SEVEN NORTH NORFOLK COMMUNITY GROUPS SHARE IN £19,450 WINDFALL

Seven community groups across the north of Norfolk are to share in a £19,450 windfall, following the latest round of grants from the Victory Housing Community Fund.

This latest announcement means that the Fund has now given 109 grants totalling £308,932 since it was set up in October 2008.

Youth groups, a club for the elderly, blind people and disabled sportspeople are amongst those who have benefitted from the seven awards announced this week, made by a panel consisting of Victory residents.

Organisations receiving support were:

• EP Youth which received £4,500 to take their Big Red Bus out to rural villages in the North Norfolk, Fakenham and Wells area where there is little or no provision, to engage with young people.
• Young people’s bereavement charity Nelson’s Journey, which was granted £4,500 to support the costs of the child bereavement support worker who covers the north Norfolk area.
• The Salvation Army furniture shop in Fakenham, which received £4,000 to assist the store to respond to requests for furniture and white goods from vulnerable people.
• Age UK North Norfolk, which was granted £2,500 to contribute to the heating and electricity bills at the centre in Sheringham where the Good Companions Club is held.
• Sheringham & District Sports Association, which received £2,500 to contribute towards the costs of providing disabled access to the club house.
• North Norfolk Social Centre for the Blind in North Walsham received £1,000 to contribute towards transport costs to help members attend the centre from across the area.
• 1^st Wroxham Guides, which was granted £450 to support Guides whose parents can’t pay the full subscriptions, or pay to attend activities outside the weekly meetings.

“Once again our resident panel has decided to distribute grants to a wide range of charity and voluntary groups, supporting all sorts of community activities,” said Victory Housing Trust chief executive John Archibald.

“Our continued commitment to our Community Fund shows that we are putting our money where our mouth is when we talk about supporting strong communities being just as important as building, maintaining and managing the actual homes in which people live.

“The fact that we have distributed over £300,000 in less than seven years is fantastic news for the many excellent voluntary groups and charities which provide the glue which keeps many of our communities together.”

Victory recently announced that it was topping up its Community Fund with a further £35,000 for the coming 12 months.  It has also invested £120,000 in its Strategic Grant Fund, which is now open for the latest round of grants bids.

The Victory Housing Trust Community and Strategic Funds are administered by the Norfolk Community Foundation.  More details at www.norfolkfoundation.com.