_Grants awarded to Suffolk and Norfolk community projects

Six organisations in the region have been awarded £1000 each from Travel Chapter’s and Holiday Cottages 2026 Suffolk & Norfolk Community Fund.

The campaign was run in conjunction with Visit East of England, Visit Norfolk and Visit Suffolk and the grants will allow the successful recipients to carry out projects that will have a positive impact in their communities.

Travel Chapter and Holidaycottages.co.uk is one of the UK's leading holiday letting agencies, offering a diverse portfolio of trusted lifestyle and regional accommodation brands.

The successful organisations and their projects are:

 • Westacre Theatre (Norfolk) – funding a community ticket initiative for its 2026 summer season, providing free theatre tickets to local families who may otherwise be unable to attend.

 • Stepping Stones Project (Norfolk) – creating a community pond to enhance wildlife habitats and provide learning opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

 • Iceni Partnership – Swaffham Community Fridge (Norfolk) – purchasing two new freezers and additional shelving to increase food storage capacity and expand the service.

 • Future Female Society CIC (Suffolk) – delivering a programme of ‘Happiness Brunches’ focused on creativity, wellbeing, confidence-building and support for women facing disadvantage, isolation, or hardship.

 • Suffolk Owl Sanctuary (Suffolk) – supporting the rescue, treatment, rehabilitation and release of injured birds of prey through its raptor hospital.

 • Bike Active North Suffolk (Suffolk) – recruiting and training additional volunteers to support more people with disabilities and additional needs to access adaptive cycling opportunities.

David George, chair at Bike Active North Suffolk, said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to receive this grant. Our ability to meet demand for our supported cycling sessions relies entirely on our incredible volunteers so this funding will allow us to grow our team safely and effectively, ensuring that everyone with a diverse ability is able to enjoy and benefit from cycling.’

A spokesperson for Future Female Society CIC said: 'We are absolutely thrilled to be receiving this grant. Our Happiness Brunches are such a vital part of our work, offering an easy way for women to find out about who we are and what we offer, without any pressure. The brunches do what they say on the tin, spread happiness, build community and help combat the isolation that so many of our participants feel.’

Roger Bilton-Hill, Director at Stepping Stones said: 'We are really excited to have a pond that will promote biodiversity, be there for the local surrounding community and providing a water source for animals, birds and insects. This space will give our students a chance to ponder, reflect and enjoy a calming area. We are really grateful for the funding from the Suffolk & Norfolk Community Fund.'

Serena Clarke, Social Impact Manager at Travel Chapter said: 'At holidaycottages.co.uk, we are honoured to have supported the Norfolk and Suffolk community through our partnership with Visit East of England, Visit Norfolk and Visit Suffolk via the Norfolk and Suffolk Community Fund.'

'The level of passion and dedication shown by all the applicants was truly inspiring, making the selection process a challenging one. I applaud the incredible work being done by local organisations and community groups to improve the region. Through these grants, we hope to contribute to meaningful initiatives that preserve Norfolk and Suffolk's unique culture and environment, benefiting both residents and visitors for years to come.'

Laura Gissing of Visit East of England said: ‘It’s wonderful to see that these grants will make such an important impact in local communities in Suffolk and Norfolk. Sustaining thriving communities is an important part of the work of the visitor economy and we were delighted to team up with Travel Chapter and Holidaycottages.co.uk on this initiative.’