Reedham and Freethorpe now have trained wellbeing champions, making 21 Mindful communities in Broadland. The full list, and how to become a champion yourself.
Reedham and Freethorpe have been recognised as Mindful Villages. Both now have enough trained volunteers, called Wellbeing Champions, to meet the scheme’s bar.
The two villages bring the number of Broadland communities with Mindful Town or Village status to 21. Nearly 300 Wellbeing Champions have now been trained across the district, Broadland District Council said on Wednesday (council news, 14 October 2026).
A Wellbeing Champion is not a counsellor. The council says champions are trained to:
- have a supportive conversation with someone who is struggling
- recognise when a person may need help
- point them to the right service
Who is behind it in each village
In Reedham, the Community Association is the hub. It runs Reedham Village Hall and organises social, cultural and family events. The council names its chair, Chris Bradbury, who also runs the RCA theatre company and stage school, as one of the volunteers, alongside his wife Sue and their daughter. Reedham Parish Council has also been involved.
In Freethorpe, Melanie Hoggett of MJB Counselling, a private psychotherapeutic counsellor, is championing the scheme. She has set up a Wellbeing Champion support page for local people. Freethorpe Parish Council and the Methodist Church are backing it too.
Cllr Natasha Harpley, the council’s portfolio holder for communities and housing, said having champions in a village means “there are local people who have the confidence to start conversations, listen and help signpost residents to support when they need it”.
The 21 Mindful communities in Broadland
The council’s scheme page lists these Broadland places as having Mindful Town or Village status (Mindful Towns and Villages):
| Aylsham | Blofield | Brundall |
| Belaugh | Cantley, Limpenhoe and Southwood | Drayton |
| Freethorpe | Great and Little Plumstead | Hellesdon |
| Horsford | Horsham St Faith | Old Catton |
| Rackheath | Reedham | Reepham |
| Spixworth | Strumpshaw | Taverham |
| Thorpe St Andrew | Upton with Fishley | Wroxham |
Some well-known Broadland places are not on the list yet, among them Sprowston, Acle, Coltishall, Horning and Salhouse.
How many champions a place needs
The bar depends on the size of the town or village. These are the council’s thresholds:
| Size of place | Population | Champions needed |
|---|---|---|
| Large town | over 10,000 | 15 or more |
| Medium town | 7,501 to 10,000 | 10 or more |
| Small town | 5,001 to 7,500 | 8 or more |
| Large village | 2,501 to 5,000 | 6 or more |
| Small village | 1,001 to 2,500 | 4 or more |
| Small parish | under 1,000 | 2 or more |
Once a place has enough champions, the council tells the organisers and then announces it publicly. The scheme is part of Mindful Norfolk, a county-wide approach to mental health awareness.
What it means for you
If you want to become a champion, the training is free. The council says residents, community groups, sports clubs and local businesses can all take part. Contact the council’s Communities Team on 01603 430611.
In a place not on the list, such as Sprowston or Acle, it takes 15 champions for a large town and as few as four for a small village to get the status.
If you need support now, you do not have to wait for a champion. The council’s Help Hub takes calls on 01603 430431.
In Hellesdon, the council has also started drop-in sessions with its Local Area Coordinators. They run on Wednesdays, 10am to 12 noon, at the Hellesdon Community Café in the community centre. No appointment is needed. Coordinators can help with housing, money and benefits, health and wellbeing, and finding local groups (council news, 14 October 2026).
If you are struggling and need to talk to someone straight away, the Samaritans answer 116 123 free, day or night.
Reedham has been in our pages lately for its swing bridge repair, and its Norwich Road is shut to 23 October for fibre works, as our roadworks page sets out.
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