Thriving Communities Fund opens for applications

A community grant scheme that will support work to help the health and wellbeing of residents across West Suffolk, has now opened for applications.

West Suffolk Council’s Thriving Communities Fund is open to community groups, charities and voluntary organisations to apply for a grant to help fund initiatives with more than £260,000 available.

It’s only the second year of the Thriving Communities Fund which replaced the Community Chest grant scheme.

Applications have to be in by noon on Friday, September 26, 2025.

They will then be considered by the council’s Grant Working Party who will make recommendations to the council’s cabinet to decide in February, with grants then paid in April 2026.

Donna Higgins, the cabinet member for Families and Communities at West Suffolk Council, said: “We have already invested £266,733 in this current year through the Thriving Communities Fund.

“That is already making the difference now, helping people who are struggling with their finances, and supporting people’s health and wellbeing including their self-esteem, skills and confidence.

“It is delivering youth activities, family support and helping people of all ages who feel socially isolated and lonely. And it is helping fund specialist emotional and practical support for people that have experienced trauma in their lives – whether that’s domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or the loss of a loved one.

“I am pleased to open the Thriving Communities Fund for applications for 2026/27.

“Through all of this, we are investing in and supporting work to try to make life better for our residents across West Suffolk, to help our communities thrive.”

There are two levels of grants available to apply for under the Thriving Communities Fund:

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

The council is continuing to make £2,800 available for each of its councillors to support smaller initiatives.

People can apply to use as little as £100 of this budget and they can choose to collaborate with other councillors to fund projects that benefit residents of wider areas.

They are advised to speak to their local ward councillor if they have a project in mind.

As with last year, the same project cannot receive funding from both the Thriving Communities Fund and locality budgets.

The Thriving Communities Fund and the councillor Locality Budgets scheme contribute to the delivery of West Suffolk Council’s strategic priority for Thriving Communities, ensuring residents can access services and support as well as activities to improve their health and wellbeing.

Applications for the Thriving Communities Fund can be made at Community grants (westsuffolk.gov.uk) where community groups can also find details about how to apply for support from councillor locality budgets.

Community groups, charities and voluntary organisations can also join one of two webinars to discuss the Thriving Communities Fund.

These will be held on Teams on July 22, from 10.30am to noon – people can book at  Thriving Communities Webinar 22 July 2025 And on September 9 from 10.30pm to noon – people can book at Thriving Communities Webinar 9 September 2025