East Suffolk Council
Last chance to apply for Cost of Living grants
Groups and organisations in East Suffolk that help to ease cost of living pressures for residents are being invited to apply for remaining funding from East Suffolk Council.
Community groups, voluntary organisations, faith groups and town and parish councils are invited to apply for Cost of Living Community Grants of up to £1,000 (minimum £500) until applications close next month.
Since the scheme began, 94 projects have been funded, with projects such as food banks, community cooking classes and ‘Warm Welcomes’ spaces opening their doors to the public to support individuals and families to stay warm or to provide access to healthy and nutritious food.
Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism said: “Cost of Living Community Grants have already supported nearly 100 projects in East Suffolk, helping to provide warm spaces in our communities where people can get a healthy meal, access food and clothing banks, connect with others in their area as well as receive access to further support.
“We have around £32,000 in funding left that’s available to groups in the district to help them to support residents to keep warm and healthy this winter. This funding needs to be spent before the end of March 2026, so we’re inviting groups to apply as soon as possible to ensure they can support the households in need of extra help.”
A resident who attends the Community Friendship Café at St. Margaret’s Church in Lowestoft that has been supported by the scheme said: “There’s lovely food and it’s a really special opportunity to meet others attending the café, to chat and get to know each other. The welcoming staff and friendliness of everyone here has meant so much over the past months, thank you.”
The grants are funded by East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council through the Suffolk Collaborative Communities Board.
Grants are available to groups that have previously been successful in receiving funding who are invited to submit further applications on the condition that they have completed monitoring documents for previous rounds.
Applications close at 9am on Wednesday 14 January 2026.
For support with applications, email grants@eastsuffolk.gov.uk