Editorial note: While many articles on Dr Sarah’s blog are authored by Sarah, several contributions come from members of the GYUP community. Any editorial revisions are undertaken by Philip, with occasional assistance from AI tools.
Dr Sarah hosts a Harbour Radio Show every Tuesday at 2pm -- summaries of those shows and some recordings are available in Dr Sarah On Call.
A story worth getting behind
What happens when life throws you a curveball, cancer enters the room, and the only sensible response is sometimes to laugh? That is the question behind My Favourite Chair, a six-part comedic musical drama being developed here in Great Yarmouth, and one I'd like you to get behind. The full story of the project, and of the man whose experience inspired it, is on our My Favourite Chair page. Here I want to say why I think it matters.
Why a comedy
There is something wonderfully human about humour in the face of adversity. It doesn't make the difficult things disappear, but it can make them easier to face. Anyone who has lived through a serious diagnosis, their own or someone else's, will know the uncertainty, the waiting, and the conversations nobody quite knows how to have. They will also know the moments when dark humour becomes an essential survival tool. My Favourite Chair is built on those moments. It finds laughter in unlikely places and strength where people didn't know they had any, and it recognises that life carries on being complicated, ridiculous, heartbreaking and wonderful, often all at the same time.
Why it matters
Cancer doesn't just happen to an individual. It happens to families, friends, neighbours and communities. We often talk about community support as though it were an optional extra, yet when people face a life-changing diagnosis, the people around them can make an enormous difference: a neighbour, a friend, a local group, someone who makes you laugh, or simply someone who turns up. Sometimes the most important medicine is knowing that you aren't facing it alone. *My Favourite Chair* wants to capture that reality with honesty, warmth and a healthy dose of mischief, and to use storytelling to open up conversations about cancer that many of us find hard to start.
The project itself proves the point. The YouTube film already shared with the public was made possible through the goodwill, enthusiasm and generosity of local people, who gave their time, talents and ideas because they believe this story is worth telling. Now there is an opportunity to take the next step, and a GoFundMe appeal has been launched to pay for it.
So, whether you have been touched by cancer yourself, supported someone through it, or simply believe that good stories can make a difference, we'd love you to be part of this journey. Please read more and support the appeal on the My Favourite Chair page and help us get it out of the starting blocks. Sometimes the best stories come from the most unexpected places, and sometimes all you need is a favourite chair, good company and a reason to laugh.
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- Written by: Dr Sarah Flindall
If you've ever watched Disney's Robots, you'll know the philosophy: “See a need, fill a need!”
Well, that's rather how GYUP works. We see an opportunity, we bring people together, we use what we've got, and we see what we can make happen. It doesn't have to be complicated, expensive or perfectly planned. Sometimes the best things start with an idea and a few people willing to give it a go.
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- Written by: Dr Sarah Flindall
I didn’t start writing until I was 50. Here’s what happened next.
There are some things we tell ourselves we’ll do one day — Writing a book was mine.
I had always wanted to write, but somehow life kept happening first. There was work, family, responsibilities and all the ordinary things that fill the years rather more quickly than we expect them to.
Then I turned 50.
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- Written by: Jax Southam
Getting Ready for Winter — Keeping Warm, Well and Connected
Winter can be a beautiful time of year, but for some people it can also be a difficult one. The cold affects our hearts and lungs. The dark can affect our mood. Respiratory infections become more common, and for some people, simply keeping the house warm can become a financial struggle.
So this week I want to talk about getting ready for winter — not just avoiding illness, but making sure that we, our families and our neighbours are prepared.
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- Written by: Dr Sarah Flindall
As the summer holidays come to an end, getting children ready for school is about much more than buying a new uniform.
Children need sleep, good food, water, movement, emotional support and someone who notices when things aren't going well.
Getting back into a sleep routine can take time. Gradually bring bedtime and wake-up times forward, reduce screens before bed and try to get some morning daylight. Sleep is not wasted time — it helps the brain concentrate, remember and learn.
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- Written by: Dr Sarah Flindall
Some of the best cancer conversations happen over a cuppa
Another truly inspiring stop on the Cancer Champions journey has been at Cancer Research UK’s Gapton Superstore.
A massive shout out to the Paula, her “co-pilot” Daisy and their fabulous team of volunteers at the Gapton Cancer Research Superstore. We spent one of the best hours I have had in a very long time, tucked away on a cosy sofa at the back of the shop, simply talking.
