The money was raised by staff and partners at the leading regional firm of chartered accountants and financial planners.
A wide range of charities, voluntary groups and community organisations across the two counties have received grants ranging from £500 to £2,000 to help deliver a variety of community activities.
The recipients of the grants were chosen by a panel of Lovewell Blake staff, assisted by the Norfolk and Suffolk Community Foundations, which administer the Lovewell Blake Community Fund.
The Lovewell Blake Community Fund was originally set up in 2008 as part of the firm’s 150th anniversary celebrations, with the aim of raising £150,000 for local charities and community groups in five years. Once the target was achieved, the firm decided to continue the fund, and the latest grants round brings the total donated since the fund was set up to over £447,000.
The organisations receiving grants were:
NORFOLK
1st Aylsham Scout Group, which received £2,000 to purchase an accessible toilet
King’s Lynn Sea Cadets, which received £2,000 to buy a new safety boat
Project Apis CIC in Great Yarmouth, which received £2,000 to develop a mobile outreach and education set-up to deliver beekeeping and pollination awareness sessions
Cromer Community Association, which received £1,875 to purchase a new projector for the Cromer Community Centre
1st Bradwell Scout Group, which received £1,800 to purchase tents for camping trips
3rd and 4th Norwich (Ack’s own) Sea Scout Group, which received £994 to purchase new activity sets and replace their existing ballistic curtain
Friends of Great Yarmouth Cemeteries, which received £875 to purchase a trolley, tools and refreshments for volunteer sessions
Stoke Ferry and District History Group, which received £654 to buy a laptop and projector for history talks and presentations
NR5 Community Hub in Norwich, which received £500 to help set up Growing together for members
SUFFOLK
2nd Newmarket Scout Group, which received £2,000 to purchase for its Suffolk Punch project
Inori Aikikai Aikido Dojo in mid Suffolk, which received £2,000 towards equipment costs
Waveney Surf Lifesaving Club in Lowestoft, which received £1,934 towards its Nipper Pathway programme
Friends of Thomas Wolsey School, which received £1,709 to purchase swim chairs for young people at the school
432 (Woodbridge) Squadron RAFAC, which received £1,700 to support its Operation Elevate project
Stoke by Clare Bowls Club, which received £1,675 towards fireproofing to make the venue ready for community use
29th Ipswich Guides, which received £1,530 to support the unit summer camp and adventurous activities
Bury St Edmunds Unit 410 of the Sea Cadet Corps, which received £1,200 to support the digital modernisation for TS St Edmunds
Sunrise Film Festival CIC in Lowestoft, which received £1,200 to help with the provision of a portable projection system
“We are delighted to be able to support such a variety of fabulous organisations which are doing such great work in our communities,” said Tracy Cox, chair of Lovewell Blake’s fundraising committee. “These groups are what bind our communities together, and they are the inspiration for our staff and partners to undertake fundraising activities throughout the year.
“This year we have given over £27,000 to organisations in Norfolk and Suffolk thanks to the efforts of our staff and partners, and to everyone who supported our fundraising efforts during the year.”