Groups invited to bid as £23m funding pot opens

Suffolk Community Foundation is inviting eligible charitable and not-for-profit groups in East Suffolk to bid for a share of up to £23m following the opening of the Sizewell C Community Fund.

Around £2m will be made available each year for the next 10 years. The money will be awarded to projects in the East Suffolk Council area that 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.

Melanie Craig, Chief Executive of Suffolk Community Foundation, said: “We are delighted to open the Sizewell C Community Fund, which will make a significant difference to our local communities over the coming decade. We will focus on using our expertise to make sure this money benefits those communities most where work is taking place for the Sizewell C project.

“This is an exciting opportunity which comes at a time when rising demand and reductions in central funding are placing charities and community groups under ever increasing pressure. The money therefore has the potential to make a real and lasting difference.

“We are looking forward to using the extensive experience we have built up over the past 19 years to ensure it is put to the best possible use for local people.”

Grants will be decided by an awards panel made up of representatives from Suffolk Community Foundation, Suffolk County Council, East Suffolk Council and Sizewell C, as well as four independent members who have a close connection to the area. The panel will meet four times each year to award the money.

Julia Pyke, Sizewell C Joint Managing Director, said: “The Sizewell C Community Fund is a wonderful way to ensure that local communities benefit from the Sizewell C project for years to come. It’s a key part of the legacy we want to leave for East Suffolk. We’re excited to see the many projects and initiatives that will benefit, and to see the impacts they’ll have across our region.”

For more information about the fund, eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit Sizewellcfund.org.uk