Welcome to our new-look bi-monthly newsletter. We've
had a really exciting few months and have lots of good things coming up. Read
on and find out more.
Graham Tuttle
Director
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We're five!
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In May over 200 guests,
donors, supporters, patrons and grant recipients joined us at Dragon Hall to celebrate
the 5th birthday of the Foundation. It was a great evening with a
rousing speech by Bishop Graham in which he paid tribute to our achievements
over the past five years.
Did you know?
That the Foundation has already distributed over
£1.5 million in grants? In 2009 over 260 voluntary and community groups
received funding from the Foundation. We now have over £3 million in endowment funds to help
support future grants.
The evening also saw the launch of out
latest Annual Review, sponsored by the Greenhouse Community project. Click here to request your copy.
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Big Society Big Event
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On 3rd November we will be
staging our annual lecture, this time to be delivered by Phillip Blond, author
of Red Tory. Blond is the intellectual
force behind Cameron's Big Society, which is all about empowering people to play
a bigger role in improving their communities and local life. With many
charities facing funding cuts, this very topical evening will focus on how we can
all play a greater role here in Norfolk.
"We must be the change we want to see
in the world."
- Mahatma Gandhi
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Making a difference
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One of our roles is to connect donors
to causes which matter in Norfolk
and we've been busy doing exactly that.
The NR5 Project works with young people and adults in Norwich providing a range
of creative activities. The Foundation has supported the charity with two
grants.
Diane Harber, one of the Foundation visitors to the project said;
"The valuable work and commitment of the team at NR5 is fantastic. I thought Dawn,
Lucie and Sally were amazing, not only in their essential work, but their total
understanding of the clients and knowledge of the locality. May their worthy work continue and be well
supported."
Donors also visited Wymondham Pabulum Café, which was established
in early 2009 to improve the quality of life and well being of people with
dementia and their carers.
It provides an
opportunity to socialise in a relaxed atmosphere in addition to providing
advice and support. One carer commented; "Since coming to the café I feel that I and
other carers have blossomed. The
stimulation is so important."
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Grassroots - growing success!
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The Grassroots programme challenged us to
raise £1.6 million in new endowment which the government matched with £800,000. After
the first two years of the programme it was so well supported that we were able
to win more Government match funding.
The generous support of our donors will
lever £1.1 million in matched funding creating a permanent endowment for Norfolk of £3.3
million. This really does mean that
we'll be making grants from the income that endowment generates for decades to
come.
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Spread the word
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If you know of a community group which
needs funding, forward them this ezine. We have several funds open for
applications at the moment, visit our website or contact our grants team to find out more.
For example we have the final year of
the Goldsmiths' Company grant awards - the Foundation has £30,000 to support
organisations working on new mental health initiatives. One of the initiatives funded last year was
Discovery Quest run by Julian Housing. It's a walking based programme which addresses issues by taking members
out into the lanes of Norfolk
and trips further afield to places such as the Highlands of Scotland.
One group member who went to Scotland said;
"I feel more confident and less depressed. I've been touched by the power of
this place. It's given me the chance to sit still and be me which I don't
normally do."
To find out how you can apply to the
fund to support your mental health project click here.
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And finally...
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Congratulations to Trustee Chris Dicker
and his team at Lovewell Blake. They were voted Pro Bono Company of the Year in the recent success at the Business In The
Community regional awards, where Chris was individually commended.
Lovewell Blake also have a fund with
us. One of the organisations partly funded by the Lovewell Blake is the North
Norfolk Surf Life Saving Club, which has been able to purchase more equipment
and train more members for this year. That means that their money could be saving lives this summer.
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If you've found this interesting, please
pass it on. If you have any queries about the Foundation or would simply like find
out more please visit the website here, email us at info@norfolkfoundation.com or just give us a call on 01603 623958.
Sincerely, 
Graham Tuttle
Norfolk Community Foundation
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| Top photo credit: Ryan Watts Photography
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