East Suffolk Council
Home >
News Archive >
Funding boost for local communities
Funding boost for local communities
An East Suffolk Community Partnership is making a real difference to local communities after granting over £10,000 to local projects.
The Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and villages Community Partnership has awarded a total of £10,880 through the second round of its Small Grant Scheme to community and voluntary groups, enabling them to deliver projects which address local priorities and benefit wider communities.
One group to receive funding was Bungay Community Support. They received £999.12 from the scheme to enable the group to continue supporting residents in Bungay and the surrounding villages during the Covid recovery. Providing vital services to local residents, including picking up prescriptions and shopping for food and other essentials, the organisation will soon be recognised as a charity.
Tony Dawes from Bungay Community Support said: “Bungay Community Support is very close to becoming a charity which will help to support the residents of Bungay and surrounding areas for years to come. We collect prescriptions, do shopping trips, provide advice and offer a befriending service. In the not-too-distant future, we hope to get our residents, who are reluctant to go out, back into the community. We will also support other groups in Bungay such as Meet Up Mondays and the Lunch club. We hope to be an umbrella organisation which will support volunteer groups in and around the town.”
Meanwhile, a fortnightly dementia singing group in Holton has been able to continue their work thanks to being awarded £997.80 from the scheme. Singing with Friends, run by Swell Music CIC, provides support for those affected by memory issues by providing music and singing in a friendly and light-hearted atmosphere. It also provides an opportunity for those attending to socialise over tea, coffee and cake.
Helen Hayes from Swell Music CIC said “We are delighted to receive this grant which enables us to carry out this valuable work reaching some of the most vulnerable members of the community, many of whom have suffered from isolation during the pandemic. It is lovely to offer a safe space for people to come together and enjoy some music-making and social time. “
Other projects which have benefited from the scheme include:
- Asperger East Anglia received £1,000 to help fund the purchase of a weatherproof awning covering the front of its workshop in Beccles. This will extend the working space and enable young people to be outside in a Covid-secure setting while working and learning new skills.
- A further £948.28 was allocated to the Beccles Parish team to launch a youth hub at St Michael’s Church. The group, aimed at Years 6, 7 and 8, will offer young people the opportunity to have fun and socialise over different activities, including games, cooking and arts and crafts.
- Earthwake CIC was awarded £1,000 to set up a club for green minded young people in Bungay. The Bungay Earthwake Club will offer active environmental and nature themed education sessions to 10 – 15 years old in local green spaces in the town.
Cllr Judy Cloke, Chair of the Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth and villages Community Partnership, said: “It is incredible just how much we have been able to achieve through the Community Partnership’s Small Grant Scheme. It really highlights just what is possible when we focus on local priorities to do positive things in our communities which makes a real difference to the people who live there.”