Good causes in Suffolk will benefit from more than half a million pounds of National Lottery funding after a £3m pot was announced for the East.

A total of 176 community causes across the East of England were this week confirmed to have secured vital cash, which will go towards a host of schemes.

In Suffolk, 24 projects have been awarded a combined £502,179.66

Suffolk Sport was the biggest winner in the county after securing a grant of £323,436 for its Fit Villages programme.

The project aims to get older and isolated people in the Suffolk Coastal area fit and healthy, and reduce loneliness.

A series of sports activities are set up in village spaces where people can come together for healthy activity delivered in a social environment.

The grant means that the scheme, which has been going for eight years, can continue for at least a further three.

Tracy Brownlow, director of health and wellbeing said: “We are so proud of the achievements of Fit Villages over the last seven years and are looking forward to delivering more award winning services to the community over the next three years after being awarded funding from Reaching Communities.

“It is so important as a county sports partnership to deliver projects that meet the needs of our population, in this instance, isolated rural communities, to help them stay active and healthy for longer and to increase wellbeing and social opportunities.”

Elsewhere, Ipswich Women’s Festival Group will use its £10,000 grant for a suffragette celebration project, while Ipswich Youth Steelband’s grant for the same amount will enable it to launch an outreach programme in deprived areas.

Funding for village pond improvements, workshops for single mums, defibrillators, play park upgrades and school holiday activities are among the others in Suffolk to get the green light.

James Harcourt, England grant-making director at the Big Lottery Fund, said: “Whether in a village, town or city, National Lottery funding is helping to make a difference, bringing communities together to help people lead happier and healthier lives.

“They are an inspiration to others, showing what great things can be achieved when people work together to tackle the things that really matter to their community.”

The complete list for Suffolk:

•Suffolk Sport - £324,436

•Sue Ryder (Babergh) - £10,000

•Ipswich Women’s Festival Group - £10,000

•Chelmondiston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School - £10,000

•Monks Eleigh Village Hall - £10,000

•Future Female Society (Ipswich) - £10,000

•Whatfield Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School - £10,000

•Ipswich Youth Steelband - £10,000

•Family First (Ipswich) - £9,960

•Wilby Village Hall - £9,950

•JuststART - £9,940

•Horringer-cum-Ickworth Parish Council - £9,310.16

•The Worlingworth Community Council - £9,279

•Ipswich Cliff Lane Primary School - £8,992.10

•Suffolk County Council - £8,952.50

•The Westbury Centre - £8,950

•Restoration Trust (St Edmundsbury) - £7,765

•RECreate (Mid Suffolk) - £7,745

•Milden Parish Meeting - £3,513

•Nayland Community Council - £3,474

•Pro Corda Trust (Suffolk Coastal) - £3,038.50

•Mildenhall Parish Council - £3,000

•Beccles Twinning Association - £2,150

•Clopton Parish Council - £1,725