Olio app

Olio is a mobile app for sharing by giving away, getting, borrowing or lending things in your community for free. 

Shops and supermarkets arrange for their unsold produce to be picked up by volunteers who then distribute it through the app. Is is also a 'free shop' for non-food items.

You do have to be quick as items get requested very quickly.

Olio - Your Local Sharing App (olioapp.com)

Social Groups on meetup.com

Meetup.com and the meetup app is a great way of finding out about social groups running in Norwich (and all over).

There's something going on on most days of the week, and most things are free.

https://www.meetup.com

Yoga videos

Hurray for Yoga!  Fightmaster Yoga youtube channels offer free Ashtanga / Vinyassa Flow Yoga sessions.  There's also links to other fitness videos

At the moment they're doing the #yogafix90 with a new video everyday.  Apart from that there's loads of different ones to choose from - mine is the Yoga for Gratitude.

You tube channel

Free session of British Military Fitness

Free session of British Military Fitness in Whitlingham Country Park, Norwich
Monday evening, Wednesday evening or Saturday morning

Described as "the UK’s biggest and best-loved outdoor fitness classes - BMF is the best way to get fitter, faster, stronger and have fun whilst doing so"

Not my cup of tea, but people who I've spoken to about it say good things.

You have to sign up in advance here

NB Whitlingham Country Park does charge for car parking, but you can park further down Whitlingham Lane on the verge for free, or cycle there (bit cheeky, but it's also cheeky to charge for car parking!)

Also available elsewhere in the UK- Classes over the UK

Free yoga (online videos)

Free online Yoga Classes

Yoga classes online, with new full yoga class every Monday. It's my mission to make yoga free and available to everyone at anytime!  New classes released every week.

The form of yoga is Asthanga / Vinyassa Flow which is quite a dynamic form of yoga, but she also has beginner forms.

Youtube Videos

Alpha Courses

"Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that freely explore the basics of the Christian faith. No pressure. No follow up. No charge."

Alpha is for everyone; no question is out of bounds and you are free to discuss as much or as little as you wish. We don’t assume any background knowledge of or belief in Christianity and everyone is welcome.  

There's normally food as well!

They are run at churches and community centres all over Norwich, and over the UK

Alpha Website

My thoughts about promoting free religious events

Free online language courses

Free basic languages courses with Babel.  Choose from 13 languages.

"Babbel is the new way to learn a foreign language. The comprehensive learning system combines effective educational methods with state-of-the-art technology. Interactive online courses will improve your grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation skills in no time. You'll make fast progress and have fun doing it"



More info

Adult Education Courses

New Adult Education Brochure out for Sep - Dec 2014.  

Available at the Wensum Lodge and at Libraries across the city.

You can also have a copy posted to to if you email learner.relations@norfolk.gov.uk.

Free functional skills as well as GCSE Maths and English courses

Free or reduced rate of leisure courses for people on certain benefits.

"Step On" Learning Programme for 16-18s NEETS (Not in employment education or training)

There website is still rubbish though, unfortunately.

Norfolk Adult Education site

The Library

Libraries are great, aren't they?!

The library in the Forum

Your local library has something for everyone and it’s free to join.  The mission statement of Norfolk Library & Information Service is to support reading & learning for everyone.

When you join the library, you can use any Norfolk Library to

• Borrow up to 15 books for free, for up to 3 weeks at a time and return them to any library in Norfolk (see the What you can borrow for more details)
• Borrow the latest CDs, Playstation games, DVDs and videos at affordable rates and return them to any library as well
• Download ebooks from the Norfolk Digital Library – up to 6 at a time, for a maximum of 3 weeks
• Bring your children to storytimes
• Use our PCs – office software, email and the internet are all free
• Access study material
• Research local history
• Access business information
• Request and renew books online

And there's normally loads on at the Forum as well while you're there.

Free nice waitrose tea and coffee every day

Free tea or coffee everyday at Waitrose when you get a free mywaitrose loyalty card, drink in or take away.

Just pitch up at customer services asking for a temporary card.    You don't have to buy anything from there (I didn't!).  You don't even have to register the card.

They do a nice latte and mocha.

Free mindfulness downloads

If you haven't heard of mindfulness already then you should find out more!

"Mindfulness can be described as paying attention in this moment with a non-judgmental awareness. Simply observing what we are experiencing, right now, and bringing a warm curiosity to whatever arises.  In formal mindfulness practices our intention is often to centre our awareness on one particular experience, such as the sensations involved in breathing or the sounds that we can hear, or to widen our awareness to incorporate a range of experiences simultaneously, or to watch where our attention goes without getting caught up in particular experiences. Mindfulness is also something that we can bring to any aspect of our day to day life, cultivating the same qualities of curiosity, awareness and warmth"

Free mindfulness downloads -

I've tried some of these and they're pretty good - I have them on my mp3 player for if I need them!

 All of the guided meditation exercises below are protected by a creative commons licence, meaning they are free to download and distribute non-commercially.

