The local organisations handed a share of Sizewell C Community Fund in first wave, including Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall, Citizens Advice East Suffolk, Saxmundham and District CIC and more

Sports clubs and community projects are among the first organisations to receive a share of money from the Sizewell C Community Fund.

A total of £300,000 has been made available to nine charities and not-for-profit groups in Suffolk, which forms part of plans to give £2 million per year to local firms for the next 10 years.

Grants range from £2,000 to £170,000 for organisations across East Suffolk.

These include the following:

- Citizens Advice East Suffolk was handed £170,000 to recruit train and co-ordinate volunteers

- Leiston Youth and Community Angling Society was awarded just under £7,000 to fund a variety of schemes, such as buying fishing equipment for those who do not own their own and to survey Haylings Pond, in Leiston

- Young People Taking Action – £19,000 for outreach work to support young people in Leiston, Saxmundham and the surrounding areas

- Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall: £30,000 to increase diversity of performances at the hall to attract new audiences and promote community cohesion

- Saxmundham and District CIC was given £12,500 to replace windows at The Fromus Centre, helping reduce noise from a nearby trainline set to carry freight for Sizewell C

- Slaughden Sailing Club, which has awarded £4,500 to buy an electric engine for a boat

In addition, Peasenhall Parish Council (£26,000), Seagull Lowestoft (£64,615) and Easton and Letheringham Village Hall (£1,896) will also enjoy a share.

Suffolk Community Foundation will be administering the funds, with eligible charities invited to bid for grants for three-year funding periods.

Some of those behind the projects set for a share of the funding have commented on the news.

Ann Barkway, chair of trustees for Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall, said everyone was grateful for the generous multi-year funding.

“This will play a key role in allowing us to put on a wider, more diverse programme of events at the Jubilee Hall. As a result, we can strengthen our work within the community, enhancing the inclusive initiatives that are so important to what we aim to do.”

Anna Hughes, interim chief executive of Suffolk Community Foundation, hoped this would offer a significant contribution to local communities, improving quality of life and wellbeing over the next decade.

She said: “We look forward to watching the successful projects progress over the coming months and seeing first-hand the benefits they will bring for communities and their residents.

“We will award the next round of grants early next year and would encourage any charity or community group who is considering applying to visit our website or speak to our team to find out more.”

Chiara Saunders, chief executive of Citizens Advice East Suffolk, also expressed its gratitude, being set to receive funding for three years.

Chirara said: “It will enable us to manage increase in demand on our services and thereby to continue to provide advice and support to local residents and to our local community.”

Peter Samuels, training centre principal at Slaughden Sailing Club, said: “We’ll be using it [the electric engine] to support sailing during school sports week and to educate those interested in nature and wildlife.

“We expect our retired sailors would also be keen to take advantage of the opportunity this boat offers to continue their relationship with the river which we see as very positive for their spirits.”

Phil Wood, coach at Leiston Youth and Community Angling Society, said the funding would allow it to remain a part of the community for years into the future.

The club is often oversubscribed for events and the team doesn’t want to turn anyone away, he said.

“With this funding, we’ll be able to run further events and provide a number of sets of fishing equipment for people in the community who want to come and try fishing,” Mr Wood.

“Angling and being out in the great outdoors can have a hugely positive effect on your mental health, and the funding means we can offer that benefit to even more people in our community.”

Stuart Watson, project manager at Young People Taking Action, said the funding would enable the organisation to support more young people in Leiston and Saxmundham.

It would also allow its centre to open for more hours per week, with sessions staffed by qualified youth workers.

He added: “It will also allow our staff to go out to do detached work around the streets of Leiston and Saxmundham and local villages, to engage with young people.

“So, we can find out what issues they are facing and how we can better support them.”