Council to consider new £75,000 community grants fund

Why it matters: The proposed £75,000 annual fund would simplify access to community funding and enable quicker allocation of resources to meet emerging local needs.

The details: The Executive will consider the proposals at its meeting on Tuesday, 10 June. The initiative would complement the existing Cash Grant Fund, which supports multi-year projects from voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organisations.

The proposed three-tier funding model includes:

• Ward Grants of £1,000 per ward, allocated by ward councillors for small local projects and events
• Micro Grants under £100 for neighbourhood activities and start-up ideas, targeting residents and young people without access to formal funding
• Community Chest Grants up to £5,000 for constituted voluntary and community organisations addressing specific neighbourhood opportunities or challenges

The bigger picture: The scheme expands eligibility to include both constituted and non-constituted groups, encouraging grassroots participation. It builds on previous initiatives such as the Make a Difference funds, allowing councillors to address ward-specific needs or combine resources across wards.

What they're saying: "We understand the positive difference that local charities and community groups make to Ipswich," said Councillor John Cook, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Sport.

"Even in tough times, we're determined to help local people by helping to fund projects that have a positive impact on their own town and community."

The bottom line: The proposed fund aims to foster trust between the Council and local communities whilst providing specialist support to help neighbourhood improvement projects come to fruition.