Kate ScotterVoluntary and community groups in Norwich are celebrating after scooping thousands of pounds in lottery funding.Kate Scotter

Voluntary and community groups in Norwich are celebrating after scooping thousands of pounds in lottery funding.

The Big Lottery Fund has awarded grants to 20 projects in Norfolk, totalling more than �135,700.

Winners in and around the city include Drayton Community Infant School, Snowy's - the new playgroup set to soon open in Brundall - and Meridian East.

Cara Mason, project manager for Snowy's, which received �10,000 and is set to replace Raschools Brundall Playgroup in April, said the money will help towards the new nursery and preschool.

Snowy's will be based at a house in Braydeston Avenue owned by Broadland district councillor Michael Snowling which has a former mobile classroom in the garden.

Across the eastern region, the Big Lottery Fund has awarded just under �490,000 to 64 projects.

Sarah Mortimer, head of marketing for Broadland Housing Group, which Meridian East is a part of, said the �10,000 will help towards getting people back into the workplace.

Sara Betsworth, Big Lottery Fund's head of region for the east of England, said: 'It's amazing to see the range of accomplishments that people can achieve with relatively small amounts of funding, and it's great news that 64 groups across the region are sharing in almost �490,000 in this round of awards.

'Whether it's running a new activity or creating new volunteering opportunities, an Awards for All grant can help make these things happen.

'I'd like to encourage any community groups in need of funding of less than �10,000 to please get in touch to see if Awards for All can help.'

The Awards for All programme launched on April 1 last year and, with �45m to distribute across England, it is the lottery fund's biggest-ever commitment to a small grant scheme supporting community projects.

The scheme offers grants of between �300 and �10,000 to social and environmental projects that will benefit local communities and make a difference to the lives of those most in need.

For more about the grants scheme, go to www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Has your community group received a cash boost? Call reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk