Mental health charity meeting at the Kernos Centre in Sudbury. Pictured from left: Babergh District Council deputy leader Deborah Saw, Kernos Centre clinical director Chris Boatwright, Kernos Centre finance director Peter Brown, South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge, Bridge Project chair of trustees Paul Mackman, and Sudbury mayor Jan Osborne. Contributed photo.
Lottery funding worth £750,000 has provided a much-needed boost for south Suffolk’s voluntary sector, as pressure on local charities continues to rise.
Six organisations in the Sudbury and the surrounding area have been confirmed as new recipients of grant money from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Three of the beneficiaries – counselling service Kernos Centre, elder abuse charity Hourglass, and social enterprise The Bridge Project – all received an influx of more than £200,000 each.
There were also smaller grants for Sudbury Citizens Advice service, Bildeston Bowls Club, and the SOSA & Starlets Community Interest Company in Long Melford.
The Kernos Centre, which operates out of Friars Street, announced that it would spread its grant of £245,700 over the next five years, to cover an expected shortfall in its income.
Having celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, the charity subsidises the cost of therapy for clients who cannot afford counselling.
However, with more and more clients affected by the cost-of-living crisis, as well as the ongoing economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, this has placed a significant strain of its finances.
Peter Brown, finance director of the Kernos Centre, said: “We are so grateful to the National Lottery for this wonderful, life-saving grant.
“It helps to fill a serious gap in our finances that has emerged in the last three years as a result of Covid and the cost-of-living crisis, both of which have affected many of our disadvantaged clients.
“As a charity which receives no statutory funding, we rely heavily on the goodwill of our clients, and many others, to cover our costs.
“For many people who need help, and then find there is no effective support from the NHS, the cost of private therapy is out of reach.
“We try to help all those who need supporting, but that, of course, requires funding. Without this grant, it is doubtful we could have continued to meet the cost of supporting so many people.
“We still have a mountain to climb every year in order to raise the remainder of the funds needed to run the centre but, thanks to the National Lottery, we now have a firm foundation for that fundraising over the next five years.”
Meanwhile, Citizens Advice Sudbury & South Suffolk and the SOSA & Starlets Community Interest Company received sums of £12,372 and £9,872, respectively.
And Bildeston Bowls Club voiced its delight at its successful bid for £10,000, to secure the organisation’s future.
Club chairman Alan Jacobs said: “The application will go towards purchasing equipment enabling the club to improve and maintain a quality green open to all, regardless of age, gender or ability.
“The club is grateful for the local support, including from our MP James Cartlidge.”
Mr Cartlidge welcomed the grants for all six organisations, as well as the expansion of the National Lottery Awards for All scheme, which now offers up to £20,000 for community projects.
“I know that the cost of living has had a knock-on effect on our brilliant voluntary sector and, of course, higher energy bills have put leisure providers under increased financial pressure, which is exactly why this funding is very welcome indeed.”
Referring to the Kernos Centre specifically, Mr Cartlidge added: “I have campaigned for more funding for our fantastic voluntary sector, by advocating for funding opportunities with our local integrated care board (ICB), and by raising awareness of National Lottery grants.
“This National Lottery award of almost a quarter of a million pounds is, therefore, fantastic news for the Kernos Centre, and everyone who uses its services.
“It’s also very encouraging that, following a meeting with the ICB and Sudbury mayor last month, the Kernos Centre is now on the ICB’s framework, enabling it to bid for future funding opportunities.”
Published by The Suffolk Free Press.
