Today, seven new projects have been announced as part of the Suffolk 2020 fund to support residents and improve the county for years to come.
As part of the council’s investment in Suffolk’s communities and its ongoing commitment to protecting the environment, the authority launched a special one-off fund in March with the aim of setting up and delivering a range of initiatives and projects that provide a positive, tangible impact in what has proven to be an extremely challenging year.
Included within the descriptions of each project are details of how much has been awarded to deliver the initiative.
New booking system and automatic number plate recognition at Household Waste Recycling Centres – Improving the efficiency and customer experience across all 11 recycling centres by enhancing the online booking system through the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and automated entry barriers.
Adult Digital Learning - Developing new virtual learning tools and techniques and setting up a laptop loan scheme to strengthen and extend access to the Adult Learning Service for those living in digital and/or rural isolation. This approach will enable people to enhance their knowledge and skills to secure employment. Building on the swift switch to virtual learning during lockdown, we will further develop virtual learning for adults across Suffolk and use new technologies to enrich and improve the quality of interaction and training, modernising the service’s offer.
Youth Work - Developing and supporting growth of grass roots organisations to deliver accessible, high quality provision for youths across Suffolk. Includes creation of a virtual ‘Centre of Excellence’ to share best practice and provide a ‘one stop shop’ of support for youth groups across Suffolk.
Discovering Suffolk – raising awareness of Suffolk’s countryside and the county’s rights of way network, promoting local (Covid-safe) outdoor activities across all of Suffolk with the development of a smartphone outdoor app and QR codes to engage new audiences.
Automated Numberplate Recognition Speed Indicators – Devices will be installed at the roadside to tackle localised problems with speeding drivers. The devices will be periodically moved between sites of concern and the data will be forwarded to the Police to assist with targeted enforcement.
Virtual Reality therapy - Engagement and coproduction with people living with dementia and their carers to explore and develop interactive and therapeutic experiences to support wellbeing. These would be delivered through mobile virtual reality headsets and include bespoke content and interactions based around archive media of Suffolk.
Mobile Community ‘Care Hubs’ - Digitally equip and staff selected community vehicles accessing rural communities within Suffolk. This will support digital inclusion and provide a way to share information and provide help around the opportunities available with care technologies and other digital skills.
The work involved in setting up and enabling these projects will begin in early 2021, setting in motion a range of new community projects that will benefit people for years to come. The council’s agreement to move forwards with these exciting projects listed above follows the successful launch of the first three Suffolk 20202 projects that were announced over recent months:
EV Vehicle Charging Points – Making grants available to install around 100 vehicle charging points throughout the county. Particularly targeting rural areas and sites owned and managed by not-for-profit organisations such as Parish Councils, village halls, sports clubs, libraries and charities.
Tree Planting - Increasing tree cover, through rural and urban planting schemes, planting approximately 100,000 trees over the next 18 months, establishing ‘healing woodlands’ to remember those lost to Covid-19, and increasing biodiversity along roadside verges.
Quiet Lanes - Encouraging the use of non-motorised vehicles and more considerate driving at lower speeds along a range of the community’s self-selected rural lanes, with a view to adding 200 new lanes across Suffolk.
Councillor Matthew Hicks, Leader of Suffolk County Council said:
“Whilst 2020 will live long in the memory for many reasons, the launch of these projects as part of the Suffolk 2020 Fund offers some real optimism and effort to bring communities together, supporting projects that will provide social, environmental and economic benefits in years to come.
“The Suffolk 2020 Fund was only made possible because of the decision of this council to use part of the Government’s one-year financial settlement to invest up to £3million throughout 2020 to kickstart some of the beneficial community projects that ordinarily may not have received as much focus or opportunity, given the other huge, costly frontline services that the county council is responsible for.
“I am very pleased that in amongst the great deal of work that is happening to fight the spread of Covid-19 across Suffolk this year, that we have been able to ensure we continue our work to invest in these timely and incredibly worthy projects to improve the local environment and communities for Suffolk’s residents.”
