Breckland Council has awarded grants totalling £12,000 to 48 community groups in the district, marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, as well as Victory over Japan (VJ) Day this year.
A total of £12,000 has been given to support activities that bring Breckland communities together and commemorate the historic dates. VE day, which takes place on 8 May, celebrates the end of fighting in Europe during the Second World War, whereas VJ day, on 15 August, observes the formal surrender of Japan and the end of World War II in the Pacific.
Breckland Council’s VE and VJ Day Community Grant Scheme has awarded organisations and groups individual grants of up to £250 each. These will be used to help fund costs for commemorative events and activities, such as food and refreshments, decorations and entertainment as well as commemorative items such as plaques to display to the public.
Cllr Tristan Ashby, Breckland Council’s Executive Member for Health and Communities, said: “I am thrilled that we received so many applications for our VE and VJ Day Community Grant Scheme and look forward to seeing what fantastic events and activities our communities organise to observe VE and VJ Day. I am sure that these will be both celebratory and educational, providing opportunities for our residents to come together and commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.”
Please see the full list of events Breckland is supporting below.
If you want to find out more about a particular activity, please check Breckland’s What’s On page or get in contact with the group listed.
Breckland has awarded grants to the following community groups:
- Attleborough Royal British Legion: VE Day 80th Anniversary Community Street Party
- Beachamwell Village Hall: VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary Celebration
- Bullock Park: VE & VJ Day 2025 Celebration Event
- Carbrooke Village Hall: VE Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration
- Caring Friends Mid Norfolk: VE Day Coffee Morning Celebration
- Dad’s Army Museum Thetford: VE Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration Event
- Dereham Aid Centre: Dereham VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration
- Dereham Cancer Care: VJ Day 80th Anniversary Coffee Morning
- Dereham Community Crafters: Dereham Celebrates VJ Day 80th Anniversary
- Dereham Heritage Trust: VJ Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration in Dereham
- Dereham Lions Club: VE Day Commemorative Afternoon Tea Party
- Dereham Meeting Point: Meeting Point Remembers VE & VJ Day in the Countryside
- Discover D Day: Various Local VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary Events
- Eckling Grange Ltd: VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration Day
- Etling Green Residents Association: Etling Green VE day Celebration
- Foulden All Saints Church, Parochial Church Council: Singing for Victory: VE Day 80th Celebration
- Foulden Village Hall: Foulden VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration
- Friends of Banham Church: Banham Victory Open Gardens for VE Day
- Friends of Carbrooke School: VE Day 80th Anniversary Afternoon Tea Party
- Friends of Thetford Museum: VE & VJ Day Commemorative Service
- Garboldisham Recreation Ground Charity: Garboldisham VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary Celebration
- Garboldisham Village Hall: VE & VJ Day 2025: 80th Year Commemoration
- Garnier Village Hall: VE Day Festival Commemoration
- Great Cressingham Village Hall Committee: Village Celebration for the End of World War 2: VE Day
- Great Ellingham Recreation Ground & Centre: VE Day Village Picnic & Funday
- Griston Community Archive Group: The Impact of World War Two on Griston Village: VE Day Commemoration
- Harling Recreation Ground Trust: Victory Day: VE Day & VJ Day Celebration
- Helping Hands T/A The Pantry & THRIVE: VE Day Tea Party & Celebration
- Hockham Sports And Community Association: 1940s Themed Hornfair: VE & VJ Day Celebration
- Iceni Partnership: VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebrations
- Involve Razem CIC Polish school: Remembering and Celebrating VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary
- Kenninghall Village Hall: VE & VJ Day Anniversary Celebration, 10th May
- Museum 4 Watton: VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration Event
- Narborough & Narford Community Centre: VE & VJ Day Fun Day Celebration
- River Nar Bone Mill Conservation Project: Celebrate VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary at Public Open Days
- Rocklands Village Hall: VE & VJ Day Commemoration Event
- Scarning Parochial Church Council: VE Day Concert and Supper for VJ Day Commemoration
- St Margaret’s PCC: VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration
- St Nicholas Church, Dereham: VJ Day 80th Anniversary Friday 15th August Event
- Stow Bedon & Breckles Community Group: VE Day 80th Singalong
- Swanton Morley Village Hall Trust: Swanton Morley VE Day Celebration 2025
- The Garboldisham Fox CIC: Village VE Day 80th Anniversary Celebration
- The Pickenham Hub: VJ Day 80th Anniversary Celebrations
- Tinytots Kenninghall: Kenninghall VE Day 80th Celebration
- Watton Blenheim Centre & Families Club: Armed Forces Day 2025: VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration
- Watton Sports and Recreational Centre: Family Fun and Memorial Day for VE & VJ Day
- Whissonsett Village Hall: VE Day Celebration Fete & Family Fun
- Yaxham Village Amenities Association: VE Day 80th Community Café Celebration
