Almost 50 groups and charities win funding thanks to the Aylsham Show

People taking part in a fancy dress parade at last year's Aylsham Show. Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2017)

During a presentation at Aylsham Football Club on Tuesday (January 23) 46 organisations were given cheques of between £250 and £3,000.

Simon Evans, the show's chairman, said: 'We are delighted to be able to give £32,000 to mostly local deserving charitable causes.

'This satisfies one of the objectives of the Aylsham Show, along with the promotion and education of agriculture to the public, and support for the Aylsham Recreation Ground which was donated to the town by the Goulder family, and which is where the show began.'

Among the recipients were Ipswich-based Fresh Start – New Beginnings, which will use its £750 donation to help children affected by sexual abuse.

Diana Porter, charity founder, said: 'This is wonderful.

'It will go towards therapy work with children in Norfolk referred to us by professionals such as the police and GPs.'

Another cause to benefit is Aylsham Community Sports, which runs Aylsham Football Club's home ground, Youngs Park. They received £500 towards the box to house a defibrillator.

Lucy Baker, club volunteer, said: 'This means we are now finally able to have this vital piece of lifesaving equipment outside our building for everyone to use including the new housing estate adjacent to Youngs Park'.

And child bereavement charity Nelson's Journey received £500, which it will use to buy books for its library at its Smiles House headquarters in Little Plumstead.

Gena Moore, charity spokesman, said: 'Some of the books are for children and families to borrow as long as they're needed and others are for professionals working with children who have been bereaved.

'This donation will go a long way to boosting what we've got with loads of new books.'

Cheques were presented by Simon Evans , in the absence of 2017 president John Wootton.

Many of the recipients are involved in running the show, volunteering for tasks including parking, manning the gates and running attractions.

Last year's Aylsham Show, which took place in August at Blickling Park, drew 18,000 visitors.

Full list of beneficiaries

The largest cheque - for £3,000 - went to North Walsham Rugby Club.

Other groups to benefit were: £2,750 to Reepham and District Rotary Club, £2,000 to Bloodwise, £1,500 to Rotary Club of Aylsham and East Anglia's Children's Hospices, £1,250 to Aylsham Flower Club for the Dementia Research Trust; £1,000, Aylsham Boxing Club and Busy Beavers Playgroup, and £750 to Fresh Start – new beginnings.

Among the groups receiving £500 were Aylsham St Giles Cricket Club, Aylsham Tennis Club, Aylsham Bowling Club, Aylsham Community Sports (Youngs Park), Aylsham Football Club, Aylsham Older People's Association, 1st Aylsham Scout Group, 3rd Aylsham Guides, Aylsham and District Care Trust, Aylsham Community Gym, The Market Surgery in Aylsham and Aylsham Parish Church Repton 200 Project.

Others to receive £500 were St Michael's Association of School Helpers, Aylsham Youth Club, the Nancy Oldfield Trust, 2nd Reepham Scout Group, North Walsham Young Farmers, Norfolk Federation Young Farmers' Clubs, Sainsbury's North Walsham for the Alzheimer's Society, Fakenham Citizens Advice, Happisburgh Owl Trust, Together For Short Lives, The Buckingham Emergency Food Appeal, Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre Norfolk, North Norfolk Diabetes UK Group, Nelson's Journey, East Anglian Air Ambulance, Norwich Riding for the Disabled, Fishing for Schools, YANA, Worstead Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, Countryside Alliance Countryside Classroom.

Groups to receive £250 are Cruse Bereavement Care Norwich and Central Norfolk, Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind, Marsham Parochial Church Council Upwards for Marsham, St Mary's Church in Stody and Redwings Horse Sanctuary.