About
Norfolk Community Foundation is a charity dedicated to building stronger communities and improving the lives of people in Norfolk. They bring people together who want to make a difference where they live — whether they step up to take action themselves, or support those who do with an investment of funding or time. Supporting over 2,000 small charitable groups working on the ground, their work touches 1 in 4 people in Norfolk – from those dependent on local practical and social support, to whole communities benefiting from improved buildings and green spaces.
Funding Opportunities
Together to Thrive
The Together to Thrive Fund aims to upskill a new generation of fundraisers, unlocking more funding for Norfolk VCSE organisations. Through a unique combination of expertise from Felton Fundraising and Creativity Unbound, the programme helps charities diversify their income beyond a single source and develop fundraising approaches that are sustainable over time. Training is delivered through a series of four practical modules, typically taking place over a 6-9 month period and designed to fit alongside existing workloads, focussing on long-term capacity building rather than short-term income gaps. The programme includes modules on building effective individual giving, developing individual giving approaches, maximising grant fundraising, and researching grant funders and writing applications. Bursaries of up to £2,000 are provided to successful applicants, with the recipient charity matching the balance of the £3,000 total training cost from their own resources.
Saracen's Norfolk Fund
Saracen's Norfolk Fund supports a range of community activities and charitable services benefitting people in rural areas within the district of South Norfolk. The Fund aims to maintain and strengthen projects that are working within deprived communities and supporting vulnerable people. Examples of funded projects include community projects or therapeutic services addressing physical or mental health needs, support for vulnerable young families, activity groups for adults or children with physical and/or learning disabilities, youth groups in rurally isolated or deprived areas, projects addressing loneliness in older people including those with dementia and their carers, and delivering Emergency First Aid training in rural communities. Applications are considered on a rolling basis with a maximum grant of £5,000.
Building Skills for Better Futures Fund
The Building Skills for Better Futures Fund provides grants of up to £10,000 for activities that help young people up to the age of 25 build skills to improve their employability prospects and enable them to thrive. The fund was developed in response to the Flourish 2024 findings on what young people in Norfolk are experiencing, including concerns about school attendance and preparedness for life after leaving school. Funders are particularly interested in projects supporting young people facing additional barriers to education and employment, including those facing rural isolation, Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), and those from disadvantaged backgrounds such as Young Carers, Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Children in Care or Care Leavers, Children from low income families, and those with SEND. Fundable projects include supporting young people to access educational courses and apply for further education, developing employability skills such as CV and cover letter writing and interview preparation, accessing volunteering and work placements, developing life skills for independent living such as cooking and budgeting, and building soft skills like confidence, self-esteem and resilience to feel able to enter the workplace. Statutory education providers are not eligible to benefit from this funding. Outcomes are expected by late April 2026, so projects could expect to begin from May 2026. All applicants must meet Norfolk Community Foundation's general eligibility criteria.
Breckland Council Inspiring Communities 2025/26
Breckland Council Inspiring Communities is a match funding scheme providing grants of up to £5,000 for groups working in Breckland District. Applicants can apply for a maximum of 50% of the total project cost therefore match funding is required. This can be from applicants' own funds, external funders or in the form of in-kind contributions. The funding is for community projects that can demonstrate their alignment to the priorities of the Inspiring Communities programme and the Breckland Health and Wellbeing Partnership. Inspiring Communities Priorities address vulnerability and work with the most disadvantaged members of communities to improve their life chances, with a focus on domestic abuse, mental health, social isolation and loneliness, and early intervention projects which prevent escalation into crisis. Breckland Health and Wellbeing Priorities aim to enhance the health and wellbeing of Breckland's residents by reducing health inequalities, including preventing cardiovascular disease, improving mental health, tackling alcohol dependency issues, and promoting positive health outcomes at any age through a lifecycle approach.
Sophie's Sparkle Fund
The Sophie's Sparkle Fund was established by Alex and Kirsty Taylor in 2021 as a legacy for their daughter, Sophie. This unique fund aims to bring joy and smiles to children battling cancer by providing funding for special experiences or items that will bring happiness during a difficult time. The fund offers up to £250 for experiences or something that will bring joy to children under 18 (or under 25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) who live in Norfolk and are battling cancer. Applications are processed quickly, with responses typically within 2 weeks, allowing families to plan special moments at times that best suit them. Examples of eligible expenses include mobile gaming arcades, themed cakes, party packages, hand and foot casting, photography sessions, and other joy-bringing experiences. The fund requires a simple application form and a letter from a medical professional such as a formal diagnosis letter.
