jamie Mills, who represented the effort brilliantly!

Movember is more than just a chance to sport a new look. It’s about sparking conversations and raising awareness for critical issues in men’s health, including:

  • Mental health and suicide prevention
  • Prostate cancer
  • Testicular cancer

These are topics that don’t always get the attention they deserve, and Movember is leading the way in changing that, one moustache at a time.

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who participated this year – your efforts helped raise awareness for these vital health issues.

Will Bridgman Visits East Anglia Air Ambulance for CEO Networking Event

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This week, our Managing Director, Will Bridgman, participated in an insightful event hosted by Turning Factor, a learning and development training provider, at East Anglia Air Ambulance. This gathering brought together CEOs and business leaders from across various sectors to share knowledge, experiences, and grow meaningful connections.

The event, organised by James Howells, Director of Turning Factor, aimed to create a supportive space for CEOs, offering them the opportunity to connect with others facing similar challenges and gain insights into each other’s fields. The highlight of the day included a presentation and a tour of East Anglia Air Ambulance, allowing attendees to see the impressive work and innovation behind the life-saving operations of the air ambulance team.

James Howells thanked Will Bridgman for his participation, saying, “I wanted to thank you for coming to yesterday’s event. Your presence and engagement were the beginning of what we hope to be a powerful forum. We hope you enjoyed the presentation and tour from East Anglia Air Ambulance and found it as interesting as we did.”

This event marks the beginning of a promising network where local business leaders can come together for mutual support and collaborative opportunities, driving growth not only within their companies but also across the community.

Warren Is Growing a MO for Movember!

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This year at Warren, we’re taking part in Movember and we’d love to see the men join in on this meaningful cause. Starting at the end of October, we’re encouraging everyone to begin the month clean-shaven, then grow out their moustaches throughout November. The moustache is more than just facial hair—it’s a powerful symbol that encourages life-saving conversations about men’s health.

Why Movember matters

Movember is the leading charity dedicated to changing the face of men’s health. The movement focuses on raising awareness and funds for critical issues such as mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. By growing a moustache, you’re helping to shine a spotlight on these important topics and encouraging others to engage in conversations that can make a difference.

How to get involved

It’s simple: at the end of October, go clean-shaven and then start growing your moustache on 1st November. Throughout the month, let your ‘Mo’ take centre stage and help spread the message of Movember’s mission. You can learn more about Movember’s work and how to get involved by visiting their website: Movember – Changing the Face of Men’s Health.

Let’s see those moustaches!

As we embark on this hairy journey together, we’d love to capture the moment! If you’re taking part, let’s get some photos of your ‘Mo’. Let’s see who can grow the most impressive moustache by the end of the month—‘tis the season to be hairy, after all!