Today is the first day you can collect tokens in our Cash for Charities campaign - to win a share of £20,000 for your favourite good cause in Suffolk and north Essex.

Many charities have struggled during the coronavirus crisis, as the pandemic has cut off their main sources of fundraising and income.

That, in turn, has had a major impact on services and those most in need in our community, with Age UK Suffolk even being forced to close last year.

As a result, we have been urging charities to register for Cash for Charities to receive money to help them in one of the most challenging times in their history.

Ipswich Star: The new campaign Cash for Charities logo - have you registered your charity yet?The new campaign Cash for Charities logo - have you registered your charity yet? (Image: Archant)

Nearly 100 have signed up, meaning that all you need to do is collect tokens printed in the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star on behalf of your favourite - so it can receive a share of the money.

EADT and Star editor Brad Jones said: "The last year has reminded us - if we needed reminding - that without local charities, life would be an awful lot harder for so many people in our county.

Ipswich Star: Inspire Suffolk has restarted its Prince's Trust Team Programme. Pictured is a previous year's group in Felixstowe. Picture: INSPIRE SUFFOLKInspire Suffolk has restarted its Prince's Trust Team Programme. Pictured is a previous year's group in Felixstowe. Picture: INSPIRE SUFFOLK (Image: Archant)

"It has been inspiring to see organisations adapt over the last year to continue providing vital support to people in our local communities.

"But with fundraising severely curtailed, they need your support too - and Cash For Charities is a great way for our readers to back the good causes closest to them.

Ipswich Star: St Johns Ambulance teaching the recovery position Picture: ArchantSt Johns Ambulance teaching the recovery position Picture: Archant (Image: Archant)

"Please get involved with this initiative and help support your favourite charity."

Tokens will be printed in the EADT and Star until Saturday, July 3.

Ipswich Star: Emergency medical charity SARS is hoping to benefit from Cash for CharitiesEmergency medical charity SARS is hoping to benefit from Cash for Charities (Image: SARS)

These will be collected and counted, with the money shared proportionally depending on how many tokens have been collected for each charity.

There is no minimum token amount required to enter, as everyone will win - but the more tokens you collect, the more money the charity will receive.

Ipswich Star: ActivLives supports vulnerable people in the communityActivLives supports vulnerable people in the community (Image: Picture: ACTIVLIVES)

Which charities have signed up?

The Woolverstone Project

St Gregory's Church Sudbury (Bells)

Oasis English Language School

Disability Advice Service (East Suffolk)

The Long Shop Museum

East Coast Sail Trust

Warren Association Trust

Southwold Sailors Reading Room

Ipswich Opportunity Group

Lower Somersham Village Hall

Sudbury Newstalk

Stonham Aspal Village Hall

Parham Airfield Museum

Mistley and Manningtree Welcome Home Trust

ActivLives

The Salvation Army Woodbridge

Suffolk Accident Rescue Service

Winston’s Wheels

Feed Waveney Community

PFC Cedarwood

Hospital Radio Ipswich

Allsorts Support Services CIC

The Somerville Foundation

Still Good Food

SERV Suffolk & Cambridgeshire

1st Bungay (School) Sea Scout Group

1st Mendlesham scout group

Aspect Living Foundation meals on wheels

1st Fressingfield Scout Group

BME Suffolk Support Group

Friends of Gusford

Riding for the Disabled (Woodbridge & District Group)

Drinkstone War Memorial Institute

6th Old Felixstowe Scout Group

Friends of the Ferns

Oulton Broad Water Sports Centre

Kyson Primary School PTFA

Lowestoft Museum

The ACE Project

The Friends of St Mary's Bacton

Mid Suffolk Voluntary Organisations Forum - Red Gables

Company of Four

Pakefield Singers

Papworth Trust

Inspire Suffolk

The Ipswich Hospital Band

Ipswich Housing Action Group

Ipswich and East Suffolk Samaritans

Family First

Suffolk Oxygen Therapy Centre

Woodbridge Tide Mill Charitable trust

1st Brantham Scout & Guide Group

BSEVC - Later Life Community

St Elizabeth Hospice

Rattlesden Preschool

RNLI, Clacton-on-Sea

The Shelley Centre For Therapeutic Riding For The Disabled

Sound On, Ipswich and District Talking Newspaper

Battisford Pre-School

Broke Hall School Home and School Association

Stowmarket ASD Saturday Clubs

1st Southwold and Reydon Scout Group

Aldeburgh Museum Charitable Trust

Seckford Foundation

St John Ambulance

Beccles Men's Shed

Suffolk Guild of Ringers

Suffolk Oxygen Therapy Centre

Halesworth Volunteer Centre

Eye Opportunity Group

469 Lowestoft Air Cadets

Waveney Enterprises Craft Workshop

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices

The Friends of St Andrews Church Wickham Skeith

Felixstowe and district Mencap society

bact community transport

Home-Start in Suffolk

Tuddenham Village Hall

Walsham Le Willows Sports Club CIO

Friends of St Mary's School, Woodbridge

5th Woodbridge Sea Scouts

Bentwaters Cold War Museum

The Mix Stowmarket

Oaks Meadow Project

The Shed