Local projects receive funding from Saffron’s Community Foundation

Saffron Housing Trust are delighted to be funding nine projects to help local communities across Norfolk. All of them are aimed at local groups and not-for-profit organisations who share Saffron’s vision for promoting the general well-being of a community and creating positive futures.

Emilie Hildreth, Community Foundation Manager at Saffron, said: “We are thrilled to be able to fund all 9 of these local projects. We believe they will make a real difference to their local communities and we look forward to seeing them completed and being enjoyed by all.”

One group being supported is the Crusaders RUFC, a Rugby Football Club in Little Melton which has been running in Norfolk for 60 years. Saffron’s funding will contribute to new changing facilities, toilets and showers for both males and females.

Mark Buckton, member of the Development Committee and U9s Coach said: “I am really delighted that Saffron have recognised Crusaders as such an important local cause. I was really touched by the number of kids and their parents who said that Crusaders made a real difference to them between the lockdowns and the speed we moved back to safe training had really benefited their health and wellbeing.”

Another local project is The Aylsham Learning Federation. The grant will be used to offer families and local community a wide variety of adult learning courses to support social inclusion and employment support during the academic year 2021/2022. Each course would be also be delivered by locally based tutors to help support the local economy.

Monica Harding, Family Learning Co-ordinator said: “Thanks to Saffron’s funding we will be able to continue to create a spirit and set of values that is felt by the wider community to allow them to enjoy and flourish through their lives.”

The Burston & Shimpling Parish Council are also being funded by Saffron to re-purposing the playing field in Burston. Currently the area is largely unused so the council plan to turn it into a smaller seven-a-side football pitch which will double as a sports area for the local primary school and the rest of the area will be a wooded wildlife area. The grant from Saffron is being put towards providing trail fitness equipment to encourage outdoor exercise available to everyone.

Keith Cowley, Burston and Shimpling Parish Councillor, said: “We are extremely grateful to Saffron Housing Trust for the funding. It demonstrates how much they value communities and initiatives to improve the wellbeing of community residents.”