Funds secured for community work to help residents this winter

30 Jan 2023

The vital work of community groups and organisations that are helping West Suffolk residents this winter, has been backed with £160,000 of new funding.

The money, which will support the work of around 60 voluntary organisations, charities and community groups was secured by West Suffolk Council.

Just under £90,000 of the funding, from Suffolk County Council through Suffolk’s Collaborative Communities Board (CCB), has been given to 40 groups and organisations following an application process in November. The money is already being used to keep community buildings open and provide activities to help residents to stay connected and warm. This in turn will help residents reduce their daytime energy costs and lower the risk of respiratory illnesses. Residents can find out about warm spaces in their area at www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/cost-of-living/warm-spaces.cfm 

Following a decision by West Suffolk’s Cabinet in November, the Council has also used £70,343 from its UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) money to support other related community work to help residents with the cost-of-living challenges this winter as well as supporting community resilience and the growth of community groups. The money, which was again subject to an application process, is being passed on to 23 community organisations and groups in West Suffolk including foodbanks and warm rooms as well as work to provide energy saving support to residents and vulnerable people and outreach work to help people with the cost of living. 

Cllr Robert Everitt, Cabinet Member for Families and Communities at West Suffolk Council, said: “We know that with the increased cost of living, including higher energy bills, that this is a difficult winter. Over the years, through Community Chest and councillor locality budgets, we have been investing in the work of community groups, voluntary organisations, charities, faith groups and social enterprises in West Suffolk to help our residents with their health and wellbeing. We worked with many of these groups and supported new ones in setting up during the COVID-19 pandemic, to help some of the most vulnerable. And we know that the same local support, including that offered by community centres, village halls, churches and other community buildings, is vital at this time, which is why I’m pleased we have been able to secure this additional support and funding for them.”

The West Suffolk Council winter support fund has received £70,343 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
West Suffolk Council is also highlighting the Discretionary Housing Payment available to help residents who are struggling with their rent as well as the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme for people who are in in financial hardship. Both schemes are subject to eligibility checks and further details are available in the finance and debt section of its Cost-of-Living webpages at www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/cost-of-living/finance-and-debt.cfm

West Suffolk Council’s Community Chest was increased this year to over £500,000 with emphasis on helping support work to help residents with the cost-of-living challenges to their health and wellbeing. The council’s Grant Working Party met in December 2022 to begin looking in detail at all of the applications received and held two further meetings in January 2023. Its recommendations to 7 February meeting of the Cabinet will be published tomorrow 31 January. 

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

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