Randal Foundation
Randal Foundation: global vision, local investment, vital impact
Every day in Norfolk, local charities are building community, supporting local people, and improving individuals’ lives. Norfolk Community Foundation is proud to support their work through local, national, and now global funding.
In 2026, local communities have been strengthened thanks to funding from an extraordinary partnership. Thanks to new support from the Randal Foundation, 12 Norfolk projects will be improving education and healthcare access for the most disadvantaged, tackling mental ill health, and alleviating poverty.
The Randal Foundation carries an ambitious global mission to save and significantly improve the lives of one million people in the UK and beyond. Their vision stretches across borders, and we are delivering this funding in Norfolk. Our approach is shaped by our local knowledge and directed towards the people and places that need it most.
“This partnership shows what is possible when global vision meets local insight. The Randal Foundation is committed to transforming lives worldwide, and here in Norfolk they are investing directly in the small charities and community groups who understand their neighbourhoods best.”
The projects supported through this fund show the breadth and depth of what Norfolk’s grassroots groups make possible:
- Autism Explorers will bring SEN families together to learn, play and thrive, enriching the educational journeys of young people who face barriers.
- Circus Head CIC will bring woodland wellbeing to help emergency service workers experiencing mental ill health to reconnect with nature and with one another in a nurturing space.
- City Response Centre’s Safe Haven service in Norwich will provide a lifeline for vulnerable individuals in acute need of compassionate healthcare.
- Food hubs like Social Moments in Rackheath will help families weather the strain of rising costs, addressing the everyday realities of poverty.
The funding will also support choirs, youth groups and neighbourhood centres, which continue to be the focal point of their communities, offering friendship, creativity and belonging to those who might otherwise feel left behind. What unites these projects is their significance, with each one representing a space where individuals can feel supported, understood and less alone.
Spotlight on… North Norfolk
New funding is helping people in North Norfolk reach essential healthcare, stay connected and live well. Support is already strengthening local schemes that tackle poor transport links and rural isolation.
Ludham Village Car Scheme and Wells Nelson Club have received more than £2,000 towards transport that helps people attend medical appointments, social activities and community events. As one Ludham resident said: “My family cannot always take me to the chiropodist, but I can call a car so I get the treatment that keeps me walking.” Ken Grapes, Joint Chairman, added: “We are extremely grateful for the generous grant, which will enable this valuable village facility to continue.”
Wells Nelson Club is also feeling the benefit. The cost of its Age Concern minibus, which brings people to meetings and days out, is being covered this year. For many older residents, it is the only way to stay socially active. “If we did not use the minibus, many of our members would not be able to get to meetings,” said Sandra, who helps run the Club. “It is thanks to the Randal Foundation that we can provide transport and make sure people can carry on coming, seeing friends and enjoying life in Wells.”
As Laura Wigby, Director of Programmes at Norfolk Community Foundation, said: “Modest amounts of funding can create remarkable local change, and we are delighted to help direct this support where it makes the greatest difference.”
At Norfolk Community Foundation, we believe that long-lasting change grows best when it is led by people in their communities. With the Randal Foundation, we are proud to bring together global opportunity with local insight to help Norfolk communities flourish.
We look forward to sharing the stories that emerge from this partnership in the months ahead.
[Updated Mar 2026]