Local schemes supporting carers of all ages are amongst the 165 projects sharing in more than £4.7million from the Big Lottery Fund.

It coincides with Carers Week from June 12 to 18, an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges carers face and recognising the contribution they make to families and communities up and down the country.

Grants given out in the Norfolk and Waveney region include:

-Lyng and District Community Hall: £744,516 to design and rebuild a new community hall in Lyng.

-The One to One Project: £375,000 to support people who experience mental or ill health in King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

-Comvida CIC: £10,000 to train people from communities in West Norfolk in basic functional and money management skills -to increase the support available to people in financial crisis.

-Emmaus Norfolk and Waveney: £9,886.64 to run a workshop providing accommodation and employment opportunities for homeless people in South Norfolk.

-Hemsby Lifeboat: £9,958 to carry out a feasibility study and related community engagement activities which will focus on the development and expansion of the group's training centre and boat house.

-Merchants' Place Ltd: £9,995 to provide a community advice drop-in service in North Norfolk.

-Norfolk Youth Projects: £9,990 to run a year-long programme of residential weekends and social enrichment activities for young people in Norwich.

-North Earlham Community Association: £9,995 to to run a variety of community events, as well as to install security equipment at their centre in Norwich.

-Park Radio Ltd: £9,970 to run a volunteer-led support project to address local issues in South Norfolk.

-Sound Waves East: £9,996 to provide artistic activities for local vulnerable people in Great Yarmouth.

James Harcourt, England Grant Making Director at the Big Lottery Fund said: 'We are proud to be able to take part in Carers Week and celebrate projects that make a difference to carers and the people they support. It is great to think that National Lottery players have now raised £36 billion for Good Causes and it's when you hear about projects like these that you realise the incredible impact that funding has had on communities across England. Whether the grant is for £500, or £500,000, our funding is used to run amazing projects led by local people. It really is life changing.'