Four volunteer groups have claimed their share of a £21,413.75 pie following a 'Dragon's Den'-style pitching event.
About with Friends, SIMPLE Norfolk, Time Norfolk and Littlelifts will all receive around £5,000 for projects after taking part in the pitch event, which was held by the Norfolk Community Foundation last month at Norwich Cathedral's Hostry.
Representatives of the charities said they were delighted with the grants, which come from a collective giving group called the Norfolk Future Fund.
Helen Tuttle, the foundation's marketing executive, said: 'Each group presented their own community project which they needed financial support for which ranged from building a media studio for young people in Thetford to one to one pregnancy support sessions in Norwich and surrounding areas.'
At the event, each charity presented a project they needed funding for.
The groups:
SIMPLE Norfolk
Carla Barreto from SIMPLE Norfolk said: 'SIMPLE Norfolk is a youth- led charity based in Thetford, supporting young people with mentoring, career options and creating opportunities for them do develop their skills and experience through volunteering and work placements. This funds received will support our work and the building of an infinity studio for photo and video training opportunities.
'We loved attending the Dragons' Den style event. It was quite never wracking for our youths presenting to the audience, but they have done brilliantly and raised the much needed support. It was a great experience for our youngsters, and a chance to really expose to potential funders what our work is all about.
'All groups were very deserving and supportive of each other, and that reflect on the amount of funds raised at the event.'
Time Norfolk
Ruth Kettle from Time Norfolk said: 'We were absolutely thrilled to be invited to take part in the Norfolk Community Foundation Dragons' Den Event, the evening was fantastic and exceeded our expectations.
'On arrival we were greeted by staff from NCF and were able to meet the three other local charities.
'There was a real sense or support and camaraderie between the groups and we thoroughly enjoyed learning more about each group. We enjoyed 45 minutes of networking time where we were able to speak to the 'Dragons' on a one to one basis and answer any questions that they had ahead of the presentations. We also met many people who shared their experience of pregnancy loss with us which in the past was not talked about.
'The funding we received from the event will go towards our core work of one to one pregnancy loss support sessions. We offer free one to one, face to face support to women or men who have experienced pregnancy loss whether through miscarriage, termination, stillbirth, infertility or ectopic pregnancy.
'Pregnancy loss can have a huge impact on peoples lives and we offer support to help people find hope again after loss.
'This is what one of our recent clients said: 'When I began counselling I felt for the first time that I was understood. I was given time and space at my own pace to explain and work through my grief. Slowly, with my counsellor, I worked on accepting and managing the feelings of anger I had. We tried different techniques and eventually things began to shift so I was no longer 'stuck' in those emotions. My self-care improved, my relationships improved and my life slowly came back to something that resembled hope.''
Littlelifts
A spokesman said: 'Littlelifts is a charity that provides Comfort Boxes to women who face chemotherapy treatment for primary breast cancer in Norfolk.
'We understand that every woman's experience of breast cancer and its treatment is different, but with support from women who have personally undergone chemotherapy treatment our Comfort Boxes contain thoughtfully selected items to provide practical support and promote emotional well-being at a time that can often be scary and uncertain.
'Our partnership with the Norfolk and Norwich University means that we will support approximately 500 women a year with a Comfort Box.
'We were delighted to be asked to take part in the Dragon's Den event and would like to say a huge thank you to the Norfolk Community Foundation for the opportunity. We really enjoyed what was a very inspirational and positive event - meeting the other three brilliant charities and individuals who all have a desire to support local causes in Norfolk. The money that we raised on the night will allow us to provide 150 Comfort Boxes to women who face chemotherapy treatment for primary breast cancer.'
About with Friends
A spokesman said: 'About with Friends identified a need for a social activity during the winter months for older people in the community who are rurally isolated. People attending our weekly lunch clubs in Cromer and North Walsham tell us that Sundays are often difficult particularly if they have no family or if they live outside of the area.
'For those living in rural areas it is difficult to get out and about in the absence of their own means of transport.
'About with Friends applied to Norfolk Future Fund for funding to set up afternoon tea and social sessions on a Sunday in our Cromer café during the winter months. We will provide a warm, cosy welcome, afternoon tea and cake and a structure that will help ensure that the chat flows as freely as the tea via quizzes and themes.
Chief executive Helen Dalton-Hare and members Emily and Kim attended the Norfolk Future Fund event at the Hostry, Norwich Cathedral, and met with invited guests to talk about the work of About with Friends and the proposed project.
'They then presented to a room of over 60 people, Dragon's Den style! Carol Bundock asked Kim what he does at About with Friends and what it means to him to be part of the charity. Emily explained how our members want to help other people in the community and Helen gave details of the project and About with Friends future plans.
Our team had a great time and we were thrilled to be awarded £5258.50 which will fund the afternoon tea and transport to and from the café for 26 Sundays (January to March and October to December 2018). We will be sending out information about the project to local groups and services shortly.'
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