17/04/2025: Breckland Council awards £12,000 worth in grants to community groups to celebrate VE and VJ Day

Breckland Council has awarded grants totalling £12,000 to 48 community groups in the district, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day and Victory over Japan (VJ) Day this year. 

A total of £12,000 has been given to support activities that bring Breckland communities together and commemorate the historic dates. VE day, which takes place on 8 May, celebrates the end of fighting in Europe during the Second World War, whereas VJ day, on 15 August, observes the formal surrender of Japan and the end of World War II in the Pacific. 

Breckland Council's VE and VJ Day Community Grant Scheme has awarded organisations and groups individual grants of up to £250 each. These will be used to help fund costs for commemorative events and activities, such as food and refreshments, decorations and entertainment as well as commemorative items such as plaques to display to the public. 

Cllr Tristan Ashby, Breckland Council's Executive Member for Health and Communities, said: "I am thrilled that we received so many applications for our VE and VJ Day Community Grant Scheme and look forward to seeing what fantastic events and activities our communities organise to observe VE and VJ Day. I am sure that these will be both celebratory and educational, providing opportunities for our residents to come together and commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II." 

Please see the full list of events Breckland is supporting below. 

If you want to find out more about a particular activity, please check Breckland's What's On page or get in contact with the group listed. 

Breckland has awarded grants to the following community groups: 

Attleborough Royal British Legion: VE Day 80th Anniversary Community Street Party 

Beachamwell Village Hall: VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary Celebration 

Bullock Park: VE & VJ Day 2025 Celebration Event 

Carbrooke Village Hall: VE Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration 

Caring Friends Mid Norfolk: VE Day Coffee Morning Celebration 

Dad's Army Museum Thetford: VE Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration Event 

Dereham Aid Centre: Dereham VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration 

Dereham Cancer Care: VJ Day 80th Anniversary Coffee Morning 

Dereham Community Crafters: Dereham Celebrates VJ Day 80th Anniversary 

Dereham Heritage Trust: VJ Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration in Dereham 

Dereham Lions Club: VE Day Commemorative Afternoon Tea Party 

Dereham Meeting Point: Meeting Point Remembers VE & VJ Day in the Countryside 

Discover D Day: Various Local VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary Events 

Eckling Grange Ltd: VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration Day 

Etling Green Residents Association: Etling Green VE day Celebration 

Foulden All Saints Church, Parochial Church Council: Singing for Victory: VE Day 80th Celebration 

Foulden Village Hall: Foulden VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration 

Friends of Banham Church: Banham Victory Open Gardens for VE Day 

Friends of Carbrooke School: VE Day 80th Anniversary Afternoon Tea Party 

Friends of Thetford Museum: VE & VJ Day Commemorative Service 

Garboldisham Recreation Ground Charity: Garboldisham VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary Celebration 

Garboldisham Village Hall: VE & VJ Day 2025: 80th Year Commemoration 

Garnier Village Hall: VE Day Festival Commemoration 

Great Cressingham Village Hall Committee: Village Celebration for the End of World War 2: VE Day 

Great Ellingham Recreation Ground & Centre: VE Day Village Picnic & Funday 

Griston Community Archive Group: The Impact of World War Two on Griston Village: VE Day Commemoration 

Harling Recreation Ground Trust: Victory Day: VE Day & VJ Day Celebration 

Helping Hands T/A The Pantry & THRIVE: VE Day Tea Party & Celebration 

Hockham Sports And Community Association: 1940s Themed Hornfair: VE & VJ Day Celebration 

Iceni Partnership: VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebrations 

Involve Razem CIC Polish school: Remembering and Celebrating VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary 

Kenninghall Village Hall: VE & VJ Day Anniversary Celebration, 10th May 

Museum 4 Watton: VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration Event 

Narborough & Narford Community Centre: VE & VJ Day Fun Day Celebration 

River Nar Bone Mill Conservation Project: Celebrate VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary at Public Open Days 

Rocklands Village Hall: VE & VJ Day Commemoration Event 

Scarning Parochial Church Council: VE Day Concert and Supper for VJ Day Commemoration 

St Margaret's PCC: VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration 

St Nicholas Church, Dereham: VJ Day 80th Anniversary Friday 15th August Event 

Stow Bedon & Breckles Community Group: VE Day 80th Singalong 

Swanton Morley Village Hall Trust: Swanton Morley VE Day Celebration 2025 

The Garboldisham Fox CIC: Village VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration 

The Pickenham Hub: VJ Day 80th Anniversary Celebrations 

Tinytots Kenninghall: Kenninghall VE Day 80th Celebration 

Watton Blenheim Centre & Families Club: Armed Forces Day 2025: VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration 

Watton Sports and Recreational Centre: Family Fun and Memorial Day for VE & VJ Day 

Whissonsett Village Hall: VE Day Celebration Fete & Family Fun 

Yaxham Village Amenities Association: VE Day 80th Community Café Celebration