Charities and community groups across Norfolk are set to benefit from the launch of a new mental health fund.
Handelsbanken in Norwich has teamed up with the Norfolk Community Foundation to hand out grants of up to £5,000 to charities supporting mental health projects, with a total of £61,000 on offer.
The money was raised in part by the bank's biennial charity ball last September, which contributed £41,000, and was topped up by £20,000 match funding from the foundation's own mental health fund.
Corporate manager Peter Daines urged eligible groups to apply to the Handelsbanken Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund.
'Mental ill health will affect one in four people, and it is so wide-ranging: it can affect everyone from the elderly to the young. There are so many good local charities out there that we would like to support,' he said.
'It's important to us, as a fairly small team of 14 people, as we believe in our social responsibility and want to be able to give something back to our community.'
Mr Daines said the bank's team would be involved in the decision-making and each member of staff would visit one of the selected projects to present the money and find out more about what they do.
Two years ago Handelsbanken, which has its Norwich offices in Prince of Wales Road, supported the Dementia Alliance, contributing to a series of dementia cafes which offer support to those living with the condition and their carers.
The ball in September, supported by Computer Service Centre, was attended by more than 300 people and included an auction where prizes included a signed Wayne Rooney shirt and an all-expenses VIP trip to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, donated by Norfolk-based Virtuosi Racing.
Representatives of the Norfolk Community Foundation, Handelsbanken and Virtuosi gathered to launch the fund at the team's Snetterton headquarters.
The closing date for applications to the fund is Friday, March 2. It is open to charitable, community and voluntary groups based or operating in Norfolk.
To find out more about the fund, email grants@norfolkfoundation.com or go to http://www.norfolk foundation.com/funds/handelsbanken-mental-health-wellbeing-fund/
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