Norfolk Community Foundation's new chairman Henry Cator says he wants to help small group and charities across the county 'who might otherwise slip through the net'.
Mr Cator, a former High Sheriff of Norfolk, succeeds Charles Barratt of stockbrokers Barratt and Cooke and will undertake a three-year term.
Norfolk Community Foundation is an independent charity working for the county with individual donors, public, private and voluntary sector bodies to provide support to other charities and community groups. It has delivered almost £3m of grants in the past year.
Mr Cator knows the charity sector well, and has had a varied career including roles as Deputy Lieutenant, High Steward of Great Yarmouth and High Sheriff of Norfolk. He was also chairman of trustees for Norwich Cathedral Trust and successfully led the campaign to raise over £10m for the building of the new Refectory and Hostry buildings at Norwich Cathedral.
Mr Cator said: 'It is a great honour to become chairman of a charity that has a love of Norfolk and its communities at the very core of its essence. Charlie Barratt has done a tremendous job of building on the strengths of the Norfolk Community Foundation ensuring that it remains a caring and efficiently run charity.
'In common with any business that is growing, each year brings new challenges. Together with the board of trustees it is my hope that we shall continue to focus the resources we have on areas where we may make a real difference.
'We can't support every charity or good cause within Norfolk but we can concentrate our efforts on helping many small groups and individuals that might otherwise slip through the net.'
Graham Tuttle, chief executive of Norfolk Community Foundation, said: 'It was wonderful to work with Charles for the last five years and there is no doubt that the growth and impact of our grant-making during that time did so much good for Norfolk charities.
'Henry Cator has taken on the chair of the foundation at a time when many charities and community groups across Norfolk are faced with continuing pressures on their funding and their ability to continue to support that vulnerable and communities they serve.'
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