Volunteering with the Norwich Society is an excellent way of learning more about Norwich, making a valued contribution to the work of the Society, and making friends.

Much of The Norwich Society’s work is done through its four outward facing subsidiary committees, and all members are eligible to join any of these. Specialist or industry expertise is helpful, but everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary to take part – just enthusiasm and a willingness to contribute.  

There is also the Executive Committee which is responsible for running the affairs of the Society. The members of the Committee are also Trustees.  Elections for Trustees including the Chair, Vice-chair, Honourable Secretary and Treasurer, take place at the Annual General Meeting in April.  The Chairs of the subsidiary committees are generally also trustees but any members can nominate themselves.  The Committee receives recommendations from its subsidiary committees and representatives, and establishes coherent views and strategies.

Committee meetings are held in-person and/or via ZOOM.

Planning Appraisal Committee

The PAC reviews and comments on planning decisions to the City Council on behalf of the Society, with a particular focus on larger developments and those involving demolition or significant alterations or affecting listed buildings. The committee’s overarching goals are to protect the important architectural heritage of Norwich and to ensure that new development is of high quality and will become our city’s legacy for the future.

The Planning Appraisal Committee also oversees the Society’s involvement in the steering group of the Design and Craftsmanship Awards; biennial architectural awards which promote high quality new design by celebrating the best of Norfolk and Norwich’s new building and conservation projects. Another major ongoing project led by a sub-group, and with the input of the PAC, is scrutinising proposed development to argue for the best outcome at Anglia Square. Working alongside other heritage and community organisations, the Society acted as a Rule 6 party and presented evidence to the public inquiry and continues to actively promote an acceptable and sustainable solution for the site.

The committee meets every month to consider applications, and for presentations or discussions with external stakeholders such as developers or other local groups. Members also research and comment on around 4 or 5 planning applications via email on a weekly basis. An interest in architecture and design is helpful, but no formal background in the sector is required.

Strategic Planning and Transport Committee

The SP&T focuses on ‘big matters and the future’ by initiating actions and responding to official consultations in the context of a longer-term view of our city. It’s a hinge-point between the heritage of the past and the development of the future, seeking to influence decisions by being informed by the past and inspired by the opportunities ahead.

Recent projects have included supporting a survey of the perceptions of employers and employees about working in Norwich, a paper on various rail-based transportation opportunities, and in early 2021 writing Norwich Society’s response to the Greater Norwich Local Plan. The next big opportunity is as a stakeholder in the East Norwich Masterplan, which will cover the redevelopment of the large area that includes the Colman’s site, the Deal Ground and Utilities site.

The committee meets monthly. Attendance at every meeting is not expected, and members contribute as much or as little as they wish or feel qualified to do. If you have a specific interest or hobby-horse, there are opportunities to put together more detailed papers or reports for sharing with the committee and potential adoption and publication by the Society.

Building Conservation Committee

The BCC considers new development and its effect on existing heritage, as well as working towards preserving and enhancing existing historic buildings and identifying new uses. The city contains one of the oldest medieval street plans and features over 1,500 listed buildings; from a Town Planning perspective, these can create challenges for new developments, but working with the City Council and Norwich Preservation Trust, the committee promotes continuing use of older buildings in the city.

Projects that the committee have been progressing include working with City Council to update the Local List outside the ring road, working with the Norwich Preservation Trust on developing schemes for buildings of architectural interest such as on Elm Hill and, in conjunction with the SP&T and PAC, considering the implications of planning policy such as The Greater Norwich Local Plan the impact of specific planning proposals such as Anglia Square and St Mary’s Works.

The committee meets every other month to review relevant issues. The committee has an ongoing dialogue with the City Council, and currently meets twice a year to consider Heritage at Risk in the city. This committee is particularly well suited to anyone with an interest in history, historic architecture, or archaeology.

Civic Environment Committee

The CEC seeks to maintain Norwich’s unique character by undertaking regular studies and audits of aspects of the civic environment, both natural and built. Their findings are published on the Society’s website and sent where appropriate to the City Council.

The most recent project has been the preparation of an atlas and directory of Norwich parks and open spaces, and the next project will be a study of weathervanes. Previous projects have included views from strategic viewpoints and river bridges, city centre seating and clocks and sundials and currently committee members are undertaking a survey of riverbanks and how easy they are to access. The Committee also receives reports from the Society’s representatives on the Mousehold Heath Conservators and the River Wensum Strategy Delivery Group.

The Committee meets every other month. Additional project work involving site surveys may also be taken on by committee members.

We also need help to deliver our events programme:

• Stewards for our walking tours to support the tour guide by checking in attendees, taking up the rear to ensure nobody gets left behind and dealing with any problems.
  
• Stewards for visits to check in attendees, accompany the group and deal with any problems.
• Stewards for talks, checking tickets and seating attendees.

Talks and Articles

We hold regular talks and tours and are always looking for new guides to develop walking tours around Norwich and speakers to research and present talks about aspects of the city’s past at our regular talks programme. We also produce a twice-yearly publication, Aspects of Norwich, and contributors are needed to cover a variety of both well-known and more obscure topics on the city's landscape and heritage.

Projects

We occasionally run one-off projects where volunteer help is required. 

If you’re interested in any of these volunteering opportunities, please get in touch with the Chief administrative Officer by emailing admin@thenorwichsociety.org.uk to let us know a bit about you and which areas you’re interested in helping with.