Council invests in health and wellbeing and cost-of-living support

06 Feb 2024

A Community Chest investment of over £450,000 to help people through the cost-of-living crisis and support residents’ health and wellbeing, has been agreed tonight.

Cabinet members at West Suffolk Council, this evening (6 February) agreed to recommendations from the council’s Grant Working Party, to give funding to 32 community groups, charities and voluntary organisations across West Suffolk.

The grants are in line with the council’s new strategic priorities which includes delivering thriving communities.

It includes funds to support people struggling for food, to help them manage their money, tackle debts and get the benefits to which they are entitled.

As well as work to help people with the cost-of-living, there’s also funding to support families and individuals including people who are vulnerable.

Cabinet agreed grants to a variety of projects to reduce loneliness and social isolation, and others which aim to empower people, teaching them life skills and building confidence and self-esteem.

Specialist support for people that have suffered domestic abuse, sexual violence and for people who are struggling following bereavement is also being backed with Community Chest funds.

In total £466,733 of Community Chest grants will be paid to the organisations to support work taking place over the 12 months from April this year.

Cllr Donna Higgins, Cabinet Member for Families and Communities at West Suffolk Council, said: “We recognise that sadly the cost-of-living crisis hasn’t gone away. People in our communities are struggling to make ends meet, whether with the costs of food, mounting debts, energy prices or their housing costs. It’s not just an issue in West Suffolk which is why the answers to many of these issues need to come from Central Government and fast.

“Fortunately, in West Suffolk, there is already great work being led by many community groups, charities and voluntary organisations to support people through this crisis. Through Community Chest we are backing that work in West Suffolk so that more help can be given to more people who need it and to help towards our aim of thriving communities.

“Community Chest isn’t just about the cost-of-living though. Since it was established in 2015, Community Chest has been investing in community-led initiatives that support the health and wellbeing of residents in West Suffolk, with the aim of reducing some of the impact on the National Health Service as well as other societal issues such as anti-social behaviour. This year is no different and we are pleased to be investing in a variety of initiatives that will benefit families and individuals of all ages from across the district. Each of these projects will make a difference to people’s lives and we are delighted to be able to give so many of them our support.”

Details of the community groups, charities and voluntary organisations who will receive Community Chest for 2024/25, are set out in the table below.

