Big Society Fund hands out another £51,000

Date published: 25th June 2018

A gym, a brass band and the Benjamin Foundation are among the groups and projects to be given a boost with funding from North Norfolk District Council’s Big Society Fund (BSF).

The BSF has made the following six awards in its latest round of funding:

• Benjamin Foundation (£10,000) – contribution towards the cost of materials, equipment and personal protective clothing needed for Ben’s Workforce Handyman Service and the training courses for young people to develop the skills required to be used within the service
• Fakenham Town Band (£7,327.14) – to purchase two Besson cornets, a tenor horn, a baritone horn and a set of cymbals
• Friends of Langham Dome (£5,000) – contribution towards works to enable a replica Spitfire to be installed and displayed outside Langham Dome
• Lighthouse Charity Trust, Sheringham (£15,000) – contribution to refurbishment and equipment for the Men's Shed project
• Stalham Community Gym (£4,170.76) – to purchase additional gym equipment for new classes
• Wood Norton Village Hall (£9,792) – to purchase play equipment, including a swing set and a spinning-top roundabout

The six grants combined are worth £51,289.90.

The Lighthouse Charity Trust has bought the former St John Ambulance Hall in Wyndham Street, Sheringham, to turn it into a Men’s Shed in a bid to combat isolation and loneliness amongst men. The BSF grant will go towards its refurbishment and equipment.

“We are delighted that the council shares our concern to tackle loneliness and isolation, which is especially acute in rural areas,” said the charity’s Peter Farley.

“It is a tremendously encouraging boost to our determination to do all we can to eliminate the suffering such deprivation causes.”

Cllr John Lee, Leader of North Norfolk District Council and Leader of the Conservative Group at NNDC, said: “Being chairman of the Big Society Fund panel is by far the best part of my job. To be able to support our communities with these grants is an absolute pleasure.

“I’d encourage any groups across the district to get in touch to see if we can support them. Being able to provide funding directly into our local parishes to help improve people’s lives in even the smallest way is extremely pleasing.”

Since the fund started in 2012, NNDC has awarded more than £1.6m to 219 community projects.

Completed applications to be submitted to the September panel need to be received by July 31.

For more information about the application process, visit our page on the Big Society Fund details or contact the BSF team on 01263 516173 or 01263 516248.