Ipswich Borough Council has secured funding to again support a summer programme of free activities for young people

Following the success of last summer’s initiative, the town’s Community Safety Partnership has committed £9,000 cash to back the project for a further year. This is to provide events, activities and safe spaces during the school summer holiday that benefit young people who live in and around Ipswich.  

The Borough Council’s Community Support team is inviting local community groups and organisations which would like to be involved in August Activities to apply for grants of up to £1,000.    

The types of activities could include opportunities to learn life skills or new hobbies, take part in sports and games, interactive workshops, or fun educational sessions to deter young people from anti-social behaviour. These activities must take place in Ipswich and be aspirational and empowering for young people, focusing on ways to divert them away from gangs, knife crime and violence. 

Applications are open until 5pm on Monday 29 April. Successful grant recipients will be required to commit to one or two events as part of an activity programme at the Cornhill in Ipswich town centre on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during August, alongside their other activities. 

More information and guidance for groups within the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to put forward applications for taking part in the scheme is available at: www.ipswich.gov.uk/content/diversionary-activities-funding 

Last year the fund benefited over 350 young people across Ipswich.  They took part in a variety of free sessions including mentoring, music, gaming tournaments, dance courses, theatre production, arts and crafts workshops, first aid and CPR, and many more enriching projects. Activity providers worked in partnership to engage young people from all communities, including those from at risk or low-income backgrounds, and hosted 28 promotional sessions over ten days on the Cornhill. 

DanceEast were one of the organisations funded last year to support the summer programme. Jamie Simpson from DanceEast says: “The connections we made through that involvement were invaluable in ensuring we reached participants who’d benefit the most from trying out new opportunities. 

“With the funds from Ipswich Borough Council, combined with funds raised from other trusts and foundations, we launched the DanceEast Bursary Fund in September and have given 36 children and young people a free place on our classes programme, equating to 33% of our total class participants. 19 of those 36 places were part of our open access strand and were available for anyone to book via our website. The places were filled within two weeks of going live.” 

Kate Price, Assistant Director Communities at Ipswich Borough Council, says: “School holidays are often a time when young people are eager for things to do. We’re proud to be able to continue the success of August Activities for the second year, supporting more initiatives for young people in the town. We hope to have a programme which educates, inspires, and brings a sense of belonging, along with reducing the chances of our young people being involved in anti-social behaviour. We look forward to working with the funded organisations and the young people themselves this summer.”