Community Partnerships

Community Partnerships are an exciting way we bring ideas to life by working together on local priorities.

Community Partnerships logo

Eight Community Partnerships operate across East Suffolk, based on natural groupings of communities and using the East Suffolk Council ward boundaries as the ‘building blocks for each area. 

Each partnership consists of East Suffolk Councillors, together with key partners from town and parish councils, Suffolk County Council, Police, Health, businesses, voluntary organisations, community groups and youth representatives. Everyone works collaboratively to solve local problems identified by local people and make a difference on the ground in our communities.

How do Community Partnerships work?

Community Partnerships are relatively informal bodies, who meet for workshops and networking events in community buildings and village halls around the district. Many of the Partnerships also have small multiagency working groups solving specific issues affecting their area.

Data is important. We ensure our partnerships have the best available data on which to base their activity. A data pack is produced for each partnership area and updated regularly.

We also need excellent local intelligence to complete the picture. So, the data is used as a focal point for a wider discussion in community stakeholder workshops. As a result, priorities are identified for each Community Partnership area. This is a continual process, and each Community Partnership revisits their priorities regularly to refine them and stay focussed on the specific outcomes they seek to deliver in their local area.

The Chair of each Community Partnership automatically joins the East Suffolk-wide Community Partnership Board to come together with other public, voluntary and business sector partners to solve the challenges common to more than one Community Partnership.

What difference are Community Partnerships making?

Our Community Partnerships are tackling some of the most important issues we face in our communities including isolation and loneliness, mental health and wellbeing, transport and travel, the impact of Covid, and financial inequality.

These YouTube clips show just a few of the many projects and initiatives that Community Partnerships are delivering or supporting in their local communities:

What resources are involved?

Community Partnerships represent a major investment by East Suffolk Council, with a total delivery budget across all eight Community Partnerships and the Community Partnership Board of £1,730,000. This money is earmarked to tackle priority issues that have been identified as important to our people and places in East Suffolk and each Community Partnership is spending their own budgets on projects and initiatives to make a difference on the ground in their communities.         

Which Community Partnership covers my area?

 

Funding application top tips

If you are a community or voluntary organisation seeking funding, we have put together some tips that may prove useful, whether applying to the council or any other funder.

 

Current community partnerships

Aldeburgh, Leiston, Saxmundham and villages

Chair

Councillor Katie Graham

Priorities

  • Improve mental health and wellbeing.
  • Oral health care for children and young people.
  • Supporting hubs to bring services together.

Other information

Meeting notes

 

Latest news

Small grants scheme launched to boost community cohesion

Community groups are being invited to apply for funding as part of a new scheme which aims to strengthen local ties.

The Aldeburgh, Leiston, Saxmundham and Villages Community Partnership is offering grants to community and voluntary organisations, as well as town and parish councils.

Grants ranging from £500 to £2,500 are available, and funding will be awarded to projects that work towards fostering a sense of belonging in the community.

This initiative supports the Community Partnership’s cohesion priority and reflects their commitment to building stronger, more connected communities.

The grant scheme is open to projects and organisations supporting community cohesion in Aldeburgh, Leiston, Saxmundham and the surrounding villages.

Applications can be submitted (using the application form below) from Monday 12 January.

The closing date is Monday 23 February and applications will be reviewed by a dedicated grant panel.

The Aldeburgh, Leiston and Saxmundham Community Partnership continue to meet with local partners, groups, Town and Parish councils to discuss matters effecting the community.  

The priorities are wide reaching but the partnership are committed to ensuring the community are at the forefront when developing projects and offering immediate responses for provision, especially for our neighbours in more rural areas.

Covid encouraged the partnership to be more creative to address matters of social isolation and loneliness for the older members of the community. The Leiston Good Neighbour Scheme and Dementia project worked with The Art Station to provide 130 bags with art activities delivered to members of the community which was followed by an exhibition for all to enjoy.

Currently, the partnership continue to focus on supporting the mental health and obesity concerns of  young people and pre-school children thorough the commissioning of Suffolk Mind and The Youth Sports Trust. Both groups provide specialist support and activities for the early years setting, this training can then be rolled across the setting for future years.

Looking forward, the partnership are hoping to host a local event to bring providers of groups and services together to help to identify how we can work together, share resources and ideas for consistencies in what is available for people locally and across the patch.

 

Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and villages

Chair

Councillor Toby Hammond

Priorities

  • Tackling social isolation and loneliness for all ages including young people.
  • Improving physical and mental health and wellbeing, enabling people to live healthy and encouraging physical activity including cycling and walking.

