East Suffolk Council
Grant launched for community building projects
Village halls, community centres and other ‘community hubs’ across East Suffolk are invited to apply for a grant of up to £15,000 for upgrades, improvements and essential repairs.
The new grant scheme, worth a total of £190,000, is funded through the UK Government Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and the East Suffolk Community Partnership Board, and will provide grants of up to 80% of the total cost of the project.
Grants are aimed at local organisations that want to improve, repair, enhance or upgrade their building, or what’s on offer inside the building for the local community. Examples could include:
• Increasing digital access by installing or improving broadband
• Increasing accessibility to the building
• Replacing a kitchen to support additional user groups
• Installing sustainable energy solutions like PV cells or ground/air source heat pumps
The grant scheme also recognises that sometimes essential repairs and maintenance, for example to the roof, windows, doors or floors, are a priority to keep the doors open to the community.
Applications are open until 9am on 16 September and will be considered by a grant panel. All funding must be spent, and the project completed by 31 March 2026.
Community Centre and Village Hall Repairs and Improvement Fund guidance
Councillor Sarah Whitelock, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said:
“This fund is a great opportunity for communities across East Suffolk to access small grants for their community centres, village halls and community hubs.
“These buildings are essential focal points for our communities, and we are delighted to have been able to combine local Community Partnership and national REPF funding to support a wide range of projects – both innovative new ideas and essential repair projects – across the district.”
If you have any questions about the funding, email communities@eastsuffolk.gov.uk or grants@eastsuffolk.gov.uk.