Community Conversations was a partnership project between The Shoebox Enterprises CIC and Norwich City Council.

From November 2021 to March 2025, The Shoebox hosted a team of Community Connectors who spoke with residents in their own neighbourhoods to uncover what matters most to them - their passions, priorities and ideas for flourishing together in community life.

Over 5,400 conversations were recorded, with the insights thematically analysed by Norwich City Council. You can explore these findings here on the site.

The insights provide valuable evidence to shape the design and focus of public services, as well as the work of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. They also highlight where further conversations and research could strengthen understanding of what’s working well in communities and what Norwich residents truly value.

For more background on the project and the Data and Insights Hub, visit our project information page.

You can also hear the insights brought to life in Community Unboxed, The Shoebox’s new podcast celebrating the power of people coming together. Each episode is full of stories, laughter and insights from our Community Connectors and the residents and groups they met across Mile Cross, North Earlham and Norwich City Centre (Mancroft).

The Shoebox is now seeking new funding and partnerships to continue this work and make series two of Community Unboxed a reality.

If you’d like to use these insights in your work, or explore ways to support the project, we’d love to hear from you - please get in touch! Email community@norwich.gov.uk 

👉 Click the sections below to view breakdowns of the data we’ve collected.