Other information

Meeting notes

 

Latest news

The Community Partnership has funded 36 projects including oral health packs to Year 6 children on the patch, Wild Wellbeing sessions to run weekly forest school style sessions to older adults 60 and above, and the provision of hot water bottles, slipper socks and Christmas ‘oodies’ to 150 young people who attend Apollo Youth and Thirst Youth Clubs. These items are to make the children feel warmer in the winter and to aid better concentration when they are completing their homework.

Funding was awarded to Apollo Youth in Halesworth in early December 2023 as they shared information from the New Marmot Review that young people learn better when they are warm and a number of families in the area were experiencing Fuel Poverty. Hot water bottles were chosen as more families have a kettle than a microwave and because these items heat the person rather than having a parent heating a whole room.

We heard that some children in Halesworth live in houses that have storage heaters downstairs and no heat source upstairs. A powerful video by UNICEF demonstrates what life is like for some of our children across the UK (and therefore in our more deprived communities in Halesworth, Bungay and Beccles) who live below the poverty line. Three minutes into the video, a boy shares what it is like experiencing fuel poverty in the winter.

Carlton Colville, Kessingland, Southwold and villages

Chair

Councillor Alan Green

Priorities

  • Reduce social isolation and loneliness.
  • Reduce social isolation and loneliness.
  • Cost of living support.

Other information

Meeting notes

 

Latest news

None at present.

 

Felixstowe Peninsula

Chair

Councillor Rosie Smithson

Priorities

  • Giving every child the best start in life, concentrating on dental care, sleep and post 16 opportunities.
  • Increasing road safety around schools in the peninsula.
  • Alleviating social isolation for working aged people and new parents, with an inclusivity principle for residents in new developments.
  • Supporting community adult health care with a focus on preventative measures and early detection.

Other information

Meeting information

 

Latest news

The Felixstowe Peninsula Community Partnership have re-set the priorities based on new data that has become available. It is clear to see the impact of the pandemic and rising cost of living is having on the residents of Felixstowe Peninsula, with multiple pockets of deprivation and knock on effects to people’s health and wellbeing.

Following a workshop session, analysing the change in statistics since 2019, the partnership has decided upon these 3 priorities;

  • Supporting the community through the rising cost of living and fuel crisis.
  • Improving the physical health and wellbeing of primary school children.
  • Increase physical and social activity in adults.

Task and finish groups for each are being set up to discuss what current provision exists and identify gaps which may be appropriate for the Community Partnership to focus on.

Framlingham, Wickham Market, Kelsale, Yoxford and villages

Chair

Councillor Sally Noble

Priorities

  • Transport (especially around health appointments and isolated communities).
  • Mental health (all ages) – links to lack of physical activities available.
  • Enabling communities to share skills and knowledge within and between communities.
  • Facilitate opportunities for local people to care for the environment and biodiversity (cross cutting theme).

Other information

Meeting information

 

Latest news

Our Community Partnership launched the ‘Wild About’ initiative in 2024. This is an initiative encouraging communities to run their own event or project that raises awareness and increases engagement about biodiversity and the wider environment. The idea behind Wild About is communities decide what sort of activity/event/project suits their community best. Since the first Wild About event in February 2024, there have been a few Wild Abouts pop up around the patch and each have had their own locally distinctive flavour – one did a picnic with pond dipping, another did an event with information stalls and activities, another did a talk on hedgehogs and another has linked up existing provision. All different approaches but each tailored to the community it is happening in.

 

Kesgrave, Rushmere St Andrew, Martlesham, Carlford and Fynn Valley

Chair

Councillor Mark Packard

Priorities

  • Reducing social isolation and loneliness particularly in rural areas.
  • Enhancing existing community assets and strengthening local partnerships, with a focus on health and wellbeing.
  • Supporting water quality initiatives through testing, analysis and education.

Other information

Meeting information

 

Latest news

Our Road Safety Forums, launched as part of the Community Partnerships ‘Road and Traffic Safety’ priority, continue to bring communities together to improve partnership working and address issues relating to speeding and protection of all road users. Speed data is being shared for review, leading to Suffolk Police exploring local enforcement options and work with other organisations such as Suffolk Highways. Local community initiatives such as SAVID (Safer Village Driving) have received funding to increase their Speed Indicator Device provision, and are also increasing their membership with several parishes currently joining.

It's RoadSafetyWeek 19-25h November. Suffolk's SAVID (Safer Village Driving Group) is taking part to raise awareness of speeding on rural roads with coordinated speedwatch and 'SID' activities.

This will include a coordinated speed watch, display of nine road safety banners at various locations around the patch, and also a coordinate social media campaign. SAVID members include Tuddenham St Martin, Grundisburgh, Great Bealings, Little Bealings, Rushmere St. Andrew, Swilland & Witnesham, Martlesham and Playford Parish Councils and volunteers.

Safer Village Driving Group

  • The pupils at Birchwood, Gorselands and Cedarwood Primary Schools have also designed large scale murals, together with the additional correx panels to go onto lamp posts for display at and around the schools to raise road safety awareness.

