As the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented uncertainty to our community, it quickly became clear that many of our most vulnerable residents would struggle to cope while unable to safely leave their homes.
For our charity, Build Norfolk, the practical response was to provide hot meals, delivered with compassion, consistently and supported by the strong cooperation of the local community.

What began as a simple commitment, to provide hot meals for at least 12 weeks to those struggling during lockdown, quickly grew into something far bigger than we expected. As word spread about what Grocott and Murfit were doing, families contacted us asking if we could help their loved ones in Fakenham who were shielding, isolated, or unable to shop or cook for themselves. The project gained a lot of momentum and by week eight of lockdown, we had already delivered almost 1,750 hot meals to residents who needed them most. Although we didn’t track the total number of meals provided over the entire initiative, week eight stands as a powerful marker of just how quickly the project took off and how deeply the need ran within our community.

Our vision, one that felt ambitious in the early days, became more achievable every single week thanks to the support of local partners who donated food, time, funding, cooking skills, logistics, or simply encouragement. Their contributions turned a good idea into a lifeline. This initiative illustrated the kindness, generosity, and the incredible people and businesses who stepped forward to make this mission possible.

We want to acknowledge and thank every organisation and individual whose generosity sustained this project:

Our Team at Grocott & Murfit
The Gallow
Fakenham Sports Centre
The Chequers Inn
The Anson Charitable Trust
Bill Cleyndert & Company
JMC Garden & Landscape Services Ltd
Black Dog Computer Services Ltd
Provincial Grand Lodge of Norfolk
Joppa Lodge 114
The Hempton Bell
Runners-next-the-Sea
Garden Link
Homes Carbon Construction
Candour
Sponge Cakes Ltd
Fakenham Prepress Solutions
Norwich City FC

And of course, the many individuals who personally contributed, you know who you are. Your kindness will never be forgotten.

This project stands as a testament to what can happen when a community comes together to help others. Together, we turned a moment of crisis into a powerful example of community spirit at its very best.