Investing in communities
Communities are at the heart of the UK’s transition to more secure, cleaner, home-grown energy from more affordable sources. We want to ensure lasting benefits are delivered for the people and places that host critical new energy infrastructure.
As part of our plans to build the Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement, we are delivering a Community Fund worth more than £4.2 million to benefit communities in Suffolk and Essex.
We will deliver this funding through:
- a Local Fund: providing local-level grants that directly benefit communities closest to the route
- a Strategic Fund: offering longer-term investment to address shared local and regional priorities.
Following collaboration with community groups, charities, parish councils, elected representatives and local residents, the first part of the Bramford to Twinstead Community Fund, the Local Fund, is now open for applications.
How have plans for the Community Fund been developed?
Since Autumn 2025 we have been engaging with community groups, charities, councils and local representatives to understand what matters most to people who live and work along the route of the Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement.
Communities across Suffolk and Essex told us how they want investment that reflects the rural nature of the area, responds to local priorities and delivers a lasting positive legacy.
You can find out more about the engagement we carried out, the feedback you gave us and how we have reflected this in our plans in our ‘Shaping your Community Fund’ strategy.
Local Fund - direct support for the closest communities
What level of funding is available?
The Local Fund offers grants of up to £20,000, depending on the type and scale of the project:
- Up to £5,000 is available for feasibility studies, including but not limited to exploring renovation or construction of a community building, assessing improvements to disability access, and energy usage reduction audits
- Up to £10,000 is available for community projects aligned to the themes of the Fund
- Up to £20,000 is available for projects involving capital works (significant construction, alteration or repair to a building or land owned or leased by the organisation making the application).
What types of project are eligible?
We welcome applications from eligible organisations for projects that:
- improve community spaces and save energy
- support physical health, mental wellbeing and social connection
- protect the environment and increase access to green spaces
- create opportunities for young people, education and skills
- help communities respond to cost of living pressures.
We can only accept one application per organisation each financial year. Funding is available during the construction period of the project.
Who can apply?
The Local Fund is open to non-profit, community-focused organisations, including parish councils, delivering projects in communities closest to the Bramford to Twinstead Reinforcement.
The map on this page shows the eligible areas across Suffolk and Essex. The organisation applying for funding does not need to be based outside of this area, but the project must clearly benefit communities within the eligible area. You can check if your project is inside this zone using our eligibility checker tool here.
How can I apply?
The Local Fund is being delivered with our partners at Localgiving. You can find out more information and submit an application by visiting their website.
If you have questions about the Local Fund, including on eligibility criteria and application procedure, you can contact Localgiving at [email protected].
Strategic Fund - longer-term, regional support
The Strategic Fund will support larger scale, longer-term projects that benefit more than one community. It will aim to address shared priorities across a wider area, where working at scale and investing over time can deliver greater and more lasting impact than smaller, local grants alone.
How will the Strategic Fund be shaped?
The Strategic Fund will be informed through research, data and ongoing engagement with communities, partners and stakeholders to understand where longer-term investment could make the greatest difference.
To support this, we plan to establish an Independent Advisory Network later this year. The Network will bring together people with local knowledge and specialist expertise to help inform priorities, themes and approaches for the Strategic Fund. Further details will be shared once the Network is established and its initial focus areas are confirmed.