Almost 90 organisations and groups across Suffolk and Essex have been awarded £75,000 of Comic Relief funds through a partnership with the East Anglian Daily Times and another £50,000 has been distributed to 60 community groups in Norfolk through the Norwich Evening News.
In Suffolk and Essex, the money, administered by the Suffolk Community Foundation (SCF) as part of the Red Nose Day Community Cash fund, will help everything from sports clubs and village halls to food banks and festivals.
Terry Hunt, editor of the EADT, which invited applications for the second year running, said: “It’s great that so many community organisations and projects are able to benefit from Comic Relief. We know that lots of these groups are often short of money, so this will be absolutely brilliant news for them. I’m delighted that the EADT has been able to play its part.”
Stephen Singleton, chief executive of SCF, said the funding would make a “huge difference” to the beneficiaries.
In Norfolk, the Norwich Evening News helped distribute grants of up to £1000 each to almost 60 grassroots community groups, for the sixth time.
The many different organisations benefiting from the cash boost include children’s clubs, youth projects, international groups, dementia, carer relief and homelessness groups.
Jenny Bevan, grants manager for Norfolk Community Foundation, said: “Community Cash is a great way to get funding out into those communities in Norwich that need it most. It’s a much needed boost to local groups and shows what a big difference a small grant can really make. Community Cash provides great opportunities to help not only existing community groups develop and grow, but also helps important new projects to get off the ground.”
