Ipswich Borough Council’s Executive will consider how to award grant funding from the £1.5million Pride in Place Impact Fund, following a positive response from local organisations.
The funding, awarded to Ipswich Borough Council from the Government, can be used to improve community spaces and revitalise public areas.
Since the fund’s launch, the Council has consulted with local MPs, stakeholders, community groups, and the Ipswich Vision Board, to identify local priorities and opportunities for investment. The outcome of which was a decision to target this funding to improve spaces used by Ipswich communities.
The Council launched an online application portal in January 2026, and by the deadline of 27 February, a total of 85 applications requesting funding of over £11.6m had been submitted by community groups, charities, and other local organisations.
The applications have now been evaluated, and a report to the Council’s Executive makes recommendations for awarding grant funding.
Jack Abbott, MP for Ipswich, said: “Our Government's Pride in Place programme is a huge opportunity to deliver real improvements that will make a lasting difference to people and communities in Ipswich.
"I am delighted to have secured this money for our town. We are making sure this £1.5 million goes a long way by funding 30 community projects across Ipswich, supporting youth centres, charities, places of worship and more. This is all about how we restore pride and create a more vibrant, community-minded, and positive future."
Councillor Neil MacDonald, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council said: “Through the Government’s Pride in Place Impact Fund, we’re looking to support a wide range of community led ideas that increase local pride, improve health & wellbeing and can help enable strong, resilient, inclusive communities. We will provide grant funding to a wide range of projects right across the town that will refurbish or improve assets in use by the community.
“The response has been incredibly positive, with more applications than we could have hoped for. It’s inspiring to see so many organisations stepping forward with applications to improve assets for the benefit of Ipswich communities.”
Further updates on successful bids and project delivery will be published following Executive approval and once the necessary due diligence has been undertaken for each project.
Details of the report to Executive can be found online.
