Local community groups receive £1.1m in latest Sizewell C funding

• £1.1m awarded to 11 organisations in the second round of Sizewell C Community Fund, taking the total to £1.4m awarded to date
• Awards range from £10k to £201k for groups serving East Suffolk, including Home-Start in Suffolk and Wardens Trust
• Funding comes from Sizewell C Community Fund, which is making £2m available every year for the next 10 years

The Sizewell C Community Fund has awarded more than £1.1m to local community projects in its latest round of community funding in East Suffolk.

The second round of awards has seen grants given to 11 charities and not-for-profit groups which deliver services in Leiston, Saxmundham, Aldeburgh and the surrounding areas. The latest funding takes the total awarded to £1.4m so far, which has benefitted 20 different projects in the region.

The Sizewell C Community Fund – worth £23m in total – awards grants to projects in the East Suffolk Council area which promote the economic, social or environmental wellbeing of the communities closest to and most impacted by the construction of Sizewell C, and which enhance people’s quality of life. Grants are available for up to three years, in turn offering certainty to organisations which need multi-year funding to ensure the success of their projects.

Successful organisations in this second round of funding tackle social isolation, improve mental health, and boost quality of life in East Suffolk communities, and range from scout groups to family support charities. They include:

• Home-Start in Suffolk, which successfully applied for £201,881 over two years to fund various initiatives to support families living with issues such as mental health, isolation and relationship difficulties.
• Wardens Trust, which was awarded £122,507 over three years to support more local people who are disadvantaged, disabled or socially isolated by arranging lunch clubs and music events.
• Headway Suffolk (pictured), which has been given £137,406 over three years to extend the support sessions it provides to help rehabilitate people with acquired brain injuries while improving their mental health.
• 1st Leiston Scout Group, which will receive £40,469 to reclad its scout hut to extend its lifespan by a further 25 years to ensure a safe and welcoming space for young people.
• Saxmundham Music and Arts CIC, which was awarded £105,404 to help stage Sax Community Fest, a free community music festival, for the next three years.
• Kelsale-cum-Carlton Parish Council, which will receive £14,397 to install water and power outlets on the village green so that it can be used for community events.

Five other organisations were also given awards, with funds ranging from £10,000 to £185,820.

Suffolk Community Foundation is administering the fund using its extensive experience in grant making to the voluntary sector. Eligible charities and not-for-profit organisations can bid for grants for up to three-year funding periods.

Hannah Bloom, Director of Philanthropy and Engagement with Suffolk Community Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have awarded the second round of grants to some really exciting and worthwhile projects which will make a positive difference to local communities.

“We would encourage any other charity or community group which is supporting communities affected by the construction and feel they could benefit from a grant to visit our website or speak to our team to find out more. Your initiative must focus on boosting the economic, social or environmental wellbeing of communities closest to the development sites, and should also help to improve people’s quality of life.”

The Sizewell C Community Fund is open all year, so organisations can apply whenever is convenient. Suffolk Community Foundation provides support, resources and one-to-one guidance for applicants, including advice on writing applications.

Julia Pyke, Sizewell C Joint Managing Director, said: “It’s a pleasure to be able to support these amazing local charities and organisations, whose work makes lives better here in Suffolk. We want to see these groups continue to enhance what they offer to communities here.

“This is only our second round of grants, but we can already see the impact that the Sizewell C Community Fund will have in this district. Working with the Suffolk Community Foundation, it’s about getting the right support to the right areas in our community to make the biggest difference. The legacy it will leave over the next decade in East Suffolk will be transformative.”

For more information, eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit sizewellcfund.org.uk or call 01473 602 602.

The current round closes to applications on Sunday 20 April, with the next round opening the following day.