Lowestoft and Northern Parishes

Chair

Councillor Paul Ashdown

Priorities

  • To reduce social isolation and loneliness in Lowestoft Central, Kirkley and Gunton west wards.
  • Improve Mental Health and Wellbeing by following the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. Connect/Get Active/Take Notice/Learn/Give.
  • To improve healthy eating and activity in children by targeting & engaging with year 5 staff, children, and parents through communication and education.

Other information

Meeting information

 

Latest news

A successful Well Minds event for stake holders was held at East Coast 6th form college.

This event was funded by the 3 north, East Suffolk community Partnerships and a big thankyou to our partner East Coast College in arranging event management of this day.

Positive feedback from delegates and awesome key speakers Sue Willgoss on Autism & Suicide and Alison Matthews on SCC Statistics and her own personal journey.

We had workshops on Suffolk refugees, Stress Management, Cost of Living/poverty and Trauma Informed.

Melton, Woodbridge and Deben Peninsula

Chair

Councillor Stephen Molyneux

Priorities

  • Increase access to activities or options that support physical, mental, and environmental well-being for local rural communities and for all ages.

Other information

Meeting information

 

Latest news

At the CP meeting in March 2022, members have agreed to keep current priorities. A workshop was carried out to determine, what is needed, what is currently available, and solutions sought. A presentation about how we can make the CP objectives SMARTER highlighted how we need to commission projects rather than rely on small grant schemes. All in agreement.

The Officer has met with the Rotary and is in discussions about having a men's shed in Woodbridge. ECB funding secured for pilot project run by Just 42 called repair and recycle for young people will commence later in the year but likely to require CP support. The CO has visited the youth Council to talk about the community partnership and gather young people’s views on how they can contribute.

East Suffolk Community Partnership Board

Chair

Leader of the Council, Councillor Caroline Topping

Priorities

  • Social isolation and loneliness.
  • Mental  health and wellbeing (focus on young people).
  • Transport.
  • Tackling inequalities.

Other information

Meeting information

Data pack

Latest news

The East Suffolk Community Partnership Transport and Travel (ESCPT&T) Task Group has conducted extensive research identifying transport needs and opportunities across East Suffolk. It found that demand responsive Transport (DRT) services could be a solution to rural transport issues and social isolation. Services are currently under-utilised and there is a real opportunity to expand the customer base of community transport.

The Board recently allocated £90,000 to fund a 12 month trial of a new demand responsive transport (DRT) service for residents and visitors in Framlingham, Wickham Market, Campsea Ashe, Snape and surrounding Areas.

The Board also allocated £14,500 to deliver a mobile application (App) for community transport providers to manage demand responsive transport services (DRT) in East Suffolk.

 

East Suffolk Community Partnership Annual Forum

East Suffolk Community Partnership Annual Forum 2025

Monday 27 October 2025 - East Coast College, Lowestoft, 0930 – 1400 - Registrations now open! 

This years theme – ‘Innovation to Impact’

The annual Forum brings together Partnership members and related stakeholders to celebrate, share knowledge and expertise, and work together to take practical action against local challenges.

200 delegates are expected to benefit from opportunities throughout the day – early booking is strongly recommended.

Our keynote speaker

Dr Emily Murray, Director of the Centre of Coastal Communities at the University of Essex will be sharing meaningful insights into their work and how it can benefit those living in our district. Coastal Communities | University of Essex.

Marketplace stalls

20 different organisations and projects, both rural and urban based, will be on hand to produce productive connections to develop beyond the Forum. Citizens Advice East Suffolk, Sizewell C Community Fund and the Grundisburgh Tech Hub will be on hand plus many more!

Interactive Workshops

Our carefully selected range of interactive workshops will show how innovation and partnership working can create excellent outcomes. Choose two sessions to participate in, all of which will give you a practical experience. Our workshop partners this year include;

  • Britten Pears Arts’ Participate programme
  • Suffolk Police’s Cyber Escape Room experience
  • The well-known ‘Red and Blue game’ to address conflicting priorities
  • The Royal Horticultural Society community gardening
  • Suffolk Minds Mental Health Toolkit introductory training
  • Kevin Wegg’s lessons in funding for VCSE organisations
  • East Suffolk Youth Council experience

More to follow closer to the event.

Subsidised train travel between Melton and Lowestoft

We’re pleased to provide 50% subsidised train travel from Melton train station to Lowestoft for the event, leading to a cost of approximately £10 return. All registered attendees will be contacted closer to the event to express an interest.

To register…

You need to be either a member of the CP, representing a Parish/Town Council, or involved in the Partnerships in some way. Register for East Suffolk Community Partnerships Forum 2025: Innovation to Impact - Local Government East.