Year in Review: 2024
2024 was a truly historic year for helping Norfolk #ShineBrighter
As the year draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a transformative year for the Norfolk Community Foundation ahead of our 20th Anniversary in 2025! Despite the challenges faced by the charitable sector, we have stood firm and continued to champion and support Norfolk’s communities as we always have done. Here’s how we made a difference this year…
2024 in Numbers:
Unprecedented Funding and Support
This year, we distributed an incredible £7 million in funding, our highest total to date. While many funders face mounting pressures, with some closing their doors to new applications, Norfolk Community Foundation has sought more funding to support local charitable organisations. We’ll never stand still. While continuing to work with longstanding and new partners next year to secure further funding and support for local VCSEs, we’ll continue to work creatively to bring additional support, like we did this year by launching our Good for Good programme.
Introducing Our Missions
A major milestone in 2024 was the launch of our six “Missions,” which guide our work and sharpen our focus on creating vibrant, resilient communities:
- Love Norfolk: Enabling communities to thrive with vital funding.
- Nourishing Norfolk: Building healthier communities through food.
- Young People’s Mental Health: Providing safe spaces and trusted support close to home.
- Greening Our Communities: Empowering local action for global climate impact.
- Skills for Norfolk: Developing skills for work and life.
- A Better Childhood: Strengthening bonds and building futures.
These missions represent a commitment to community empowerment, inclusivity, sustainability, collaboration, and innovation. By engaging directly with local communities, we’ve identified solutions that drive grassroots change and power aspiration. Each mission focuses on holistic wellbeing, ensuring charitable organisations can access opportunities that nurture their growth and resilience, while also supporting those who need it most.
Nourishing Norfolk Awards
On 16th May, we hosted the Nourishing Norfolk Awards, celebrating the charities, businesses, and donors driving the success of this transformative programme. Held at Holiday Inn Norwich with exceptional hospitality from City College Norwich students, the event celebrated and showcased the incredible collaboration and generosity brought about by the Nourishing Norfolk programme.
Presented by Delia Smith, the evening highlighted the impact of the programme which was launched in 2020 to tackle food insecurity by creating affordable food hubs where people could shop on a budget while finding other support they needed. Each nominee’s dedication embodies our mission to build healthier communities through food.
A New Home for Our Team
We began 2024 in a new office space, generously provided by Jarrolds. This gift has given our team a vital base to continue supporting Norfolk’s communities and scaling our impact.
Good for Good: Bridging Businesses and Charities
Our Good for Good programme has been a game-changer, connecting local businesses with charities in meaningful ways. With nearly 140 businesses onboard, the programme has delivered:
- 100+ pieces of pro-bono work through the Skills Transfer, valued at over £100,000, benefiting voluntary and community groups.
- In-kind donations, from van rentals and gardening tools to canned food and cleaning supplies, distributed through initiatives like Nourishing Norfolk.
This innovative programme has enabled businesses to unlock their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) potential while providing charities with invaluable support, allowing them to direct more resources to frontline services. We’re excited to continue to grow this powerful initiative in 2025 through the ‘Skills Exchange’ – making it easier for businesses to volunteer staff time and expertise for greater impact.
Innovative Responses to Challenges
With the charitable sector under strain, we’ve embraced creativity to deliver impactful solutions. This year, we launched several new funding initiatives:
- Community-Based Hardship Support Fund: Delivered immediate relief to families facing rising living costs. Thanks to Norfolk County Council’s Household Support Fund, we supported thousands over the summer, gaining valuable insights into the challenges people face.
- Microgrants: Helped emerging charity and voluntary groups test ideas, secure training, and take their first steps toward becoming fully-fledged organisations.
- Subs for Clubs: Enabled hundreds of children to participate in Scouts, Guides, Cadets, and similar activities.
We also provided targeted training and resources to charities, such as webinars and workshops like Understanding Menopause with Diane Danzebrink from Menopause Support, Media Training with former BBC presenter and producer Kirsteen Thorne, Overcoming VCSE Leadership Barriers with Liz Smith from The Guru Code, and EDI Training with Harriet Howes from Leathes Prior. We also continued to deliver 1-2-1 marketing support with Creativity Unbound and Fundraising Breakfasts with Richard Felton, giving charities the vital skills they need to upgrade their strategies and secure income. We’re delighted to be able to offer these sessions, and more, again in 2025.
Radio 4 – The Food Programme
A message from Delia Smith took the Food Programme team to Norfolk to see how our Nourishing Norfolk programme is helping people. After a call from Delia Smith, They heard about how being linked has given the hubs more buying power, and enabled them to team up with more local businesses who are able to help – by offering warehouse space, larger scale donations and even logistics. The hub volunteers then have more time to do what they are good at; offering support, guidance and community to those who need it.
Looking Ahead
2024 has been a year of remarkable progress, collaboration, and resilience. The Norfolk Community Foundation’s work is a testament to the power of collective action and a shared commitment to making a difference. As we look forward to 2025, we remain dedicated to empowering communities, fostering innovation, and driving sustainable change.
Thank you to everyone—funders, businesses, community groups, and individuals—who has joined us on this journey. Together, we’re building a brighter future for Norfolk.
