A £1m per year fund to boost community schemes in Norfolk in the wake of Covid-19 has been launched by the county council.
Known as the Social Infrastructure Fund, it will provide grants of between £50,000 and £250,000 to groups wishing to invest in community facilities – including adaptations required to ensure social distancing.
Council leader, Councillor Andrew Proctor, said: “Community groups have played a sterling role in supporting Norfolk throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
“This new, annual fund will help them to strengthen our communities, by providing support for local buildings and facilities.”
To ensure the fund reaches as many groups as possible, the county council expects groups to include a financial contribution towards the overall costs of their proposals, which could come from other grants, loans or fundraising.
Details of how to bid are available at www.norfolk.gov.uk/socialinfrastructurefund
Examples of previous community schemes supported by the county council include a £500,000 investment in community sports facilities through the Community Sports Foundation at The Nest and £500,000 for EACH’s palliative care centre for children, in Framingham Earl.
The new fund is included in this year’s £282 million capital budget approved in February 2020.