Who	How much and what the funding is towards
Brave Futures West Suffolk	£10,000 To provide one-to-one specialist support to children and young people who have been sexually abused in the West Suffolk area.
Bridge Community Church Bury St Edmunds	£5,000 Community grocery which supports people struggling with the cost-of-living and provides help with budgeting advice and benefits applications.
Bury Drop In Bury St Edmunds	£9,916 Continued commitment to supporting people who are homeless and vulnerably housed in West Suffolk including those impacted by through the cost-of-living crisis.
Bury St Edmunds Women’s Aid, West Suffolk Newmarket	£20,300 To provide support service in Newmarket for people who have suffered from domestic violence, improving self-esteem, empowerment, reducing stigma and reducing social isolation.
Citizens Advice West Suffolk West Suffolk	£245,000 Information, advice and advocacy service including cost-of-living support.
EPIC Dads Mildenhall	£2,500  Partnering with St Mary's Academy in Mildenhall to offer weekly wellbeing support to dads, mums, carers, and families in the local community. This project offers practical support to help families through the current cost-of-living crisis.
Free Food Haverhill Haverhill	£7,481 Purchase of a new vehicle to collect food and prevent it from going to landfill. Project create to support families in Haverhill struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Gatehouse Caring Bury St Edmunds	£10,000 Funding support for the social supermarket which provides discounted food items to people on low incomes. The project has been created due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Haverhill Community Trust Haverhill	£5,000 Signpost project which offers early intervention to people suffering from low mood, a lack of confidence or who feel isolated. Includes helping people impacted by cost-of-living crisis.
Haverhill Men's Shed Haverhill	£10,052 Project to provide facilities and activities for men and women over 18. The aim is to improve mental and physical well-being.
Haverhill Scout and Guide Management Committee Haverhill	£5,000 To support project that will enable young people to learn basic cooking skills that they can then share with their families. As well as teaching skills, this project also aims to help families through the cost-of-living crisis.
Home-Start in Suffolk West Suffolk	£7,000 Project to recruit a larger team of volunteers to support families with children aged 0-12 in West Suffolk.
Hope After Suicide Loss West Suffolk	£10,000& Specialist service support to people who have lost loved ones to suicide.
Lyward Colley Trust, community interest company West Suffolk	£6,000 Project to provide one to one support to young people for whom mainstream school is not appropriate and who are particularly vulnerable. Funding will be providing practical skilled workshops including woodwork, arts, gardening and music.
Music Prescription community interest company Bury St Edmunds	£2,500 Creative workshops for people in recovery from substance misuse. The project will be delivered at Artheads in Bury St Edmunds and will include tuition on drums, guitar, keyboards, percussion and sampling equipment.
Our Special Friends West Suffolk	£9,000 Animal companionship project which supports the health and wellbeing of people who may otherwise experience anxiety and social isolation.
REACH Community Projects Haverhill and Newmarket	£6,600 Debt advice work including cost-of-living support.
Rural Coffee Caravan West Suffolk	£6,812 Project visiting locations to help alleviate social isolation and loneliness and provide practical support to residents in rural communities including helping them through the cost-of-living crisis.
Second Chance Stroke Association Bury St Edmunds	£2,500 Second Chance is self-help support group for Stroke Survivors in the Bury St Edmunds and surrounding villages.
Still Good Food community interest company Bury St Edmunds	£8,672 Project supporting individuals and families during the cost-of-living crisis and the reduction of food waste of donated items that are past their “Best Before” date but are still safe to eat.
St Nicholas Hospice Care West Suffolk	£10,000 Nicky’s Way bereavement services for children and young people.
Suffolk Accident and Rescue Service West Suffolk	£10,000 Work to provide critical support to people who have been involved in an accident in West Suffolk.
Suffolk Family Carers West Suffolk	£2,500 Emotional and practical support for parents carer including access to information, advice and guidance and links to other local and national support networks. This also includes support to families impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.
Suffolk Mind West Suffolk	£6,000 To deliver mental health training with one secondary school and three feeder primary schools in Bury St Edmunds.
Suffolk Rape Crisis West Suffolk	£10,000 Outreach and counselling support to women and girls aged 14 and above who have experienced sexual violence.
The BeFriending Service Haverhill	£5,000 To support vulnerable people to become more resilient and help themselves by learning new skills, learning how to choose healthier foods, how to manage their money to cook meals on a budget whilst forming new friendships in an environment that is safe, accepting and inclusive.
The Lightwave community interest company Beck Row and Red Lodge	£5,000 Help with the cost-of-living through a foodbank, budgeting advice, support funds, employment support and more.
The Offshoot Foundation West Suffolk	£3,000 Film making arts workshop for young people.
The Racing Centre Newmarket	£5,100 Project to implement a Community Connector within Newmarket to assist with people referrals. Project to support families with cost-of-living pressures.
The Stable Café and Community Space Newmarket	£5,000 The Stable aims to promote social integration, offering a sense of belonging to people of all ages and backgrounds, providing them with opportunities to engage in activities and develop friendships.
The Voluntary Network Befriending Scheme West Suffolk	£10,000 Delivery of the Community Connect Scheme aims to reduce social isolation. Cost of living information shared regarding benefit support, warm spaces, access to care services, hot meals and fuel poverty.
West Suffolk Vineyard Church Bury St Edmunds	£5,800 Community support including help with the cost-of-living supplying food and family support.

The council considered applications totalling over £1m from 46 community groups, charities and voluntary organisations.

Where applicants aren’t eligible for Community Chest or haven’t been given the full amount that they applied for, the council will work with them to direct them to other grants within the council as well as other appropriate sources of local and national funding.

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