Community Investment Grants

Our grants fund benefits our wider communities, as well as our residents.

Community Investment Grant applications are now open for 2026/2027.

You can find out more about our criteria for funding below. If you have any further questions please email residentvoice@havebury.com

This form will take around 15-20 minutes to complete.

Apply now

To be eligible projects must:

Be delivered on a not-for-profit basis
Clearly identify a specific community need
Be located within five miles of a Havebury home or estate
Provide a detailed financial plan
Demonstrate clear and measurable community benefit
Be led by a registered business, charity, or social enterprise
Contribute to our strategic objective of investing in existing homes and communities.

They should also be themed around:

Safety and security (e.g. neighbourhood watch schemes)
Community hubs and shared spaces
Food banks
Community activities and social connection
Youth provision (including cadets, scouts/guides and youth groups)
Support groups
Pre-school, childcare, or educational initiatives

How much money can I request for my project?

The maximum sum you can apply for is £5,000.

Can I apply again, if I have already had a grant?

Yes, you can, but you are unable to apply in the same financial year if you have received a grant already. You can apply every other financial year which runs April – April.

How do I know if I am within the operational area?

You can check whether your project is within five miles of one of our homes by emailing our Resident Voice team residentvoice@havebury.com

Our group is holding an event, can you contribute grants towards it?

Unfortunately, we can’t fund running costs or costs towards staffing for an event.

How can I make sure my project meets the criteria?

You can email our Resident Voice team to discuss your project before you apply residentvoice@havebury.com

New CIG applications

When we receive a community investment grant (CIG) application, we want you to tell us whether you think we should support the local project or not.

Haverhill Baby Bank

Who is applying: Haverhill Baby Bank
How much are they applying for: £5,000
What is the project: Haverhill Baby Bank mobile unit

Haverhill Baby Bank is a volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation supporting families with babies and young children who are experiencing financial hardship or need extra support.

They provide good-quality pre-loved and new essential items, including safe sleeping spaces, clothing, nappies, equipment, toiletries, school uniforms and other everyday essentials, helping to give every child the best possible start in life.

They are applying for £5,000 to purchase a mobile unit to be able to take their services directly into local communities through regular pop-up sessions in Haverhill, the surrounding villages, Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket.

This will make their support more accessible for families who are unable to travel because of transport difficulties, financial constraints or caring responsibilities.

Even without a mobile baby bank, they have supported more than 200 families since March. Having a dedicated vehicle will allow them to reach many more families, with the ambition of supporting thousands of children and families in the years ahead.

Let us know below if you think we should support this project.

Haverhill Baby Bank

Projects we have previously supported

Children at Clements Primary Academy in Haverhill are enjoying a fantastic new outdoor space, thanks to a £5,000 boost from our Community Investment Grant.

Working closely with the Clements Community Group, the school set out to transform their pond area into a space that’s not just for learning, but for bringing people together and building a stronger connection with nature.

The design and work were done by Warren from Warren John Brace Garden Design, and he worked with the school to understand what they wanted the space to become.

Headteacher, Mrs Hogg, shared just how much the funding has meant to the school: “We are so grateful for the support, it’s already had a huge impact on our children and the wider school. The pond area is now a key part of school life. It’s being used as part of Forest School, giving children the chance to learn about the environment in a hands-on way. It’s also a calm, welcoming space where they can take time out, relax and enjoy being outdoors."
Bury in Bloom was awarded £4,745 from our Community Investment Grant to make a central street in Bury St Edmunds more vibrant.

With funding from our grant, new self-watering planters have already been installed along the railings towards the
end of Eastgate Street. These are filled with vibrant flowers, creating a colourful welcome for visitors arriving in the town, or a bright send-off for those heading home.

But the improvements don’t stop there. Chris and the team have exciting plans for the area, including a unique installation on the patch of land at the junction with Shakers Lane.

“Our aim is to inject a flush of colour into Eastgate Street. We have exciting ideas, including a display containing used toilets, with a rain chain,” Chris explains.
Our Special Friends is a West Suffolk-based charity supporting people through difficult times, where animal companionship plays a crucial role in helping them cope.

Belinda (Bin) Johnstone explains: "There’s a point where life can feel overwhelming for anyone. When that happens, even the strongest bonds can feel harder to manage. That’s when support really matters.”

Our Special Friends applied for £2,607.82 from our Community Investment Grant to fund essential equipment that keeps the team connected and able to respond quickly. From laptops to office tools, these resources might seem simple, but they play a vital role in making sure support continues to reach those who need it.

As demand for their services continues to grow, so does the need for community support. At its heart, this is what community is all about, people supporting people, neighbours helping neighbours, and making sure no one has to face difficult times alone.
Mencap in Thetford, was given a £3,500 grant in 2026 to help develop their sensory room.

Mencap also supports people with more complex needs, including those with profound and multiple learning disabilities. This sensory room, located in their Foxglove building, provides residents a calming and engaging environment where they can relax, regulate and explore.

Tracey from the team explains: "This room is by no means finished; we have also been lucky enough to receive a grant from Breckland Council alongside the funding from Havebury. This means we can continue to develop the space and better support individual needs where possible. "
Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club's walking rugby initiative, was supported with a £5,000 grant in 2025.

Walking rugby is designed to be inclusive and accessible for adults of all ages, physical abilities and genders. Whether you’re recovering from injury, retired from playing, or completely new to the game, walking rugby offers a supportive and fun way to get involved.

Participants say the benefits go far beyond the game itself. One told us, “It’s been such a help for me mentally as well as physically,” while another commented, “I am retired and this gives me something to look forward to each week.”

When speaking about the support from Havebury, participants shared just how much it has meant:“I am so grateful to Havebury for supporting our walking rugby, it means so much to us.” Read more here.
Castle Manor Academy received a £5,000 Community Investment Grant in 2025 to enhance their school library and the impact has been immediate.

The funding has enabled the school to purchase 782 new books, ensuring each year group has ten copies of a range of engaging titles. From manga (a style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels), and crime, to contemporary fiction and fantasy, there’s now something for every reader to enjoy.

The school shared how grateful they are for the grant, which has helped remove barriers to reading and given every student access to books they love.

Students Seth (Year 10) and Lulu (Year 9) told us how much they enjoy using the library, with both playing an active role as student librarians, and how the new books have inspired more of their friends to start reading too. Read more here.
Home-Start Suffolk received a £4,895 Community Investment Grant in 2025 to fund their Mums in Mind courses. The grant will enable them to help local mums access free, friendly guidance close to home.

These courses typically run for 8–10 weeks and are designed to support parents transitioning to parenthood who are feeling isolated and want to connect to others

Over the weeks, mums begin to relax, open up and share their experiences. They offer each other support and exchange tips that make everyday life easier.

By the end of the course, strong friendships had formed. All mums reported feeling more confident as parents and less anxious when meeting new people.

Gaynor Vincent from Home-Start says, “Without this funding, these mums wouldn’t have had access to a space like this. It gave them friendship, confidence, and a real sense of community.” Read more here.