27/11/2025: Breckland groups receive Environmental Initiative grants totalling £11,500

Breckland Council has released more than £10,000 of grant funding to community groups in the district as part of its new Environmental Initiative Grant scheme. 

The grants, each worth either £500 or £1000, will support new and existing projects that improve local green spaces, protect wildlife, or promote positive behaviour changes in response to climate change. 

The grants scheme totalling £11,500 is funded in partnership with the council's waste collection contractor, Serco. The initiative aligns with the council's Working Smarter 2035 corporate priority, which focuses on sustainability, climate action, and environmental protection. 

Funding has been awarded to the following organisations:

• Growkids Clothes Bank, Thetford: Awarded £1,000 to go towards the promotion of textile reuse and community support.
• Dereham Windmill: Awarded £500 to help fund the planting of heritage fruit trees to support biodiversity and education.
• Ashill Welfare Charity Trust: Awarded £1,000 to go towards the restoration of the community pond to support biodiversity.
• Carbrooke Village Millennium Green: Awarded £500 to help fund the enhancement of pollinator habitats with native spring bulbs.
• Friends of Letchmere: Awarded £1,000 to contribute towards the revitalisation of the Mere to improve water quality and wildlife habitats.
• Northgate High School (Orchard Committee): Awarded £500 to help fund support for a tree nursery and wildflower areas.
• Friends of Carbrooke School: Awarded £1,000 to go towards the creation of a sensory and environmental learning garden.
• Involve Razem: Awarded £1,000 to help fund Polish Saturday School activities promoting composting, recycling, and biodiversity.
• 2nd Dereham Scout Group: Awarded £1,000 to help fund the restoration of an enclosed green space to create a Sensory and Environmental Learning Garden.
• Swanton Morely Village Hall Trust: Awarded £1,000 to go towards the creation of a community orchard wildlife area.
• Mattishall Community Allotments: Awarded £1,000 to help improve accessibility and biodiversity through raised beds and pollinator planting.
• Litcham Common Conservation Group: Awarded £1,000 to help restore the rare heathland plant Petty Whin on the common.
• Social Water Access Network (SWAN): Awarded £1,000 to fund improvements to river access and safety while promoting environmental stewardship.

Cllr Helen Crane, Breckland Council's Executive Member for Sustainability, said: "Breckland Council is proud to support community initiatives that help us create a greener, cleaner future for our district. I am thrilled to see so many local groups being supported by our new Environmental Grant and look forward to seeing the impact of their projects in the years to come." 

David Head, Serco Breckland Contract Manager, added: "We were impressed by the diversity of the grant applications and look forward to seeing the positive impact these awards will have on nature and the environment."