Churches get Norfolk community grants windfall

A handful of churches were among 41 community groups across Norfolk to have received grants from the County Council from the Authority’s Community Construction Fund.

 
The successful 'shovel ready' community projects will benefit thousands of Norfolk people as they see improved amenities and include church building work in Norwich, Thorpe St Andrew (pictured below), Holt and Surlingham.
 
ThorpeStAndrewChurchOut of the £3.5m available, just over £2m was allocated to help the community groups get their project off the ground and now another funding round is opening to new, additional community groups, as well as those who were unsuccessful in the first round of funding because they needed further time to develop their applications.
 
Successful projects included:
 
Holt Parochial Church Council - St Andrew’s Church, Holt, £50,000 to extend the church and provide additional facilities to improve church functions and benefit the wider community
 
St Catherine’s Church, Mile Cross, Norwich, £5,000 to enhance the facilities at the Church
 
St Mary’s Church, Surlingham, £37,759 to build a new extension to include a toilet and kitchen area and create permanent disabled access to the church
 
Thorpe St Andrew Parochial Church Council, £5,500 to fund a new kitchen facility inside the nave, which also requires the relocation of the font.
 
County Councillor Ian Mackie, who announced the fund at the September Cabinet meeting, said: “We received an incredible response from a variety of local groups and their sponsors when Norfolk County Council launched the Fund in September, and the Community Construction Fund Panel had a difficult task deciding which organisations should be chosen but we very much hope that those selected, and their communities, will greatly benefit. This is why we have decided to open up a second round of funding to provide another opportunity for even more local groups to make a difference to where they live and increase employment opportunities.
 
“We are delighted to have been able to offer so many community groups the opportunity to carry out the construction work they need for the benefit of local residents. Construction plays a huge part in stimulating the local economy as it traditionally requires a higher level of employment. We know from our discussions with communities in Norfolk that this sort of investment makes a real difference to local life and I am pleased that we have been able to turn it into reality for them.”
 
The 41 successful groups chosen in the first round of funding will receive sums ranging from £1,920 to £100,000.
 
Bill Borrett, Deputy Leader of Norfolk County Council, said: “It is fantastic news that the County Council still has enough funding to support even more groups in the New Year so they can provide new or improved facilities to their communities. The funding is hugely important to them as it will hopefully boost community activity within those Norfolk towns and villages. I would encourage people to get in touch with the Norfolk Community Foundation who will once again be coordinating the submitted applications. Community groups will be able to submit their applications for the next round of funding from Wednesday January 9, and must be submitted by Thursday February 14, 2013. The successful applications will be announced in March."
 
Community groups who would like more information about the next round of funding can do so by visiting www.norfolkfoundation.com/Community-Construction-Fund.htm or calling the Grants Team on 01603 623958 or e-mail at grants@norfolkfoundation.com