January 2026 Newsletter
Welcome to East Suffolk Trust’s first newsletter. For those of you I haven’t met, I’m Lewis Spurgin, Chief Executive of East Suffolk Trust.
I’m really excited to be working with our Board of Trustees to build an organisation to lead the way in funding for nature and people in East Suffolk. You can read more about the Trust and our Trustees on our website.
Since I started in post in November, we’ve been busy getting everything set up, including:
Establishing our core systems, governance, and finances
Meeting with, and listening to, people and organisations delivering for nature in Suffolk
Developing our draft strategy and delivery plan
Preparing all the documents for our first grant round
We’re planning to launch our first grant round in March. Below, you’ll find details of how you can help shape our plans, as well as information about a role we’re currently recruiting for.
If you have questions about either of these, or about anything else, you can get in touch by emailing enquiries@eastsuffolktrust.org.
I look forward to working with you.
Warm wishes,
Lewis Spurgin
Chief Executive
We’re hiring!
We are looking for a funding officer to support the day-to-day delivery of our funding programmes. We are offering:
A chance to shape large-scale funding decisions in a new charity and grow with the organisation as it develops
A salary of £30-£35k per year
Pension scheme with generous employer contributions
28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
Supportive working environment
Hybrid working, with at least two days per week in our Halesworth office
Flexible working options
This is a unique opportunity to join a mission-driven organisation at the very start of its journey.
Help to shape our first funding round
We’re currently finalising the documents for our first grant round, including our draft grant guidelines, application questions, and Terms and Conditions.
Before we launch, we’d really welcome feedback from anyone who’s interested in applying, or who has experience of delivering projects for nature and people. In particular, we’re keen to know whether our draft documents are clear, accessible, and practical to use.
If you’d like to be involved, please email using the subject ‘Funding Round Consultation’, with a brief note saying why you’d like to provide feedback. Emails should be sent to enquiries@eastsuffolktrust.org by 30th January 2026.
