04/12/2025: More than £20k of Love Your Market Town grants awarded in Breckland

Market town businesses and organisations in Breckland have been awarded grants totalling more than £20,000 through the Love Your Market Town Pride of Place scheme.

Nine projects have received support via the Norfolk County Council and Breckland Council initiative launched to help market towns raise their profile and increase sales and footfall.

Next summer, Swaffham will host a series of monthly night markets featuring live music, street performances and family-friendly entertainment alongside stalls selling food, drink and artisan goods, to promote itself as a "vibrant cultural destination".

Visitors to Thetford will be encouraged to collect stamps from 29 venues across four categories to win prizes through an interactive town-wide initiative which will launch in March 2026. The project will incentivise the exploration of independent shops, cafes, heritage sites and community hubs and be promoted via passports, posters and flyers.

And in Watton, two large fiberglass hares will greet people at the entrances to its high street and 10 smaller wooden ones will be found in shops and venues around the town. A Spring Fayre will bring the initiative to a close at the end of May.

The full list of projects supported by Love Your Market Town Pride of Place grants awarded in Breckland:

• Swaffham Twilight Market                                                            
• Swaffham Heritage Walk                                                              
• Watton Hare Trail                                                                              
• Watton Antiques and Collectors Market                                
• Attleborough Businesses Guide                                                 
• Dereham Market and High Streets Improvements             
• Thetford Discovery Passport                                                        
• Thetford Thomas Paine Treasure Hunt                                    
• Thetford Daffodil Trail                                                       

Cllr Fabian Eagle, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Growth said: "Along with High Streets Matter, our Pride of Place grants have given people that little bit of support they need to get a project off the ground and champion their market town.

"Each of our market towns has its own identity and story that businesses and organisations can tap into to raise its profile and attract more visitors, and I am so pleased we have been able to support projects that will do just that."

Cllr Paul Claussen, Breckland's Executive Member for Economic Development and Growth said: "I'm delighted to see this funding awarded to such fantastic Breckland initiatives, each celebrating the unique character and spirit of our market towns. I look forward to seeing these projects brought to life and the positive boost they will bring to our high streets."

Breckland Council's contributions have been funded through the Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund.