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FIFTEEN COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS SHARE IN BUMPER £21,886 WINDFALL

Lovewell Blake
6th Feb 2022
Mat Waters Partner at Lovewell Blake sm

Fifteen community groups across Norfolk, north Suffolk and east Cambridgeshire are to share a combined windfall of £21,886, following the latest round of grants from Lovewell Blake’s Community Fund – taking the amount given out in grants since the Fund was founded fourteen years ago through to more than £320,000.

The money was raised during the pandemic by staff and partners at the leading regional firm of chartered accountants and financial planners.

A wide range of charities, voluntary groups and community organisations have received grants ranging from £500 to £2,000 to help deliver a variety of community activities.  The recipients of the grants were chosen by a panel of Lovewell Blake staff, assisted by the Norfolk and Suffolk Community Foundations, which administer the Lovewell Blake Community Fund.

The organisations receiving grants were:

  • Norfolk Accident Rescue Service, which received £2,000 to purchase specialist safety uniform for responders
  • Open Road West Norfolk, based in King’s Lynn, which was given a £2,000 grant to purchase equipment and materials to be used by young people training in mechanics or construction
  • Oulton Broad Water Sports Centre, which received £2,000 to purchase essential equipment for watersports and navigation activities including wetsuits, buoyancy aids, helmets and a handheld GPS unit
  • The Norfolk Hospice, which received a £2,000 grant to contribute towards a treadmill used for physiotherapy sessions
  • LEAPS Suffolk, which was given £2,000 to provide seven one-night sleepover activities for vulnerable young people with additional needs
  • The Warren Association Trust, based in Lowestoft, which received £2,000 towards a ‘Creative Camp Corner’ in the new playground at Warren Special School in the town
  • The Prospects Trust, based in East Cambridgeshire, which was given a £2,000 grant to create a weatherproof pod within the farm’s 18 acres to ensure 75 people with additional needs can safely continue their work outdoors
  • Kingsgate Community Church in Great Yarmouth, which received £1,975 to purchase IT equipment to develop their training, support and community activities
  • Norwich Door To Door, which received £1,500 to support the ‘More to Door’ service, providing friendly visits to elderly and/or disabled service users who are socially isolated
  • Thetford Town Football Club, which was given £1,209 to refurbish the showers in the away team and referee facilities at the club, and purchase a new boiler
  • Involve Razem Community Interest Company, based in Hethersett, which received £1,000 for equipment and items to run activities for children
  • Ketteringham Hall Cricket Club, which was given a £810 grant to purchase a multi-surface squeegee to drain excess rainwater from the cricket ground
  • The Disability Advice Service in East Suffolk, which received £782.40 to provide office equipment to support disabled staff and volunteers serving the disabled community
  • Aylsham Community Gym, which was given £610 to pay specialist instructors to deliver exercise sessions for the more vulnerable, and purchase new equipment
  • REMAP, based in South Norfolk and North Suffolk, which received £500 to purchase supplies and materials for making the disability aids

“We are delighted to be able to support such a variety of fabulous organisations which are doing such great work in our communities,” said Mat Waters, partner at Lovewell Blake and chair of the firm’s fundraising committee.  “These groups are what bind our communities together, and they are the inspiration for our staff and partners to undertake fundraising activities throughout the year.

“This year we have given nearly £22,000 thanks to the efforts of our staff, and to everyone who supported our fundraising efforts during the year.  We are very proud that we are able to continue to support a range of brilliant community groups 14 years after we first set up the LB150 Fund.”

The Lovewell Blake Community Fund was originally set up in 2008 as part of the firm’s 150th anniversary celebrations, with the aim of raising £150,000 for local charities and community groups in five years.  Once the target was achieved, the firm decided to continue the fund, and to date it has distributed grants totalling over £320,000.