Deadline looms for Thriving Communities Fund applications

There are just weeks left to apply to a community grant scheme that will help fund initiatives to support the health and wellbeing of residents in West Suffolk.

West Suffolk Council launched its new Thriving Communities Fund in July.

Community groups, charities and voluntary organisations have until 12 noon on Friday, September 27, to apply for a grant.

The grant scheme is part of the council’s strategic priority for Thriving Communities which includes ensuring residents can access services, benefits, and support, and improve their physical and mental health and wellbeing through a wide range of community activities.

Much of this is delivered through the council’s support for projects and initiatives delivered by community groups, charities, and voluntary organisations across West Suffolk.

The Thriving Communities Fund replaces Community Chest. The application process for the Thriving Communities Fund has been streamlined to encourage smaller community organisations to apply.

Two levels of grants are available:

• Community grants of between £2,000 and £8,000 for one-off projects by community groups, that will support residents in a small part of the district such as an estate or village.
• Larger grants of between £8,001 and £20,000 that will fund work to support residents across the whole of West Suffolk or big parts of the district such as a town. Although organisations can apply for this level of funding, the council retains its discretion to decide each application on its merits and may grant a smaller amount.

Smaller grants of £100 to £2,800 are available throughout the year through West Suffolk councillor locality budgets.

The same project cannot receive funding from both the Thriving Communities Fund and locality budgets.

Donna Higgins, cabinet member for Families and Communities at West Suffolk Council, said: “This is the first year of the new Thriving Communities Fund which will support community initiatives large and small to help the health and wellbeing of residents in West Suffolk.

“As part of the changes, we have made it easier for community groups to apply, particularly for one-off projects that will help residents in their local area such as a village or a housing estate.

“We are also continuing to make funding available to support larger initiatives, such as those run by charities or voluntary organisations, that will support a wider section of residents whether in a town or across the whole of the West Suffolk district.

“All of this will contribute to the delivery of our strategic priority for Thriving Communities, ensuring residents can access services and support as well as activities to improve their health and wellbeing.”

The new Thriving Communities Fund is part of a package of close to £650,000 of community support funding for 2025-26 agreed by West Suffolk Council’s cabinet in May and following input from members of the council’s Grant Working Party.

That package includes:

• £266,733 available under the Thriving Communities Fund for 2025-26.
• £200,000 a year for Citizen’s Advice West Suffolk. The grant agreement which is for three years is towards its day-to-day costs. Previously Citizen’s Advice had to apply through Community Chest competing with other good causes for limited funds with no guarantee over what to expect.
• £179,200 under the councillor locality budget scheme. Each of West Suffolk’s 64 councillors has a locality budget of £2,800 a year to support community initiatives that will benefit residents in their ward area.

Applications for the Thriving Communities Fund can now be made through the form at our community grants webpage where community groups can also find details about how to apply for support from councillor locality budgets.

The deadline for applications to the Thriving Communities Fund is 12 noon on Friday, September 27.

Applications will be considered by the council’s Grant Working Party and decided by the council’s cabinet in February before being paid in April 2025.

Community groups, charities and voluntary organisations can also join a webinar on September 12, from 1.30pm to 3pm, to discuss the new fund.

Book online through the Network Event Booking Form – September 12.