Who are we and how does it work?

Understand and be confident that each of us can make a difference by caring and acting in small as well as big ways -Marian Wright Edelman

So who are we?

We are five like minded pals who all work in the third sector in Suffolk. I am Ann Osborn, Chief Exec of The Rural Coffee Caravan and I’m joined by Andy Yacoub, Chief Exec of Healthwatch Suffolk, Jo Reeder Fundraising Lead with Hourglass, Henry Tapp, Corporate Partnerships Manager with Suffolk Mind and Sally Connick, Community Development Officer at SmellTaste . Founding panel member, Sue Hughes, has stepped away for now, because of other commitments. I am hugely grateful to her for believing in this idea and helping to get it up and running. Equally I am thrilled that Henry has joined us!

In our various roles within Suffolk, it is clear to us that there have always been hidden needs and hardships and the pandemic exposed further inequalities and significant difficulties. One of our founding Team,

Are we a charity?

We are not a charity, we are a small simple transparent fundraising group and will stay that way.

Can donations be made monthly?

We would really rather not. We know it seems fiddly but as we are doing this in our spare time, our accounting must be simple and varying amounts coming in at varying times would make it much harder for us to keep track. £500 in and £500 out each week is the best way for us.

Will you know where the money goes?

You will be invited to a private Facebook group where we will detail the donations. If you do not have Facebook we will add you to a quarterly Round Robin email.

So how does it work?

As a member you are eligible to make a nomination, the panel will decide where the donation goes and the nominator will have the donation transferred to them so that they make the payment. We will not hold any details of recipients, although they will also be invited to the Facebook page if they would like to make any comments.

If you would like to become a member of 500 Suffolk Reasons,we will send you an invitation to join us, that includes the details for setting up a standing order for £1 a week. When we reach 500 members, we will start accepting nominations. All money collected before that will be used either to meet nominations in exceptional circumstances, or to meet more than one nomination in the first weeks.

Ready to join us?

Please email 500suffolkreasons@gmail.com and we will send you an invitation and joining instructions.

We look forward to welcoming you to 500 Suffolk Reasons.