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- Written by: Dr Sarah Flindall
Most people I meet aren't unwell. They're just busy.
Busy with work, family, life — everything that comes first. Health tends to sit somewhere further down the list, not ignored, just not urgent.
But what I'm seeing more and more is that people are often unaware of what's going on in the background. Things like blood pressure, cholesterol or diabetes risk can shift over time without any obvious signs.
For many, it's the first time they've ever had these checked. And that moment — when they see their results and we talk through what it means — can be a real turning point. Not because anything is "wrong", but because it suddenly becomes clearer.
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- Written by: Kirsty Wiseman
Read more: Why knowing your numbers matters before you feel unwell
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of serious illness in the UK, yet many people are unsure what it means for them or what they can do about it. Whether you have recently been told you have a raised QRISK score, have been prescribed a statin, or simply want to understand your heart health better, knowing the facts can make a real difference. The videos at this link are provided by Dr Jessica Randall-Carrick, who offers clear information and guidance for patients about cardiovascular disease — we hope you find them helpful.
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- Written by: Dr Jessica Randall-Carrick
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most common — and most preventable — health conditions in the world, yet millions of people live with it without even knowing. Often called the "silent killer," hypertension rarely causes obvious symptoms but quietly increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure over time. Whether you have been recently diagnosed, are managing an existing condition, or simply want to protect your long-term health, understanding hypertension can make a real difference. The videos at this link are provided by Dr Jessica Randall-Carrick, who offers clear information and guidance for patients about blood pressure — we hope you find them helpful.
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- Written by: Dr Jessica Randall-Carrick
Looking for a new start, but don't know where to begin?
Join us for our friendly weekly Community Job Club! Whether you're looking for work or just want to get out and meet new people, we're here to help you take that next step in a relaxed, "no pressure’ setting, complete with snacks!
- Friendly & welcoming
- Expert practical help
- Help with finance calculations
- Community connections
Every Thursday, 12pm to 3pm — free to attend just turn up!
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- Written by: Action Community Enterprises CIC
Ever wondered what it's like to be a beekeeper?
Here's your chance to find out! Our Community Buzz project offers a fun, welcoming space every Thursday to get hands-on experience with beekeeping and do some community gardening. It's a great way to meet new friends, boost your wellbeing, and get support in a relaxed atmosphere.
You'll get to see the inner workings of a beehive, ask questions, and learn all about the important role of bees. No experience needed! We'll provide the protective clothing and expert instruction from Jamie at Project Apis ensuring you have a safe and memorable visit. Everyone is welcome to join in, and tea and coffee are on us!!
When & Where
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- Written by: Action Community Enterprises CIC
Monday 16th February was cold and wet in Great Yarmouth, but that didn’t stop hundreds of people turning up to celebrate the 10th birthday of Jump Warehouse. While children bounced across the many trampolines and music filled the air, many of the adults present caught their first glimpse of GYUP ~ and of some of the organisations and individuals it supports.
Present (and definitely not bouncing) were Dr Sarah Flindall, co-founder of the GYUP CIC; Trevor Saunders from Mandalay Wellbeing, promoting the benefits of Nordic Walking; Dzingi Vuta, chatting with visitors and fellow stallholders about his school holiday reading sessions; Philip Williams, capturing the day in photographs; and me, Jax Southam, offering a free online personal development journey through Awakened Realm and promoting my book Time to Shine to help raise funds for the CIC.
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- Written by: Jax Southam
For many people, January is a tough month. Short days, grey weather, post-Christmas fatigue and financial pressure can all affect mood and energy. This seasonal dip — often called the January blues — is common and normal.
But when low mood is combined with isolation, it can quietly deepen. That’s where community support matters.
Across the borough of Great Yarmouth, there are welcoming community groups and spaces offering warmth, connection and gentle routine. These include community hubs, libraries, cafés, churches, creative and social groups, youth spaces, nature-based activities and volunteering opportunities.
You don’t need a diagnosis, a referral or the “right words”. Just turning up is enough. Community spaces work because they:
- reduce loneliness
- restore routine
- build confidence
- offer connection without pressure
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- Written by: Philip Williams
Read more: January Blues and the Power of Community in Great Yarmouth
❤️ The most common heart question isn’t medical. It’s human: “Is this coming from my heart?”
Most chest pain isn’t. Muscles, reflux, stress and anxiety are common causes. But heart problems matter because they don’t always shout.
Heart pain often feels like pressure or tightness, especially with effort, and may come with breathlessness, sweating, nausea, or pain in the arm, jaw or back. Yet many people — especially women, older adults and those with diabetes — have no classic chest pain at all.
What gets missed?
Unusual fatigue. Shortness of breath. Indigestion-type symptoms. Jaw or back pain. Dizziness. Cold sweats. A sense that something isn’t right.
These are often brushed off as stress, ageing, or “nothing serious”.
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- Written by: Dr Sarah Flindall
There was a fantastic atmosphere on Sunday 25th January at the Pavilion - an impressive range of local practitioners and experts from healthcare and holistic therapies, as well as innovative groups and VCSEVoluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise organisations ran stands and even some creative interactive activities. Everyone held the same goal - to support the local community with their health and wellbeing - and this shone out throughout the day.
Myself and a few others who hold regular classes at the Pavilion had been asked to offer some taster sessions and these proved highly popular. It was brilliant to give people a free try of classes and activities they might never have otherwise considered or known existed locally, which could significantly improve their physical or mental health.
If you aren’t familiar with the Pavilion Wellbeing Hub, check out their website or socials where you can see what they offer…my meditation classes are listed along with many more:
Or why not pop in or phone them to ask about the groups and classes they’re currently running.
The Pavilion Theater is at Pier Gardens, Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth NR31 6PP
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- Written by: Emma
What an amazing feeling it was to be part of such a positive and human event.
Huge thanks to Trevor Saunders and Emma Stimpson, and to everyone who gave their time, care, and energy. Most of all, massive respect to the people who came — not just to receive support, but to share something deeply personal. What stayed with me most were the tiny moments.
- A woman who came because she had promised herself she would. Because she knew she was in a better place. Because, whatever her past, it was clear she was thoughtful, intelligent, and empathic.
- A man who had just lost a close family member — and had also overcome addiction.
- A woman who had just completed training for the job she had recently secured.
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- Written by: Dr Sarah Flindall
Jax offers. through Awakened Realm, gentle, supportive personal development courses for women who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from who they really are ~ especially after big life changes such as illness, divorce, redundancy, retirement, caring responsibilities, or bereavement. In the spirit of Dr Sarah’s vision for GYUP, Jax’s approach is grounded, compassionate, and practical, blending reflective, soul-led support with simple tools that help women rebuild confidence, find clarity, and take steady steps towards a calmer, more purposeful life.
There are four courses to explore, depending on what you’re drawn to: Be the ‘You’ you were meant to be, Witches call it Spells, Write Your Own Story, and The Heroine’s Return. For female residents of Great Yarmouth, Be the ‘You’ you were meant to be is currently being offered free of charge. To apply, please email
Alongside her courses, Jax is also the author of uplifting fantasy fiction that explores themes of healing, inner strength, and transformation. Her stories are written to feel like a warm escape, while gently reminding readers that change is possible ~ and that there’s always a way back to yourself.
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- Written by: Philip Williams
HI... if you are here. you have conquered the amazing skill of learning to read!
Your brain puts sounds and letters together, your amazing memory stores up trillions of sound bites / linked to visual collections of lines and... Voila you have opened a door to the most crazy opportunities. You can follow stories, understand feelings, open yourself to the work, fill in forms, work out when you are being scammed!
What happens if you cant read? That door is shut. You rely on other ways of navigating the work. Picures, sounds, tick-tock, instagram. One day AI will be able to read for you, in any language but at what cost?
When is the BEST time to learn to read. When you brain is young and like a sponge soaking up knowledge.
That doesn't make it easy though! Probably partly due to all those new connections that the tiny nerves are making to link things together but also maybe because there is less demands on concentration.
Concentration, language, interpretation of letters, family support ALL impact how well you read BUT it is one of the biggest skills to take you through life to achieve the best that you can be! Neurodiversity does not stop people from running the work... but reading does !
Dzingi knows this. As a teacher and now supporting 1 to 1 reading in early years he knows that there are amazing little people who will have to struggle more than they need to succeed in life / careers / choices simply because they cannot master basic reading. Supported by GYUP and his Primary School colleagues he is offering for free in his own time hourly sessions in the holldays.
Come read with Dzingi with members of GYUPs support. Stay for tea/ coffee and maybe even a cake (yum. thank you Julie for home made jam tarts) take a little time to slow down, pick up a book and create a golden opportunity for your children to shine when they go back to school.
The first event was run at Primeyarc (thanks to Original Projects) on Dec 21. We enjoyed it and our 2 attendees stunned us with their skill and vocabulary. There is a place for everyone... .great super-readers come and help another child along the journey! EVERYONE welcome let's all be ready to take on the world.
