Our community
Community Cares Fund
Since its establishment in 2020, our Community Cares Fund has supported the fantastic voluntary sector across the East of England, making a difference to the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. This year alone, we awarded 73 grants to charities working to strengthen community cohesion and integration across our region.
Each year we receive thousands of applications. The community foundations of Suffolk, Norfolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire guide us through these, sharing their invaluable knowledge and experience to ensure our funding reaches where it’s needed most.
Throughout the year, we’ve visited the organisations we support to learn more about their impact firsthand. You can read more about these visits in our new Community Connections blog series.
Tens of thousands raised through Local Giving
Local Giving is all about empowering our colleagues to choose and raise money for local charities and good causes as well as raising awareness of the difference they’re making so local people can benefit from them.
Each year we run two campaign periods, each lasting three months, in which our colleagues use their unique local knowledge to support causes that are making a difference in our communities.
In 2025, we raised over £100,000 for over 200 local charities and community groups across two campaign periods.
Our colleagues went above and beyond to support their communities, arranging and taking part in all sorts of activities such as tombolas, second-hand book sales and sponsored hikes.
Tens of thousands raised through Local Giving
Local Giving is all about empowering our colleagues to choose and raise money for local charities and good causes as well as raising awareness of the difference they’re making so local people can benefit from them.
Each year we run two campaign periods, each lasting three months, in which our colleagues use their unique local knowledge to support causes that are making a difference in our communities.
In 2025, we donated over £128,000 to over 200 local charities and community groups across two campaign periods.
Our colleagues went above and beyond to support their communities, arranging and taking part in all sorts of activities such as tombolas, second-hand book sales and sponsored hikes.
Small Donations and In-Branch Hosting
We continued to support our communities through our Small Donations and In-Branch Hosting programmes.
We made 579 Small Donations towards events and fundraising activities. We booked 124 In-Branch Hosting slots, giving charities a welcoming space to collect donations and raise awareness of their causes.
Foodbanks and Defibrillators
We’re proud to continue to provide access to defibrillators in our communities.
Our Food stores continue to collect items that are donated by our generous members and customers for our 28 supported foodbanks.
Foodbanks and Defibrillators
We’re proud to continue to provide access to defibrillators in our communities.
Our Food stores continue to collect items that are donated by our generous members and customers for our 28 supported foodbanks.
In November we joined other local organisations in supporting Waveney Foodbank in Harleston following the loss of one of their centres at St John the Baptist Church in Harleston due to a fire.
The fire caused significant internal damage, meaning they could no longer host Waveney Foodbank for their weekly sessions.
We donated £1,000 worth of food to the cause including tinned meat and fruit juice, which are in particularly high demand at the foodbank.
Shopper bag design competition
Celebrating community kindness
In July we ran a competition for children aged 4-11 across East Anglia to showcase their creativity and community spirit by designing a limited-edition shopper bag.
The competition ran across our Food stores and invited young artists to create designs celebrating the theme of “kindness and caring for others”.
“Every day, we witness the difference that acts of kindness and caring can make in our communities. Our young people particularly embody this spirit of hope and positivity. This competition gives them the opportunity to share their vision of community kindness while helping us raise vital funds for local causes.” Andy Rigby, CEO
In September a panel chose six winners that stood out for their eye-catching design and excellent interpretation of the theme.
The bags are currently on sale across our Food stores, raising money for our Community Cares Fund. There are three different bags with two designs featuring on each.
Shopper bag design competition
Celebrating community kindness
In July we ran a competition for children aged 4-11 across East Anglia to showcase their creativity and community spirit by designing a limited-edition shopper bag.
The competition ran across our Food stores and invited young artists to create designs celebrating the theme of “kindness and caring for others”.
“Every day, we witness the difference that acts of kindness and caring can make in our communities. Our young people particularly embody this spirit of hope and positivity. This competition gives them the opportunity to share their vision of community kindness while helping us raise vital funds for local causes.” Andy Rigby, CEO
In September a panel chose six winners that stood out for their eye-catching design and excellent interpretation of the theme.
The bags are currently on sale across our Food stores, raising money for our Community Cares Fund. There are three different bags with two designs featuring on each.
The winners are:
Charlotte, age 9
Corban, age 8
Gracie, age 10
Isabel, age 9
Myla, age 5
Teddy, age 8
Proudly sponsoring Colchester Kings
We’re proud to sponsor Colchester Kings, East Anglia’s inclusive rugby team dedicated to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies who share a passion for rugby.
This year we were the team’s main shirt sponsor, and our colleagues, including our Senior Leadership Team and Leadership Group have been going to the Kings’ home games to cheer them on.
Proudly sponsoring Colchester Kings
We’re proud to sponsor Colchester Kings, East Anglia’s inclusive rugby team dedicated to providing a welcoming and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies who share a passion for rugby.
This year we were the team’s main shirt sponsor, and our colleagues, including our Senior Leadership Team and Leadership Group, have been going to the Kings’ home games to cheer them on.
Our property business supports Colchester LGBTQ+ venue
This year we signed a lease with Dragonfly Lounge, a vibrant LGBTQIA+ venue. Dragonfly Lounge opened in Foundation House, Colchester, one of the commercial spaces created through our £5.5 million redevelopment in 2020 to support a blend of residential, commercial, and community-focused use.
The Dragonfly Lounge has quickly become a much-loved addition to the local community, providing a vital, inclusive space for people to come together, enjoy live performances, and connect in a welcoming and safe environment.
