A Dereham couple who were inspired by a visit to a bereavement respite centre have opened the door to their home to help local communities.

Dereham Times: Gary and Sue Moore have opened up the door to their house to help their local community. Picture: SUE MOOREGary and Sue Moore have opened up the door to their house to help their local community. Picture: SUE MOORE (Image: Archant)

Following their visit to MayTree in London, Gary and Sue Moore decided that they wanted to give back to the area they had moved to nearly 20 years ago.

Mrs Moore, 55, is a former Cruse Bereavement volunteer. She said: 'I have supported those left behind after suicide and wondered whether we were called to replicate the Maytree model using the second property that we had.

'However during our visit, one of the directors spoke some prophetic words to us - 'If I were running a charity or community group and you offered me space in your house, I would snatch your hand off'.

'It was then that we began to get a vision of a house that would be some sort of resource in and for the community and we prayed about it for the next two years.'

Dereham Times: Gary and Sue Moore have opened up the door to their house to help their local community. Our House in Mattishall. Picture: SUE MOOREGary and Sue Moore have opened up the door to their house to help their local community. Our House in Mattishall. Picture: SUE MOORE (Image: Archant)

Finally, in May 2017, the couple, who have been married for 29 years, purchased a property in Mattishall which would become Our House.

Based on Burgh Lane, it is currently being used as a resource in and for the local community with a variety of different activities taking place there.

Since it opened, the couple have launched Rest-Bite, a carers support group, Changes, a support group for those affected by bereavement, and The Bereavement Journey, a five-week course for bereaved people. They have also recently run CAP Money, a Christians against poverty course on money management.

They plan on running other courses in the future with the aim of offering it for community groups looking for a space to meet at no charge.

Mrs Moore, a registrar for civil weddings, added: 'We look forward to Our House becoming a resource for the surrounding communities, a place of healing, sharing and fun.'

- For further information about Our House, or to make suggestions about groups which could benefit from using the space, ring 01362 692685 or email suemoore23@hotmail.co.uk.