Free Mindfulness resources website

Also there's an online course in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction which I'm going to have a go at - I'll try to come back to the post and let you know how I get on.

MBSR online course

And while we're at it, I've found this 11 HOURS (!!) of Tibetan Healing Bowls really stress-relieving for listening to in the background - here

Couch to 5K running podcasts

Couch to 5K is a running plan developed to help absolute beginners get into running.  The plan involves three runs per week, with a day of rest in between, with a different schedule for each of the nine weeks.

I'm on week four and it's been tough, but a great and free way to improve my fitness.
*UPDATE* - I've just finished the programme (working towards doing the Race For Life) and I feel great - never knew I'd be a runner - couldn't recommend it enough

You can download the podcasts for free and 'Laura' will guide you through your runs.
Good parks to run around include Eaton, Wensum and Waterloo Park, or Mousehold

Couch to 5K Website
More ways to get fit for free

Free online resilience course

"Becoming a Resilient Person - The Science of Stress Management"

(From the website) - "This course gives you the permission to take care of yourself by learning the skills to manage stress and optimize wellbeing.  This course is being offered in an experimental format. Students are welcome to audit the course, and participate in all course activities"




EdX courses are open to everyone. All you need is access to a computer with a current browser, an Internet connection, and, of course, a desire to learn.  You can access a load of free online courses delivered by universities, completely free.

More info about the course
edX Website

Norwich Parkrun

Norwich parkrun is a 5km run every Saturday at 9:00am in Eaton Park, Norwich. 
You must register before your first run and bring a printed copy of your barcode
We all run for our own enjoyment. Please come along and join in whatever your pace



More about Norwich Park Run

Training for a 5K run with free Couch to 5K podcasts

There are Park Runs all over the UK

Health Walks

Health Walk with Fit Together Norfolk (by Active Norfolk)
Local walks two times a week.

A health walk is a short, locally held walk, where you are encouraged to walk at your own pace, but, if possible, slightly faster than normal. 

The aim of the health walks is to encourage and support people who are trying to increase their activity levels and lead a healthier lifestyle. 

Trained volunteers lead the walks, with leaders, where possible, at the front, middle and back of the group. The volunteers are on hand to support all walkers, whether you’re just starting out or have been walking regularly for a while. 

Also available around Norfolk

Health Walks in and around Norwich

Mens Shed!

Norwich Men’s Shed
47–51 Pitt Street, Anglia Square, Norwich NR3 1DE

Come when you can, make what you want, mend stuff, chat, share experiences.  


Visitors Opening Times - SUBJECT TO CHANGE - check before you go

Tuesday : 2pm - 5pm

Wednesday: 2pm - 5pm

Saturday afternoons 2pm until 5pm

http://norwichmensshed.org.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/norwichmensshed/

FREE BEN AND JERRY'S ICE CREAM April 8th

FREE BEN AND JERRY'S ICE CREAM
APRIL 8th 2014 12 - 8pm

Odeon Cinima, (Riverside) Riversway, Wherry Road, Norwich, NR1 1XA

No catch - Just turn up and mention Free Cone Day to get one free scoop (normally around £2.50). You can get any flavour you want.

I've heard that you can go the back of the queue as many times as you like, too.

(For those of you outside Norwich, 'Free Cone Day' is available all over the UK)

More about free cone day

Free university level online courses

FutureLearn offer a diverse selection of free, high quality online courses from some of the world’s leading universities and other outstanding cultural institutions.

The aim is to connect learners from all over the globe with high quality educators, and with each other. 

Courses are delivered one step at a time, and are accessible on mobile, tablet and desktop.

Future Learn Website

Samaritans Open Day

Samaritans Norwich have an open day tomorrow 1st April 2014 11:30 - 3pm at 19 St Stephen's Square, Norwich NR1 3SS

"50 years of listening"
To mark 50 years of providing emotional support in Norwich

Samaritans are available to anyone who needs them, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They are always there for those for whom life may be getting too much to bear, they have the time to listen and give emotional support in absolute confidence.

01603 611 311
You can also email - jo@samaritans.org
And they are open for face to face support - 7 days a week, 8am to 9pm

Samartians Website

General Free ideas from the Guardian - and Ping Pong at Eaton Park

For more general ideas about doing stuff for free, visit the Guardian's 'Do Something' supplement

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/22/free-fun-20-adventures

Here is number 5 (In Norwich - available at Eaton Park and also the new Common Room on St Benedict's Street)

5. Play ping pong

Photograph: Deborah Davis/Alamy

One of the best things about ping pong – the casual incarnation of the more organised table tennis – is its accessibility: anyone can play. Last summer, the Ping! initiative saw 40,000 people play ping pong in just one month in Brighton and Hove. The tables will start to reappear this month, with free coaching sessions and events in July and August. There is a trust policy with the bats and it seems to work – though Ping! replaces them if they do go missing.