By Geoff Fisher 
A Reepham-based care agency is celebrating a decade of providing compassionate, person‑centred support to local residents.
Heart to Heart Home Care, founded in 2016 by Carolyn Woodrow, began as a small service shaped by her experience in domiciliary, dementia and end‑of‑life care. Motivated by concerns that some care models prioritised speed and profit over people, she set out to build something different: a service where dignity, respect and genuine relationships came first.
Starting small allowed Ms Woodrow to focus on unhurried, personalised support and to create a workplace where staff felt valued rather than rushed. Those founding principles continue to guide the agency today.
Ten years on, Care Quality Commission-registered Heart to Heart has grown into a trusted, community‑rooted provider, helping older and vulnerable people across Reepham and surrounding villages remain safe and independent in their own homes.
The 10th anniversary comes shortly after the agency received an “Excellent” rating in a PAMMS (Provider Assessment and Market Management Solution) inspection by Norfolk County Council, recognising high standards in leadership, safety and overall quality of care.
The team’s professionalism is central to the agency’s success: Heart to Heart staff are trained care professionals whose work goes far beyond companionship. They monitor wellbeing, spot early signs of health deterioration, support safe medication administration, understand safeguarding and mental capacity legislation, and act as a vital link between families, GPs and wider health services. With community‑based care playing an increasingly important role in preventing hospital admissions and supporting safe discharge, their contribution is more crucial than ever.
Heart to Heart remains a family‑run business, with Ms Woodrow’s daughter, Emily Burton, managing the office, and long‑standing team members helping to maintain the warm, consistent culture that clients value.
Staff marked the milestone with a celebration at the King’s Arms, Reepham, complete with a cake made by Meadowsweet Cakes and shared with clients and their families.
Above: The Heart to Heart team pictured at the King’s Arms, Reepham, with Carolyn Woodrow, owner and manager, cutting the cake to celebrate the home care agency’s 10th anniversary. Photo: Heart to Heart Home Care Agency