Shelroy Charitable Trust Fund
The Shelroy Charitable Trust Fund considers appeals on behalf of individuals who live in Norfolk who are in evidenced cases of need, typically relating to disability or health condition. This fund provides support for one-off costs, such as equipment to support care or mobility, or essential items for a supported person moving into new unfurnished accommodation. Applications must be made by a local Norfolk-based voluntary organisation on behalf of vulnerable individuals. The fund is not intended to replace statutory services provided for vulnerable individuals, and a typical grant size is around £350. The trustees meet three times a year for decision-making, usually in March, May and October. Funding cannot be used for general hardship or low income, debt relief, repayment of loans, or holidays and respite breaks.
Norfolk Youth Music Trust
The Norfolk Youth Music Award aims to promote, encourage, develop and improve public education in, and appreciation of, the art and science of music in Norfolk. The grant will help the development of highly-talented Norfolk-based young musicians (up to 25 years old) to pursue careers as professionals, offering annual grants and occasional public-performing opportunities. Successful applicants must already be highly skilled in one or more of the six disciplines: strings, brass, keyboard, percussion, voice and woodwinds. Applicants must be either undergoing a period of study at a music college or specialist school, or have made plans to do so. Applications are accepted anytime while the grant is open.
Norfolk Millennium Trust for Carers
The Norfolk Millennium Trust for Carers aims to offer unpaid carers a better quality of life by giving grants towards short breaks, recreational items, hobbies or leisure activities. The Trust was born out of the We Care Appeal, launched through the Eastern Daily Press, in October 1998 after research identified the huge number of unpaid carers and the need to help them. The appeal's aim was simple – to establish an enduring charitable trust giving financial and practical help to unpaid carers in their crucial and often undervalued roles. In 2017, Norfolk Community Foundation was appointed to undertake the management and administration of the Norfolk Millennium Trust for Carers. Grants of up to £250 can be awarded towards holidays, short breaks or outings to help relieve the pressures of caring, leisure activities for wellbeing, recreational home improvements, items or equipment to support a personal hobby or pastime, and wheelchair power packs. Applications are made on a rolling basis through approved carers organisations on behalf of unpaid carers who live in Norfolk and are looking after a relative, partner, friend or neighbour in need of help because of sickness, age or disability.
Nelsonspirit Future Leaders Fund
The Nelsonspirit Future Leaders Fund provides modest grants to Norfolk-based young people aged between 17-24, who want to grow themselves as leaders whilst helping others within a community, creating a positive social impact on a global scale. The Future Leaders Fund is supported by Norfolk's leaders of today – leading businesses and charities based in Norfolk – and is designed to equip the leaders of tomorrow with key leadership skills. To date, there have been over 60 recipients of the grant, and young people have participated in a range of projects both locally and internationally. Recipients must present a short talk about their experience to funders at a Nelsonspirit Leaders meeting after their return, provide images from their project for marketing purposes, and promote the Nelsonspirit Future Leaders Fund. The fund excludes any trips, projects and expeditions that are part of a programme of educational study, such as part of a university course.
Sheringham Shoal Community Fund
The Sheringham Shoal Community Fund supports projects proposed by groups inspired to do something new and positive in their community. Projects should focus on reducing climate change, assisting the sustainability of North Norfolk communities, having a marine environment or marine safety focus, promoting environmental sensitivity and renewable energy, or contributing to education or employment in the renewable energy industry. The Fund aims to award half of the funding to Wells-next-the-Sea and the surrounding area with the remaining funds being available to the wider North Norfolk District area. The Fund has around £150,000 to distribute per year with typical largest grants being between £10,000 and £15,000. Recent grants have included funding for air source heating in community buildings, CCTV to improve beach safety, marine engineering workshops, and converting streetlights to low energy LED lighting.
At a Glance
- Total Funding Opportunities
- 16
- Active Now
- 10
- Source Domain
- norfolkfoundation.com
Catalog Data
This funder profile was automatically extracted from grant listings. Information may be incomplete.
Visit official website