CHARITIES AND VOLUNTARY GROUPS URGED TO APPLY FOR SHARE OF £30,000 COMMUNITY FUND
Community groups and local charities across Norfolk, Suffolk and East Cambridgeshire are being given the chance to share in a £30,000 cash windfall, after a firm of chartered accountants and financial planners opened its community fund up for its latest grants round.
The Lovewell Blake Community Fund gives out grants of up to £2,000 to charities, voluntary groups and community organisations, distributing money raised by staff and partners at the firm during the past 18 months.
In the last grants round £21,000 was shared by 16 organisations, with grants ranging from £300 to £2,000 going to a wide variety of good causes including youth groups, community arts organisations, local sports groups, churches and an allotment association.
The Lovewell Blake Community Fund was set up in 2008 to mark the firm’s 150th anniversary, with the aim of raising £150,000 for local charities and community groups. To date the fund has given out grants worth over £390,000. The fund is administered by the Norfolk Community Foundation, in partnership with its counterparts in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire.
“We are delighted to open the latest grants round from our Community Fund,” said Tracy Cox, chair of Lovewell Blake’s fundraising committee and grants panel. “It is a real pleasure to receive applications from smaller, local groups, as these are the organisations working at grassroots level in our communities which can really make a big difference.
“We are keen to receive grant applications from small community groups with an annual income of less than £50,000, and especially those which have a high degree of volunteer involvement. Grants can cover the costs of small capital items such as sports equipment.
“We have worked hard with the Community Foundation to make the application process simple, and I would urge organisations to come forward and bid for a share of this year’s fund.”
Case Study
One group which benefitted from the last round of grants from the Lovewell Blake Community Fund was Attleborough Players, a community-based drama group with members including adults and young people from the town and neighbouring villages.
The group received a £2,000 grant which enabled the purchase of eight portable microphone packs for their productions, enabling individual cast members to be miked rather than sharing microphones.
Attleborough players Chair Vicky Auckett said, “This generous donation has really enhanced our productions, leading to a better experience for both performers and audiences.
“We believe in building confidence, making friendships and allowing access to theatre for all, and grants like this allow us to give more people opportunities to perform, and more people to enjoy our shows.”
How To Apply
Community organisations interested in applying for grants from the Lovewell Blake Community Fund can apply via their local Community Foundation. The deadline for grant applications is Monday 7th April.
Links to full details and how to apply are as follows:
For organisations based in Norfolk: www.norfolkfoundation.com/funding-support/grants/groups/lovewell-blake-fund
For organisations based in Suffolk: www.suffolkcf.org.uk/grants/lovewell-blake-fund
For organisations based in Cambridgeshire: www.cambscf.org.uk/lovewell-blake-fund