SHAUN LOWTHORPE A Norfolk group dedicated to recording the memories of older people's working lives was among the 36 regional winners of a £148,000 lottery handout unveiled yesterday.

SHAUN LOWTHORPE

A Norfolk group dedicated to recording the memories of older people's working lives was among the 36 regional winners of a £148,000 lottery handout unveiled yesterday.

Broadland-based Wise Archive received £5,000 from the Awards for All programme to help set up an online archive. The group was among eight Norfolk community groups earmarked for cash to help promote their work.

This included £5,000 for an after school art club at Angel Road Middle School, in Norwich, and the same sum for the Norfolk Racial Equality Council to help train volunteers.

Pauline Weinstein, from Wise Archive, said the group grew out of a meeting of people over 50 who had been made redundant or had to retire early.

“We're thrilled to have got the funding as it means we can work with more communities in Norfolk and access a wider range of older people,” she said. “The money will help us improve the website to make it as easy as possible for people to upload their stories. The funding will also help us provide volunteers to help some of the members complete their recordings. This project makes a big difference to retired people, who love to relive a very enjoyable part of their working life.”

Others awards included £4,900 for the Norwich Fringe Festival to run a series of workshops.

The Stalham-based Voyager group, which runs information and advice sessions, was given £4,800 to help fund transport to the meetings for people with disabilities and those in isolated areas.

Community Action Norwich also received £2,039 to fund a summer school at South Harford School for youngsters.

Awards for All is a joint lottery grants programme supplying grants from £300 to £10,000 to community and voluntary groups.

Sara Betsworth, from the East of England Big Lottery Fund Head, said: “We're delighted to support such worthwhile projects as that will have a positive effect on communities throughout Norfolk. Awards for All can make a big difference to groups like this and it shows what real benefits local groups can reap from small grants.”