Case Study.

Building Resilience Amid Uncertainty: How Blue Heron Training are helping Active Norfolk Thrive.

One of a network of 43 Active Partnerships across England, Active Norfolk are on a mission to increase physical activity levels and improve the health and wellbeing of Norfolk’s communities and residents. Working with a wide range of local, regional, and national partners, the team are increasing physical activity and sports participation levels in Norfolk. Activities include:

  • Advocating for the important role sport and physical activity play in improving our physical and mental health
  • Working with local government to ensure that sport and physical activity is considered at the highest levels.
  • Educating others about the benefits of sport and physical activity.
  • Connecting people and organisations and promoting the benefits of healthy living.
Active Norfolk

Active Norfolk, one of 43 Active Partnerships across England, is on a mission to increase physical activity levels and improve the health and wellbeing of Norfolk’s communities. However, budget reductions and organisational changes have created uncertainty, impacting team cohesion and confidence. The leadership team recognised the need to strengthen resilience, improve collaboration, and protect their own wellbeing while continuing to deliver on their purpose.

Active Norfolk

Our Approach

Blue Heron Training partnered with Active Norfolk to co-create a tailored program designed to unite the team and unlock higher levels of performance. Over five months, we delivered a series of engaging, face-to-face sessions blending activity, reflection, and debate. The program focused on four key stages:

Facing Reality

The team made use of the Four Pillars Diagnoistic tool to understand what was going on beneath the surface of the business and guide the collective efforts.

  • They courageously acknowledged current challenges and created space for honest conversations.

Building Awareness

They explored individual motivations and personality types to build deeper understanding and appreciation of diverse working styles.

  • The team combined this with communication and team exercices to develop a deeper. Understanding of their diverse stregths and collecvtive synergy.

Co-Creation

Practical actions and vbehaviours were identified and prioritised by all, ensuring the transformation was built by the team, for the team - empowering ownership and commitment.

  • Trust and Confidence

and Together, through workshops and collecvtyive dialogue, they defined a shared “Ways of Working” to embed new habits and practice essential team-working skills.

The Results

The work continues, but strong foundations have been laid. Key outcomes include:

  • A powerful team code built by all Active Norfolk colleagues around 4 key themes: “Grow with purpose,” “Stronger together,” “Speak and listen,” and “Take ownership.”
  • Greater sensitivity and respect for colleagues’ styles and motivations.
  • Improved candour - bringing the “un-said” into open conversations.
  • Increased confidence to hold each other accountable and resolve disagreements constructively.
  • Stronger collaboration and clarity on roles, supported by leadership alignment.

What the Team said

Looking Ahead

Active Norfolk continues to build on these foundations, ensuring resilience and collaboration remain at the heart of their mission to improve health and wellbeing across Norfolk.

How can we help you?

Talk to us and see how we can help bring a humanistic approach to your personnel training