Suffolk charities are set to receive £16,000 in the latest round of donations from the Hopkins Homes Building Communities Fund.

The fund is a £250,000 endowment dedicated to providing grants for charities and good causes managed by the Suffolk Community Foundation, with awards based on a commitment to tackling hard-hitting issues across the county and to supporting groups seeking to improve lives within local communities.

The latest awards will see £6,000 donated to help fund specialist workers for Fresh Start – New Beginnings, which provides a therapeutic service for children and young people who have been abused, and offers support to their families.

Ipswich Housing Action Group (IHAG), which provides housing and other services to single homeless people in Ipswich, will receive £2,000. Last year 5,000 people were helped. The money will go towards the cost of a business and admin support worker who will further support the cause.

The fund will give £4,000 to Signpost East Suffolk, a community charity which supported the implementation of successful projects such as FoodBank East Suffolk and Dreamworx Youth Projects. The donation will go towards the salaries of three staff members to continue this work.

Waveney Domestic Violence and Abuse Forum will receive £2,000. It offers tailored services to families impacted by domestic abuse, with a wide variety of support services, programmes and advice. The donation will be used to fund a trauma therapy service.

Finally, £2,000 will be donated to REACH Community Projects that supports clients in Haverhill and the surrounding areas. The donation will help the charity to continue its work to lift people out of poverty.

James Hopkins, executive chairman of Hopkins Homes, said: “We are committed to playing a long term role in building communities across Suffolk, not just homes; so I have been delighted by the impact the endowment fund has had so far and hope that these latest grants will make a real difference to some of the most vulnerable residents of our county.

“The panel sits twice yearly to agree on the distribution of grants, charities interested in being considered for the next round of grants should contact the Suffolk Community Foundation”

Judy Dow, at Suffolk Community Foundation, said: “We are thrilled that the Hopkins Homes Building Communities Fund is able to help another group of charities this year. The fund supports hard-hitting causes and organisations and has already made a significant difference to many local charities. We are sure that these new grants will have an equally positive impact throughout our area.”

There will be a further opportunity later this year for charities to be considered for a grant from the fund.

Eligibility criteria and further details can be found on the Hopkins Homes website www.hopkinshomes.co.uk/bcf, the Suffolk Community Foundation website www.suffolkcf.org.uk or by contacting the Suffolk Community Fund on 01473 602602 or grants@suffolkcf.org.uk.