Tom Gaskin
CEO & Founder
We are a social enterprise in the heart of Norfolk. Our mission? To empower people to connect with their communities and lead fulfilling lives. We create supportive spaces where you can discover opportunities and ultimately, find an enjoyable place to meet new people.
We believe life is better when we have meaningful connections, which is why our aim is to empower people to get stuck in and meet new people, whether that’s at one of our community groups, activities or by enjoying one of our unique tours.
Curiosity
Empowerment
Collaboration
Authenticity
Compassion
Resilience
We have loads of projects and activities running every week, so we’re sure there will be something that grabs you. You’ll feel right at home at one of our coffee mornings, so why not start there? We have hot tea and coffee, board games, free wifi, and a community library for the book worms amongst us. See what’s on below. If you can’t find anything that stands out, why not drop us a line about starting your own group or hosting a one off activity? We’re all ears.
Founded in 2016 by our Chief Executive, Tom Gaskin, Shoebox Enterprises CIC began its journey as Pop Up Enterprises. Since then, it has grown into a leading social enterprise, working alongside local people and partners to strengthen communities and create a lasting impact.
Rooted in Tom’s background in community development, our mission is simple: to empower people to connect with their communities and lead fulfilling lives. We achieve this by providing inclusive, welcoming spaces, volunteer-led community activities, and peer support groups.
As an innovative, community-focussed social enterprise we understand the value of local connections and collaboration. We love working together with likeminded organisations on shared priorities. With expertise in asset based community development, tourism and history interpretation, our passionate and experienced team are able to support and lead a wide range of projects. Check out the projects we currently have running or chat to us today to see what we could do together.
We’re a small but mighty team!
Tom Gaskin
CEO & Founder
Helen Dingle
Office Coordinator
Connie Dowe
Hub Administrator & Community Coordinator
Clarissa McHardy
Community Coordinator
Saskia Townsend
Senior Community Connector
Sidney Reeve
Community Organiser
Chloe Laurie
Community Connector
Emma Hornby
Cleaning Assistant
Max Darbyshire
Experience Host
Frances Ridley
Experience Host
Gary Jones
Experience Host
Kate Hilton
Experience Host
Chris Styles
Experience Host
Sue Scott
Non-Executive Director
Debbie Fisher
Non-Executive Director
Shannon Rivers
Advisory Board Member
Jane Claridge
Advisory Board Member
We’re so proud of the difference we make working alongside our local communities. We know the numbers only tell one part of the story but it’s a good reminder of how far we’ve come together.
Read our full Impact Report here.
Our community is free to join but we encourage donations to support our running costs. Alternatively, for just £10 a month, you can access multiple support groups and activities without the hassle of donating each time. Want to make a difference? You can sponsor an annual membership for someone in need, giving them access to all the benefits of The Shoebox Community for a whole year.
We believe life is better when we have meaningful connections, shared experiences and opportunities to discover, laugh and grow together