Four Norfolk charities have had the chance to pitch projects in a 'Dragon's Den'-style setting.

Eastern Daily Press: Guests networking at the 'Dragons' Den' event. Picture: Norfolk Community FoundationGuests networking at the 'Dragons' Den' event. Picture: Norfolk Community Foundation (Image: Archant)

And now the groups - About with Friends, SIMPLE Norfolk, Time Norfolk and Littlelifts - will each receive a share of a £20,000+ pot to support their work.

Norfolk Community Foundation's fifth Dragon's Den event drew about 80 people to Norwich Cathedral's Hostry earlier this month.

About 60 guests, known as the Dragons, heard presentations from each charity about projects they needed funding for.

Each Dragon then had a say on how £10,000 from the Norfolk Future Fund would be divided between them, and the total rose to just more than £20,000 after a 'pledging session' where guests had the chance to give the projects further financial support.

Eastern Daily Press: Members of Cromer-based charity About With Friends pitching their idea at the 'Dragons' Den' event. Picture: Norfolk Community FoundationMembers of Cromer-based charity About With Friends pitching their idea at the 'Dragons' Den' event. Picture: Norfolk Community Foundation (Image: Archant)

Helen Tuttle, the foundation's marketing executive, said the Dragons approached the exercise in different ways.

She said: 'Some divided it equally between each charity, some felt connected to groups due to what they did so others would donate more or all of their allocation to that specific charity.

'After the first pledging session Chris Bailey opened the floor for any personal pledges. Everyone was beyond generous.'

Cromer-based community support charity About With Friends pitched for funding to run afternoon tea sessions for 10 rurally-isolated older people each week.

Time Norfolk's project includes running 60 one-to-one pregnancy loss recovery sessions in Norwich and surrounds.

Community charity SIMPLE Norfolk asked for a grant to purchase equipment for a new media studio in their new premises in Thetford.

And Littlelifts asked for support to deliver a 'comfort box' to patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Graham Tuttle, Norfolk Future Fund's chief executive, hosted the event for a final time, as he is leaving at Christmas after eight years in the post.

Miss Tuttle said of the charity night, which was sponsored by Barratt and Cooke: 'We believe the event was a huge success, and we hope that we raised awareness of the great work they are doing in Norfolk.'

Visit www.norfolkfoundation.com to find out more about the fund.