With Grateful Thanks
WITH GRATEFUL THANKS
We are still actively fundraising via our own events, and applying for support. Our main goal currently is the £50 - 70k needed for a new roof. We are also aiming to put in place improved facilities for the community, improving access, equipment, and facilities. These form a long list but include - new curtains (black out stage), fridge/freezer - so we can sell ice pops and icecream at events, some more electrics and side lighting in hall, electrics and new plumbing for community room to provide refreshments area, projector that works with the space, new disabled access to the stage/ community room, retaining wall for new hedge along road, new floors mats for entrances, new smaller instructional signage for around hall.
FUNDING SUCCESS - HURRAH!!! Many Many thanks to all the organisations that have donated to us and granted us money to achieve a better community space.
June 2026 We received the great news that R C Snellings Trust have given us £1000 to support our Community Events - which are in turn fundraising to help raise the money needed for a new roof, and other items. This £1000 is purchasing a PA system, banners, advertising, flyers, high-viz jackets and other items that support community events.
June 2026 We received the wonderful news we have been awarded £3000 by the Geoffrey Watling to help towards providing better access to the facilities. We need to raise a total of £13k for a new stair lift, and want to put in place new go pak trolleys and under stage trolleys which would store the tables and chairs. Allowing users to move these around far more easily and for disabled users to access the stage and community room. We are now aiming to raise the remaining money needed to get this project full funded.
May 2026 Keep it Going Grant - by Norfolk Community Foundation awarded us £297 for our Arts & Crafts Community Club - which offers weekly FREE sessions in the Community Room at the Margaret Harker Hall. We are building this club up from scratch and this grant allows us to buy new resources for the club, as well as supporting 15 weeks of running it.
May 2026 We were very happy to receive a grant from Love Norfolk Grant by Norfolk Community Foundation for just over £4000 to spend on black out blinds for the main hall, which will allow us to host new activities such as cinema, puppet theatre, clubbercize (disco dancing for exercise, wearing neon in the pitch black !), and will support the activities already taking place that could benefit from a darkened room such as theatre, Gardening Club lectures etc. It will also provide funding for new signage. This will significantly improve comfort for all hall users.
The same grant is also paying for a new sunblind, which will help the huge south facing kitchen window - making is cooler for all hall users and curtains for the Community room which will keep the room cosy during the winter months, and hopefully cooler when closed during hot weather. A large washable rug will allow groups to sit on the floor too.
Jan 2026 We were awarded a grant by local Councillor for £500 to use towards the Asbestos removal project which was successfully completed in Jan 2026. In the months following Community Payback have put down a new damp proof membrane, foam, and plywood floor and fitted out the new maintenance room with metal shelving, and storage system to support the main smaller and larger maintenance projects we are undertaking as well as event equipment storage.
Nov 2025 We were successful in being awarded a £5,000 grant by Blofield Parish Council to enable us to remove the asbestos remaining in the disused old boiler room - this allows us to repurpose the room into a usable space, and removes any future risk of degraded asbestos in this room.
2024 After taking part in a Fundraising Campaign for 3 years and with much support both financial and advisory from The Parish Council and The National Highways Agency, the Children's Play Equipment was replaced with brand new equipment and relocated to make it more accessible. Thank you so much to everyone who was part of making this happen - from donations, volunteering, taking part in fun days and offering your time. Isn't it wonderful when the community comes together and magic happens!
WHATS NEXT?! Raise the Roof Events! We are fundraising to replace the roof and railings.
We are planning Fundraising events on an ongoing basis now - we have a long wish list! All to get more community events going and ensure we do them with the right kit, in the best way possible to include everyone.
If you would like to support us please book tickets for our events, offer to volunteer promoting and organising them, or if you would like to help us as a volunteer running these events please do get in touch. We have a list of projects that we are aiming to tackle one by one...
