Community and voluntary groups across Norfolk are celebrating today after grants totalling �164,000 were shared by 50 organisations.

The grants have been awarded by the Norfolk Community Fund which is administered by the Norfolk Community Foundation.

The fund, launched in October last year, has been created by the Norfolk County Strategic Partnership to help charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to support and strengthen their local communities.

One of the aims of the fund is to provide practical support for organisations to run new activities in their area.

Thurton Primary School received �2,000 to set up a community cinema which will give the community a brand new sustainable local service.

Head teacher Cassandra Williams said: 'This is great news as it is such a boost for the school and the community.

'We are part of the South Norfolk True Film Festival 2012 and will be showing our first film, 'The Blind Side' starring Sandra Bullock on February 24.'

The cinema can be used by the school during the day showing children's films and by adults from the local area during the evening.

Other successful organisations receiving grants include:

• �5,000 for the North West Norfolk District Scout Council to buy equipment for archery, air rifle shooting, and indoor climbing, and training instructors to run the activities for young people from across west Norfolk.

• �5,000 for the Norfolk Knitters who are using their money to expand the work they do supporting and encouraging elderly people across the county to knit for those less fortunate than themselves.

• Young people in Binham and Southery will be benefiting from grants going to their local communities. �5,000 will cover the cost of creating a new play area for children at Binham Memorial Hall, and �1,545 will pay fees of workshops for members of Southery Youth Club.

• The Gorleston Chillax youth centre's grant of �4,000 will see its work expanded to offer internet access through laptops, printing equipment and paper, to assist with job searching, information gathering and general socialising for young people.

Derrick Murphy, leader of Norfolk County Council and Chairman of the Norfolk County Strategic Partnership, said: 'It's fantastic news to hear that such a range of projects will be getting these grants from the Norfolk Community Fund.

'We were particularly keen to see applications from existing groups trying new activities to reach more people, such as the North West Norfolk scouts new equipment for archery, air rifle shooting, and indoor climbing, as well as encouraging new groups to try activities that have worked elsewhere such as Thurton's plans for a community cinema.

'This is a brilliant start to the funds aim of supporting communities to run activities for local people and giving a helping hand to new initiatives to get off the ground.'

Grants from the Norfolk Community Fund are made quarterly with the closing date for the second round of applications on Friday March 9, 2012. Successful applicants will be notified later on in March.