The people of Norfolk are set to make an even bigger difference to the county's charities as a scheme which makes donating easier is launched.

The Norfolk Community Foundation has joined forces with national website Localgiving.com.

The website enables members of the public to find out about and to donate to trusted local charities working across a range of causes.

Charities which have signed up to the scheme, which was officially launched today (Wednesday), will be able to access a website presence, new income streams, online fundraising and marketing tools. Gift aid will also be claimed on the charities' behalf.

For people wishing to support a particular cause, it will enable them to browse a list of Norfolk-based charities and give whatever they can afford.

Twelve Norfolk charities have already signed up to the scheme.

Jane Jones, development officer at Norfolk Community Foundation, said: 'The idea is to connect local donors with local small charities that don't usually have the opportunity to have their own website or don't have another way to have direct donations made to them.

'The charities will be able to benefit from unrestricted funds, which is really important and people wishing to donate will be able to select charities and groups which really resonate with them.'

A report from the Community Development Foundation last year revealed that Norfolk people are officially the most generous in the UK, having raised significantly more than other counties in a grassroots challenge.

Charities which have already signed up to the Localgiving.com scheme include Norwich-based Thalia Theatre Company, Future Projects, The Chermond Trust and city-based Indigo Foundation, a dyslexia resource centre and learning shop.

Each group has to be approved by Norfolk Community Foundation so people donating can be assured that their money is going to a good cause.

Groups do not have to be a registered charity.

Molly Rose-Hutchinson, who founded Thalia Theatre Company seven years ago, said it would give the charity the opportunity to become more 'visible' to a wider audience.

The charity, currently based at Chantry Hall in Chantry Road, just behind the Theatre Royal in Norwich, provides educational arts-related learning for disabled people with physical and sensory impairments and learning difficulties.

Ms Rose-Hutchinson said: 'Being part of localgiving.com will help us raise our profile and enable us to launch a big fundraising appeal to get our own premises.'

To browse the full list of organisations registered in Norfolk or to find out more, go to www.localgiving.com

Are you doing something amazing for charity? Call reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk