Current News

Thank you to those who have so generously supported this year`s Surviving Winter campaign so far.

Rather than only awarding money to individuals to help with fuel costs, this year’s campaign invites charities to apply for up to £5,000 in funding for practical projects which support older people throughout the winter.

We are delighted that our first round of funding has been awarded with 14 organisations receiving a share of £34,850.

Projects which have received funding include:
• delivering advice and support on energy bills and outreach support services -Citizens Advice Ipswich
• supplying fuel vouchers, food parcels, debt advice and support with benefit applications @reachhaverhill
• providing warm and safe welcoming spaces including meals to vulnerable older residents - Rendlesham Community Centre Charity
• distributing electric blankets, energy-efficient cooking appliances and supermarket vouchers combined with referrals to vital support @accesscommunitytrust

The fund is reliant on donations and is currently fully committed. As the cold weather sets in, more vulnerable older people will need support.

You can donate via our website, www.suffolkcf.org.uk, or in person at any branch of @suffolkbuildingsociety

#survivingwinter #keepingsuffolkwarm #communityfunding #suffolkcharities

Members of the Women & Girls’ Fund were shown around @thebefriendingscheme`s Rose Community Care Farm in Lindsey by Shirley Moore, CEO and Frances Torrington, Chair of Trustees.

The Women & Girls’ Fund supported The Befriending Scheme`s Mindful Mondays project, which works to help women marginalised by their ongoing mental health conditions.

Thank you for taking the time to show us all around 💜.

The Women & Girls` Fund is a giving circle dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of women and girls across Suffolk.

#communityfunding #supportingwomenandgirlsinsuffolk #localimpact

Jess and the Grants Team, alongside Laura Butters (@baberghsuffolk) and Jacqui Wilkinson (@commactionsuff), hosted a Funding Summit in Bildeston.

The summit provided a great opportunity to strengthen connections with the voluntary sector. The event included:

- A State of the Sector presentation from CAS
- Workshops on Writing Successful Funding Applications, Trustee & Volunteer Roles, and Safeguarding Essentials
- A Meet the Funder session with Suffolk Community Foundation, @tnlcommunityfund, Babergh & Mid Suffolk Council Grants Team, CAS, and @suffolkcountycouncilofficial
- A talk by @iceni_ipswich about what makes a good funding application.

Around 58 participants attended. Key takeaways from attendees included:

“Hearing from the funders, especially their perspectives on application content and what they look for within applications.”

“The first thing we will need to do is start gathering evidence of the need for the project we want to undertake. That was the big takeaway for me — without the basic building blocks in place, any funding application will fail at the first hurdle.”

Thank you to all those who came along to the event and to those who helped to put it on. 💜💜

#communitysupport #suffolkcharities #communityfunding

We’re delighted that @coherearts has been awarded £12,535 from the Sizewell C Community Fund to deliver 30 “Tonic - singing for health” sessions at Leiston Library over the coming year.

The seated singing group gives older people and those with mobility or other challenges the chance to join a weekly session, make new friends and boost their wellbeing through song.

Dr Amy Mallett, artistic and executive director of Cohere Arts, said: “We are thrilled to receive this award. Offering a gentle, friendly way to experience the many health benefits of singing with others, the activity has been a hit with Leiston residents since it was piloted in January 2025.”

The @sizewellc Community Fund is managed by Suffolk Community Foundation. It is making around £2m available each year to projects in the East Suffolk Council area which promote the economic, social or environmental wellbeing of the communities most impacted by the construction of Sizewell C and which enhance people’s quality of life. For more information, please visit www.sizewellcfund.org.uk

#sizewellccommunityfund #communityfunding #eastsuffolkcharities

@eadt24

The temperature is set to plummet over the next few days, with freezing conditions across the county.

You can help keep Suffolk`s most vulnerable older people warm, well and connected by donating to our Surviving Winter campaign. Over the last 15 years, this campaign has raised over £1.6m, enabling vital support to reach thousands of people in need.

This year, we`re inviting local charities and community groups to apply for grants of up to £5,000 to deliver practical, impactful projects for older people.

For more information, and how to donate, please visit our website - www.suffolkcf.org.uk

You can also donate in-branch at @suffolkbuildingsociety

Thank you for all your support 💜

#survivingwinter #suffolkcharities #communitysupport

We are delighted to help spread the word about @anglianwater`s Thriving Communities Fund.

Grants are available for not for profit groups to improve the water environment and bring real social benefits to local communities. Over the next five years, they will be putting £5.8m of shareholder funds into projects across the region.

• Grants are available between £10,000 and £100,000, with a two stage process for applications over £50,000.
• Expressions of Interest for applications over £50,000 for this first round must be submitted by 8th December.
• Applications between £10,000 and £50,000 have until 1st February.
• Projects must deliver water environment improvements alongside social benefits: from small urban rain gardens to volunteer opportunities, and from community water quality monitoring to large capital conservation projects.
• There will be three rounds per year with deadlines 1st February, 1st May and 1st August.

Links to Expression of Interest and application forms are on the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation fund page - www.cambscf.org.uk

#eastanglianfunding #suffolkcharities #communityfunding