1 minute read
Funding that delivers
If you’re a voluntary or not-for-profit organisation working for the benefit of Diss residents, you could be entitled to a council community grant. Three of the town’s beneficiaries this year- the Diss Primary Academy Partnership, Diss Youth Work and Diss Community Team - share how the grant has helped them.
Support for schooling
Advertisement
“The community grant received by Diss Primary Academy Partnership has had a huge impact on our families,” says Executive Headteacher, Jo Cerullo. “It meant we could ensure every family in our school community had home internet access by supplying wifi boxes and usb sticks to those who needed them. We were also able to give families the loan of a school laptop to support learning from home. I felt incredibly humbled to receive the grant from Diss Town Council. Their generosity made sure all of our children could communicate with their teachers and peers and continue to develop their skills remotely.”
Support for youth work Support for the high street
“The Diss Community Team is a Community Interest Company run by volunteers,” says Alan Franks, one of its directors. “When Beales department store closed in early 2020 (rapidly followed by COVID-19 and the first lockdown), we decided to shift our attention from events to helping reverse the decline of the retail sector. A variety of initiatives were discussed with the town and district councils, all designed to safely bring people back into the town and brighten up the streetscape.
“With the help of our community grant, we were able to start a project covering the fronts of empty shops with attractive window displays. This has made a real difference. A number of empty units have now been taken over by independent traders bringing interest and variety back into the town.”
“Diss town council’s community grant scheme has funded a Youth & Community Worker to run local Diss Youth Work projects including the Diss Youth Council, a range of media, gardening and intergenerational projects, some detached youth work and the FareShare scheme. Youth & Community Worker Julia Fairbrother, says, “This funding has provided opportunities and support for the whole community and helped a wide range of people. All of us involved are extremely grateful for the extra funding.”
