01/08/2023: Pilot fund for new ideas to inspire people to use their local town launches

A £5,000 Love Your Market Town pilot fund is offering grants of up to £1,000 to Breckland-based organisations and groups who implement new initiatives to generate footfall and increase activity in their local towns. The pilot scheme which launches today, Tuesday 1 August, will fund projects that encourage Norfolk residents to use their local market towns more frequently, thanks to the district council and Norfolk County Council.

A series of 'Dragons Den' style competitions will be held in autumn 2023, where local groups or businesses can present ideas to a panel to ask for a share of the funding. Businesses and community groups have until Friday 22 September to submit their expressions of interest.

Cllr Fabian Eagle, Norfolk County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, said: "I am passionate about how great our market towns are, and how important they are to our local economy. This pilot scheme asks local businesses and groups to develop new ideas to give local residents a great reason to visit their town centres. If successful, it's something we're hoping to expand to other districts in Norfolk. We're expecting to give £1,000 in grants to projects in each of the five market towns in Breckland. If your business or community group based in Attleborough, Dereham, Swaffham, Thetford or Watton has got a good idea, we want to hear from you."

Cllr Paul Claussen, Breckland District Council's Executive Member for Economic Development and Growth, commented: "By working closely with our county council partners we've been able to create a brand-new opportunity for local Breckland groups to put forward their creative ideas to enhance our towns. We've set aside some funding so we can back the very best initiatives and I can't wait to hear people's ideas about how we can make our towns even better for our residents, attract more people to Breckland, boost our town centres and support the district to thrive."

Applications are welcome from any local groups or business, but any activity must be a brand-new idea and should support multiple areas or services within a Breckland market town. There is no limit to the kind of activities that can be funded but the idea must have a link to creating interest or increasing footfall in town centres.

For more information, and to express interest in bidding for a grant,