M 8 - "I love reading and liked someone new being there to hear me. I’m also excited about helping other children to read at future events"
G 8 - "Dzingi was really nice and friendly. It was fun reading with him"
If you have space, and would like to know more about the offer Dzingi has created. why dont you
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- Written by: Dr Sarah Flindall
Bringing schools & hospices together
Compassionate Communities
St Elizabeth Hospice is starting a groundbreaking project to celebrate life and tackle some of life’s taboos with schoolchildren.
Dispelling Myths
- Promotes open conversations.
- Tackles taboos with hospice patients.
Meaningful Experiences
- Pupils learn about life and hospice care.
- Patients share their stories and perspectives.
Creative Expression
- Explore themes through art, music, and more.
Community Impact
- Raises awareness and supports hospice care.
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- Written by: Philip Williams
Classes in Gorleston... learn how to find calm anytime, anywhere.
Perhaps you’ve heard about meditation or mindfulness and wondered whether it’s something you could try to reduce stress and aid relaxation. Research, anecdotal evidence and scientific data have proved an abundance of health and wellbeing benefits that can be experienced from meditating. These benefits range from physiological to psychological and are deemed significant enough that mindfulness (one of many types of meditation tools) is now recognised and recommended by the NHS.
When we reach a relaxed but focused state in meditation, we are essentially giving our bodies and minds a break; a chance to recover and rebalance. This can lower blood pressure and heart rate. We can attribute this to a range of the core outcomes of meditation working together, like reducing stress, breathing more effectively, and being able to relax more readily. The lowering of these vital indicators can result in further benefits, for example lowering blood pressure can prevent serious cardiovascular conditions like heart attacks and lowering heart rate can improve the strength of the heart muscle and increase physical endurance.
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- Written by: Emma Cruickshank
Big thanks to Leighton for representing GYUP at the Community Psychology Festival event, although as he says it “definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I met some great people and left feeling really inspired.”
We love hearing that kind of energy — stepping up, meeting new faces, and coming away buzzing with ideas. For Leighton, those ideas are already starting to take shape.
“I’ve got a few seeds of an idea around mindset, movement and community wellbeing I’d love to grow here in GY. Curious to see who else might be thinking along similar lines!”
Sounds like something exciting is growing! 🌱
If you’re interested in exploring ways to boost wellbeing, get moving, or just connect with others doing good things — Leighton would love to chat. Because that’s what GYUP is all about: supporting each other to make great ideas happen, one step (or seed!) at a time.
Contact Leighton at
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- Written by: Dr Sarah Flindall
🌙 "Matt" at St George’s Theatre, Great Yarmouth – A Journey Through Shadows and Strength
On October 16th, 2025, the stage at St George’s Theatre, Great Yarmouth, became something truly special. It wasn’t just a performance — it was an experience.
Matt isn’t your typical play. It’s raw, emotional, and deeply human. 💔 It takes you into the mind of someone battling the constant spiral of thoughts — the kind that drag you down and refuse to let go. To live through that once is painful enough… but to go back there, to write about it, and then to play that part again and again in front of an audience — that takes real bravery.
As I watched, I found myself holding my breath. The words, the silence, the energy — it all blurred the line between theatre and reality. 🎭 Every person in that room saw something different, felt something different. That’s the beauty of it — Matt leaves space for your own interpretation, your own memories, your own pain and hope.
What struck me most was the courage it takes to share something so personal. To face the fear of being misunderstood, to still step forward and say, “This matters.” Because it does. ❤️
This performance isn’t just about darkness — it’s about redemption, reflection, and the possibility of light. It reminds us that even when our thoughts betray us, there’s always a chance to reach out, to be seen, to heal. 🌤️
Huge respect to Peter, whose dedication shines both on and off the stage. Through his work with Reflect Productions GY, he’s helping others find their voices too — using creativity as a path toward understanding and growth. 🌱
So here’s to Matt — a performance that lingers long after the lights fade.
And here’s to Peter — for daring to go there, again and again, so that others might find a way through. 🙏
See the scanned Programme for the play
#matttheplay
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- Written by: Dr Sarah Flindall
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Dr Sarah On Call
Dr Sarah host a ahow on Harbour Radio every Tuesday at 2pm. Here are soem reports form gher show. See also Unlearning the Armour which Dr Sarah & Dr Toomas discuss on her show.