Stand Up For Suffolk – the giving circle making a difference

What started as a simple idea – helping people with limited time and money make a real difference – has quickly grown into a fundraising success. The Stand Up For Suffolk Fund, launched in 2023, was created for people in their 30s and 40s who want to learn more about the hidden needs of their local area and contribute, but don’t currently have the time due to busy family life. Members contribute twice a year, donating whatever they can. Some members have also chosen to take on fundraising challenges to raise additional funds, including James and Alex who took on the Stour Valley Path 100km Ultra Run (pictured). Along with the proceeds from the annual Hadleigh Christmas Fair, collectively, this year has raised an impressive £43,500.

However, Stand Up For Suffolk Fund isn’t just about raising money – it’s about raising awareness. Once a year, the community votes on the themes they care about most such as ‘children and young people’ or ‘bringing communities together’. Working alongside Suffolk Community Foundation, which manages the Fund, local grassroots charities which match those priorities are identified, ensuring support reaches the organisations doing vital work on the ground.

The community spirit doesn’t stop there. Members come together twice a year for two events; an Impact Drinks which offers a chance to hear directly from the charities supported over the previous 12 months, and an annual fundraising event which this year, sold out in just two weeks, proving just how much enthusiasm this initiative has generated.

A member of the committee said “We could never have achieved this without the team at Suffolk Community Foundation. We brought the idea and they have brought the commercial management, the comms organisation and the access to charities. In three years we’ve raised over £100,000 and none of this would have been possible without Suffolk Community Foundation. So many people want to make a difference but struggle with time – the Foundation provides a platform to make giving, learning and contributing easy.”

At a time where everyone seems stretched thin, the Stand Up For Suffolk community is showing what is possible when people unite around a shared mission. It’s a reminder that you don’t need endless free time to make a difference – just a community, a bit of heart, and a willingness to give what you can.