Deadline approaching on community grant scheme with over £265,000 available

11 Sep 2026

Community groups, charities and voluntary organisations now have just two weeks left to make grant applications to West Suffolk Council’s Thriving Communities Fund.

More than £265,000 is available to support projects in 2027/28 that will benefit the lives of residents in West Suffolk, but applications will close at midday on Friday 25 September 2026.

The fund is already supporting 38 projects during this current year, helping people who have been the victims of domestic abuse and 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 and it is backing work to help people’s health and wellbeing including their self-esteem, skills and confidence.

Applications for 2027/28 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: “I’m proud of the work that the Thriving Communities Fund has backed in 2026/27. It is already taking place and helping make a positive difference to the lives of local residents in West Suffolk.

“Now the deadline for new applications is fast approaching and I would encourage community groups, charities and voluntary organisations to have a look at how we might be able to support their project in 2027/28.”

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 at our Community grants webpage where community groups can also find details about how to apply for support from councillor locality budgets.  

 

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