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.
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: 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
There has been a lot of emphasis on the Cancer Screening, training Champions and holding events to raise awareness. But, what does Cancer Screening Champion Training involve?
I’ve been round the block a few times, and have, what I think, is a pretty good understanding of health issues, current treatments, and success rates. I’m sure a lot of you reading this will feel the same, especially if you are adult and have a life’s experience behind you. So, I wonder, if, like me, you enter into some courses, thinking, OK I understand what’s required – I’ve got this.
Hello? Have you ever then been blown away by all the things being presented that you DIDN’T KNOW? Well, this is what happened to me:
Firstly, my understanding was that we were being trained in the rationales for the three different types of cancer screening: Breast, Bowel and Cervical cancer. Got That. What the tests involve. Got That. Sharing the information with other people. Wait – I haven’t Got That. Are we doing powerpoint presentations? How will that go down with multi cultural groups, people with mental ill-health, or how will that encourage people to engage and talk to us?
Here is what I heard:
Breast cancer screening is for when you have NO symptoms – well blow me down – I have missed loads of those, thinking meh I am ok – no lumps or bumps, all is fine. What a plank I am.
Then some members of the group started sharing their experiences, about family members and friends, and one member said they had just received a diagnosis of cancer. I wasn’t expecting that and thought how brave this person was to share that in the group, how frightened they must be feeling, not knowing what was coming next, and if ‘next’ included the worst case scenario – what would happen.
What did happen next is that everyone opened up and started asking questions about the different types of tests.
The rigmarole involved in using the Bowel Cancer FIT test - how cumbersome the bowel cancer FIT test is – finding containers – actually getting your poo into a place where you can take a sample – we don’t talk about those things ahem.
The Cervical Cancer Screening is NOT to detect cancer, but to detect the presence of the HPV virus, the presence of which might indicate cancerous cells, therefore there is a follow up test.
I never knew that!!!
We discussed the indignity involved in the cervical cancer smear test and how might people from other cultures respond to this – we asked questions about how these individuals can be supported. We touched on how someone experiencing mental ill health might feel about these tests and what measures might be put in place to support them too.
At the end of our session, I had completely forgotten about powerpoint presentations and how to get the message across – that everyone should take up their screening appointments to avoid problems later. I was engaged and interested and chatting. Then I realised that this is how to share information - in an informal way, through conversation and advising and generally being supportive – helping people to engage and share their experiences and beliefs.
Everyone’s fears are different, and what might appear a molehill to one person, may seem a mountain to another. But, together we can level the playing field and help each other to look after ourselves.
I learned such a lot from my training – PROUD TO BE A CANCER SCREENING CHAMPION
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- Written by: Dawn Heather
GYUP Cancer Screening Progress to date:
Well, here we are at Q3 (Quarter 3), after much intense activity from so many participants. 😊 Who knew we would have such an amazing response from our lovely community. It truly warms the cockles to know that folk are so kind, generous, and warm-hearted to lend a hand in promoting a process that could save lives. So far, our four amazingly talented trainers have trained thirty eight Cancer Screening Champions.
Our champions, in turn, are training others in their organisations. We have held one incredible Kick Cancer out of the Park football event, where eight GYUP members held stalls, distributed fliers and generally had a good time sharing the message.
Thirty nine Cancer Screening Videos have been shared online, with the additional creation of Twelve translations from English into various languages have been made by members from different cultures and backgrounds – how amazing is that??? The videos are also on out YouTube channel
Our Facebook page is linked to twenty Facebook groups, plus XTwitter, Tumblr and Instagram, and we have a wonderful website, full of interesting, informative and relevant information: https//gyup.org
So, a HUGE THANK YOU to EVERYONE involved in this programme – I feel as though we are all BFFs
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- Written by: Dawn Heather
Take one brilliant event organiser (Trevor Saunders of Mandalay Wellbeing CIC), a football team with true heart (The Bloaters), a loyal crowd of community supporters, and a boost of funding from the Great Yarmouth & Northern Villages PCN and Gorleston PCN — and you’ve got the beginnings of something special.
Then cross your fingers for two weeks straight hoping the weather behaves… and somehow, it did. At least for the morning!
Add in the most beautiful fruit feast you’ve ever seen, and you’ve got the recipe for a training session with a twist at Wellesley Road.
This wasn’t just football (though yes, there was plenty of that — for the kids and the brave adults). We also had Nordic walking, meditation, cancer awareness and advice, a buzz of excitement around the brilliance of bees, a whole Bread Kitchen story, and even some East Coast Music vibes. Many Selves brought plans to film a cancer story right here in Great Yarmouth — another reminder that our community has powerful stories to tell.
But the training didn’t end on the pitch. Smudges Bar became the space where we talked openly about why cancer needs to be discussed differently. Because here’s the reality:
- 1 in 2 people will be affected by cancer in some way.
- In Great Yarmouth, the numbers are even higher.
- We have a higher risk of cancer deaths in our under-75s.
Why? There are lots of reasons — but one of the biggest is something we can change.
- We don’t go looking for cancer early.
- We brush off symptoms.
- We keep working, keep pushing, tell ourselves we don’t have time.
But when cancer is found early — when it’s just a dot on a slide, a tiny change on a scan — treatment can be simple, short, and far more effective. Much of the country is better at looking after itself. You might not always take care of you… but that’s exactly why Cancer Champions want to step up. We’re here to help you look out for yourself, your friends, and your family — before small problems become big ones.
So join us. Let’s Kick Cancer Out the Park — together.
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- Written by: Dr Sarah Flindall
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: 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: Sarah Flindall
Dawn Writes:
I wonder if you have noticed this: when you need help with something, just like I did this week and..... Well, firstly, let me give some context - having made some Cancer Screening videos in English, I wanted to reach our non-English speakers - how to do that?
So, I tentatively asked for help from our Whatsapp group and our local Mosque. What happened next, and this is what I am getting at, was that interesting phenomenon - when you are suddenly hit in the face with the realisation that strangers are not just happy to help - they are eager!! Can you relate?
So now, lo and behold, I have not one but TEN languages aside from English - who knew??
What an amazing response and what a testament to human kindness and collaboration - I am still overwhelmed by the speed of responses and the volume - Instant and so uplifting - I am still Floating on cloud 9 :)
A huge thnak you to Community Members who kindly provided the translations - So much appreciated 😁 - I am truly grateful and humbled
We will load the videos in these languages on our YouTube channel as we produce them -- check it out.
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- Written by: Dawn Heather
Doctor Sarah on Harbour Radio!
On Tuesday 8 January, Doctor Sarah took to the airwaves on Harbour Radio 107.4 FM, delivering an insightful show ... check it out on Facebook.
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- Written by: Sarah Flindall