Community grant scheme opens with over £260,000 available

15 Jul 2026

Community projects that will benefit the lives of residents in West Suffolk, can now apply for grants for 2027/28 from West Suffolk Council’s Thriving Communities Fund.

The Thriving Communities Fund, which is open to charities, community groups and voluntary organisations, has already invested in 38 projects during this current year. 
They include:

•    Cost-of-living support
•    Help for people coping with the trauma caused by domestic abuse
•    Schemes aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation
•    Youth activities and support
•    Targeted support for people who are vulnerable in our communities
•    Health and wellbeing support for families and individuals
•    Bereavement support.

Now the fund has opened for applications for 2027/28, with more than £260,000 available.

Applications have to be in by midday on Friday 25 September 2026. 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 2027.

Cllr Donna Higgins, Cabinet Member for Families and Communities at West Suffolk Council, said: “The Thriving Communities Fund is already helping make a positive difference to the lives of local residents in West Suffolk. Through the work that we have invested in, it is helping people who have been the victims of domestic abuse, it’s supporting people through the pain of bereavement. It’s providing youth activities and support as well as helping people of all ages who feel lonely and socially isolated. The fund has backed projects that are helping people manage their money and debts to support them with the cost-of-living. It’s being used to provide a variety of targeted support to people who are in our communities. And it is backing work to help people’s health and wellbeing including their self-esteem, skills and confidence.

“The Thriving Communities Fund is just one of the ways that we invest in and support work to try to make life better for residents across West Suffolk, to help our communities thrive. The Fund is now open, and I would encourage community groups, charities and voluntary organisations with a project for 2027/28, to have a look at how we might be able to support their work.”

There are two levels of grants available to apply for:

•    Community grants of between £2,000 and £8,000 for one-off projects 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 – for 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 will retain its discretion to take each application on its merits and may grant a smaller amount.

Smaller grants of between £100 and £2,800 are available throughout the year through West Suffolk Council’s councillor locality budgets. People are advised to speak to their local ward councillor if they have a project in mind. 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 on our Community grants webpage 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 are free to attend and will be held on Teams. Book through the links below.

•    Tuesday 22 July from 1pm to 2.30pm 
•    Tuesday 8 September from 10.30am to 12pm 

 

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