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 £200 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 Community Foundation (who administer the fund) and Suffolk Community Foundation.
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 £420,000.
The organisations receiving grants were:
NORFOLK
231 Norwich RAF Air Cadets, which received £2,000 to purchase music equipment to start a band
2nd Old Catton Guides, which received £2,000 to buy tents for girlguiding trips
Breckland Children’s Clothing Bank, which received £2,000 contribution towards the purchase of a van
Ketteringham Hall Cricket Club, which received £2,000 to help with the purchase of a Bola bowling machine
Norfolk Charitable Trust, which received £2,000 to buy a rollable ramp for a boat
North Norfolk Surf Life Saving Club, which received £1,980 to buy a surf ski and paddle
Reepham Methodist Church, which received £1,977 to purchase a reconditioned piano
King’s Lynn Monarchs, which received £1,810 to buy basketballs, storage and scoring and to assist with starting a ladies team
Great Massingham Village Hall Institute, which received £1,704 to buy 50 new chairs
St Olaves Village Hall, which received £1,489 to purchase folding tables
Gorleston Lawn Tennis Club, which received £1,347 for tennis equipment for ‘come and try’ sessions
Hardingham Memorial Hall, which received £1,000 towards the purchase of maintenance equipment
Brundall Men’s Shed, which received £872 to help with the purchase of personal protection equipment for volunteers at work and litter pick events
Taverham and Drayton Litterpickers, which received £777 towards et-up costs and equipment
1st Wroxham Guides, which received £610 towards the cost of equipment
Exchange 2 in Harleston, which received £600 to help with the costs of 42 weeks of fitness sessions for 11-19 year-olds
Harpley Village Hall, which received £550 towards funding a table tennis club
First Steps Norwich CIC, which received £300 to buy puddle suits and wellies for outdoor sessions
6th Norwich Rainbows, which received £238 to buy soft archery and sports equipment
13th Norwich Brownies, which received £200 towards rent costs
SUFFOLK
4th Bungay Guides, which received £2,000 to purchase four tents
Mid-Suffolk Rotary, which received £2,000 to help make Suffolk a safer place
Norfolk & Suffolk 4x4 Response, which received £2,000 to support flood prevention
Cransford Village Hall, which received £1,200 to help improve accessibility
1st Gunton Brownies, which received £836 towards its holiday and activity fund
“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 £33,000 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.”
Case Study: Ketteringham Hall Cricket Club
A £2,000 grant from the Lovewell Blake Community Fund has enabled Ketteringham Hall Cricket Club to purchase a brand new bowling machine, which will benefit men, women, boys and girls across a wide range of ages who use the club.
“The machine gives us much more opportunity to face that range of deliveries,” said Emily Thomson, women’s co-ordinator at the club.
“The ladies’ team have only been going for about 18 months, so we are all still getting used to facing lots of different speeds, and different kind of balls. The machine will give us to spend more time training in the net, be a little bit more independent as a female team and extend the amount of time we can spend training – and massively improves the facilities we all have access to.”
Piers Ranger, chairperson at the club, said, “It’s really great having this bowling machine, because it gives us consistency, and allows all the batters to be able to look at the different speeds, and how to react to the balls that are coming down. It’s a real asset and benefit for the club.”