Cash boost for Suffolk project

A SUFFOLK based project is to benefit from more than £160,000 of European funding.

The St John's training centre in Framlingham is one of five projects in the East of England to scoop a European Union Objective 2 grant for economic and social development.

The Framlingham based project will provide St John's ambulance with

a fully equipped training room capable of accommodating 80 people.

It will include a youth room, a care suite, office space and secure garaging for the division's ambulance.

The grant will contribute £162,000 towards the £477,171 project with the remaining funds provided by Suffolk County Council, Framlingham Town Council, St John's Suffolk, the Mills Trust and project income.

David Morrall Director, European at the Government Office for the

East of England, which manages the Objective 2 programme, said:

"The Framlingham centre will provide a much-needed training facility

for the care industry which is important locally and a youth room specifically designed to encourage young people to participate in learning and volunteering as pathways to employment.

"All five initiatives are fine examples of local community organisations driving forward projects for desperately needed facilities.

"This will be done by engaging with a range of local and regional partners working together to develop local economies and communities."

A total of £100m is available during the six-year life of the Objective 2

programme for local partnerships to create more jobs, attract inward

investment and help businesses in some of the poorest areas of the

East of England.

The other projects to benefit from the recent funding are: The Wells Harbour Project, Norfolk; The Ashcroft Community Expansion Project, Luton;

March Town Hall restoration (Phase Two), Cambridgeshire and

The Fisher Theatre Community Project, Bungay, Suffolk.