One of the region's major events of the summer is our Children's Convoy when we have around 80 trucks plus support vehicles and a police escort taking children with special needs to Pleasurewood Hills for the afternoon and then return through Great Yarmouth in the evening. With over a hundred vehicles in total, the convoy is indeed a spectacle to behold!
Thousands of people line the route from County Hall Norwich to Pleasurewood Hills in the morning and then again in the early evening as the convoy returns to County Hall via the seafront at Great Yarmouth. It makes the children's day to see everyone waving them on from any safe vantage point en route. There are always lots of smiles, a great deal of arm-waving and goodness! Those horns are loud!
Logistically, the best place to be is somewhere near the Marina Centre in Yarmouth but, if you just want a good view get yourself onto a bridge on the A47. But, be early. Lots of people have the same idea!
CONVOY TIMETABLE
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Sunday 25th August 2024
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(Times are approximate - please arrive early for the best views)
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09:30 - Leave Postwick Park & Ride
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10:30 - Acle Roundabout
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10:45 - Great Yarmouth (Vauxhall)
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11:00 - Gorleston
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11:30 - Arrive Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park
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17:00 - Leave Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park
18:00 - Marine Parade (Seafront), Great Yarmouth
19:00 - Arrive at Postwick P&R, Norwich
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Click HERE for live updates on the convoys progress.
The Convoy is what it is, primarily because of the dedication and generosity of spirit of so many people that support it and take part, be it a driver, volunteer, marshal, entertainer, sponsor or patron. We especially recognise the dedication and enthusiasm of the officers from Norfolk & Suffolk Constabulary who provide us with our escort and keep us in line (literally)! An indication of the their valuable contribution is the fact that the police motorcycle outriders do the escort in their own time.
However, that is not all that we do…
Many people are unaware of the other benefits we provide to assist disabled and disadvantaged children and their families.
We provide free respite holidays for families at two sites on the Norfolk Coast, California Cliffs and Vauxhall Holiday Park. Families are given passes to the facilities and entertainment to ensure that the maximum benefit is offered.
During the course of the year we organise days out to local tourist attractions, providing transport, free passes for the children and subsidising the costs to other family members.
Another highlight of our year is the Children’s Christmas Party. This includes entertainment, a party tea and the arrival of Santa Claus in a big American truck.
To achieve these benefits we are constantly fundraising. We attend local shows where our merchandise stall and tombola are always popular. Our members and their vehicles are often to be seen in carnival processions throughout the region and we have a specially-modified exhibition trailer that can be hired for use as a stage for shows, fetes, etc.
We are very lucky to receive donations from shops, cafes, pubs and the like that have one of our collection pots.
We hope this has given you a brief insight into our Charity.
We would also like to remind you that the charity does not have any paid staff, we are all volunteers and it is estimated that less than 5p in each pound donated is used for admin costs.
SUPPORT US
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The best way that the public can play a part in our special day is by lining the route and showing your support by waving to the children as they go past, it really does make the children feel very special when thousands of people are there just to see them (also gets the drivers quite emotional). if you wish to help us to continue our work in the community, there are 3 easy ways to donate funds to our charity:
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ONLINE
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Donate directly via BACS.​
East Coast Truckers
Sort Code: 60-07-47
Account: 52197689
Ref: Convoy24
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TEXT
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You can donate by text using your mobile phone as follows:
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Text CONVOY followed by your donation amount to 70085.
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(Example: Text CONVOY 10 to 70085 to donate £10)
Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.
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CASH
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A number of our members will be collecting along the convoy route, they will be wearing identification badges and will carry official ECTC collection buckets.
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Contacts & Social Media
Click the Social Media Icons to link to our pages >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Keep upto date with the East Coast Truckers on our Facebook page.
Follow our progress on the East Coast Truckers Twitter page.
Follow the progress of the convoy from Norfolk & Suffolk Roads Police. LIVE updates from the lead police vehicle throughout the day.
View our official video of the 34th Convoy (2019)
Ian Mackie - Chairman & Trustee
Dale Johnson - Treasurer & Trustee
Andrew Warman - Secretary & Trustee
Trevor Howlett - Convoy Manager & Trustee
Marcus Hamling - Health & Safety Manager & Trustee
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Danielle Rednall - Child Liason Officer
Tel: 07511 531355
Email: clo@eastcoasttruckers.co.uk
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East Coast Truckers Charity
Registered Charity Number 1082023