HUNDREDS of charities are being urged to join a unique event aimed at helping them survive the swingeing funding cuts caused by the poor economic climate.

The Great Yarmouth Charity Summit has sent more than 200 invitations to charities in the Great Yarmouth Borough area in a bid to inform them of the measures they can take to access grants in the future.

Organised by Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis, the event will provide well-established and grassroot charities with advice on how to apply for grants, develop their organisations and work together to achieve best practice.

Key speakers will include representatives from the grant giving body the Norfolk Community Foundation and the Big Lottery fund.

Mr Lewis said: “As I meet people around the constituency I hear so much about all the charities making a difference to so many lives. These groups require support and help; that is why I have organised this conference.

“The event will bring charities across the Borough together to share information on accessing grants and best practice.

“They will get advice from the Big Lottery Community Foundation as well as the local Working Neighbourhoods team from the council.

“It’s also a great opportunity to network with other charities, learn about their challenges and see if we can work together to overcome any problems they face.

“Although I will be opening the event, it’s the experts from the charity support organisations that will be leading the sessions. I hope that this conference will help the charity sector in Great Yarmouth to grow and develop.”

Upwards of 40 charities have already agreed to join the summit, which will take place at the Priory Centre, Priory Plain, Great Yarmouth, on Friday November 4 from 9am to 12pm.

Speakers taking part in the event are Paul Cheeseman or Rob Gregory from Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Graham Tuttle from the Norfolk Community Foundation, Louise Botwright from the mentoring service JUMP, and a spokesman from the Big Lottery Fund.

Speeches will focus on the impact made on economic growth by Yarmouth voluntary and community sector, what funding is available in Norfolk, as well as advice on setting up a charity and how to apply to the Big Lottery Fund.

Graham Tuttle, director of Norfolk Community Foundation, said: “There are a number of factors which are currently affecting charities - particularly those who are volunteer led and cannot afford big fund raising events.

“These include the big government cuts that we have never seen before and they have put a lot of groups at risk.

“At the summit, we will have the opportunity to talk about the alternative funding streams we can get to these charity groups.”