TWO projects in Diss and Harleston have been awarded grants by the Waveney Valley Neighbourhood Forum.The Diss Second (Salvation Army) Scout and Guide Group was awarded £2000 to buy modern, lightweight hiking tents so more young children can go on camping expeditions and to purchase additional chairs for their meeting room.

TWO projects in Diss and Harleston have been awarded grants by the Waveney Valley Neighbourhood Forum.

The Diss Second (Salvation Army) Scout and Guide Group was awarded £2000 to buy modern, lightweight hiking tents so more young children can go on camping expeditions and to purchase additional chairs for their meeting room.

The Harleston Extended Schools Management Group was awarded £2000 towards a series of Family Fun Days throughout the year. These events were highlighted as being a priority for local people during community consultations last year.

Project Worker Shelley Starkings said: “The grant awarded from the Neighbourhood Forum Fund allows us to put together a really exciting 12-month programme of opportunities for the local community. We can now put on a programme of activities that would not usually easily accessible in these rural areas, where adults and children can participate together in a fun and safe environment.”

The Neighbourhood Forum is one of five set up across South Norfolk to identify local priorities and help deliver projects, which meet the needs of the communities.

The Waveney Valley Neighbourhood Forum, which is made up a county councillor, six district councillors and four community representatives is responsible for allocating the Neighbourhood Forum Fund grants programme totalling £138,000 across the district.

Councillor Tony Palmer, the chairman of the forum, said that he ''encourages members of community organisations as well as the public at meetings. They can present to the Forum our communities' ideas for new projects. They can also help us to identify any concerns, which we can then address”.

The next meeting of the Waveney Valley is on Thursday, April 3 at 7.30pm at the Terence Airey Court Meeting Room, Harleston. For more information, contact the neighbourhood manager - Mark Bishop, on 01508 533934, email mbishop@s-norfolk.gov.uk