The Foundation has joined forces with Localgiving.com to make giving even easier in Norfolk. Localgiving.com is the first UK website where members of the public can easily find and support trusted local charities working across a range of causes and donate instantly.

The website aims to help local charities and community groups, including those too small to be registered with the Charity Commission, become more sustainable by making new income streams easily accessible. It provides them with access to online fundraising and marketing tools only previously available to large national charities.

Marcelle Speller, founder of Localgiving.com who also appeared on C4's Secret Millionaire last year said: "Localgiving.com is delighted to partner with Norfolk Community Foundation, a charity that has historically paved the way for local philanthropy in Nofolk."

Thalia Theatre Company was one of the first Norfolk groups to register

To browse the full list of organizations registered in Norfolk, to find out more about them or to make a donation visit www.localgiving.com  The Foundation is also planning a series of events for those representing groups who might benefit from registering - to find out more contact janejones@nofolkfoundation.com or call us on 01603 623958.

The Norfolk Community Foundation is leading the way in the UK as the first community foundation to benefit from a new chip and pin service, and businesses nominating the Foundation as the charity they would like to support could also significantly benefit.

Ethecol is the first merchant service provider in the UK set up as a social enterprise, providing competitive chip and pin services to businesses which can also raise money for charity. In addition to the businesses which get a better deal when switching accounts to Ethecol, the Foundation gets commission on the introduction when the account is opened. Part of the commission usually earned by the banks on each member's transactional turnover also goes to our newly created Ethecol Fund instead.

The first Norfolk businesses have already signed up:  Norwich Christian Resource Centre & Forget Me Not Café and Helen Smith from Maximum Wellness.  NCRC centre manager Steven Foyster said: "I was surprised by this; it's a real win win situation for everybody.  We should save around £1100 per year on our merchant service costs. That's obviously a significant amount of money to any business, and it's great to be able to raise funds for the Foundation too."

The first Ethecol terminal to benefit the Foundation is delivered in Norfolk

If 200 businesses supporting the Foundation sign up, Norfolk charities benefit by as much as £50,000 per year. Ethecol is the brainchild of merchant service specialist Peter King and social entrepreneur Robert Ashton, who is also a Foundation trustee. He adds:"It costs nothing for a business to find out what the savings might be and collectively this could give a massive financial boost to the Foundation."

To find out more about Ethecol visit www.ethecol.com, email ethecol@barefootpr.org or call 01953 605000.