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M O R ES T O R I E S
O F A
B E T T E RS U F F O L K
S H I N E A
L I G H T
C O N T E N T S
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1 Bury St Edmunds Women’s Aid Centre
Chapter 2 Ipswich Housing Action Group
Chapter 3 Just42
Chapter 4 Porch Project
Chapter 5 REACH
Chapter 6 Rural Coffee Caravan
Chapter 7 Signpost Gunton
Chapter 8 Suffolk Artlink
Chapter 9 Upbeat
Chapter 10 Warden’s Charitable Trust
Meet the Team
With thanks to
F O R E W O R D
One of the joys we experience at theFoundation is accompanyingdonors and fund holders on visits toorganisations that they havesupported through their generosity.
Even though these organisations areoften dealing with the most difficultsocial issues, the experience isalways positive. How can that be?Universally, it is because ourcharities and community groupsattract extraordinary people whogive of their time, knowledge, skillsand compassion to improve the livesof those less fortunate. It is a trulyhumbling experience. Talking withthe people receiving this treasuredlifeline, whether it is to help themcope with depression, escape fromabuse or to relieve isolation, willinevitably carry a common message
of relief and hope. It is a lifechanging experience for them, butalso for all the people that make ithappen.
This book is our opportunity toShine A Light on some of themagnificent organisations who areworking in our communities andimproving the lives of ourneighbours, friends and loved ones.These are their stories that will bothinspire and move you. Thispublication would not have beenpossible without the support of theeditor of the East Anglian DailyTimes, Terry Hunt, the sponsorshipfrom CCLA and the compassionand commitment of our localcharity and voluntary sector.
Thank you to you all.
STEPHEN SINGLETON
CEO, Suffolk Community Foundation
change lives that they often did nothave the time, skills or resources toeducate and seek support from awider group of new volunteers,donors and influencers.
Domestic violence, troubledteenagers, the homeless, substanceabuse, vulnerable older people,families in crisis, anti-socialbehaviour, rural isolation – thebroadest cross section of charitiesand community groups wereapproached and asked to getinvolved.
An initial programme of trainingwas created including copywriting;photography; video; social media;marketing and communications forpress and digital platforms.
A series of articles in the EastAnglian Daily Times was produced,short films and opportunitiescreated to showcase the work ofeach charity at headline eventsacross the year that would reachnew people who have the capacityand/or influence to help.
Perhaps best of all, often for only acouple of hours, ‘Shine a Light’partners had the opportunity tolearn from each other, share theirexperiences and collaborate intelling their stories.
This book summarises the journeyso far. We hope you enjoy readingit and will feel inspired to shine yourown light on making Suffolk a betterplace for all.
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Suffolk Community Foundation hasthis year created an innovative newpilot project, Shine A Light,supported by the East Anglian DailyTimes and Ipswich Building Society.
It has been launched to showcasethe valuable work of the voluntarysector in Suffolk and in particular tohighlight the stories of a crosssection of charities and communitygroups working to address some ofour county’s greatest challenges.
Shine A Light came about as adirect result of the success of SuffolkCommunity Foundation’s tenthanniversary publication, ‘Stories ofa Better Suffolk’.
During the production of this firstbook, one of the things that becameimmediately apparent was just how many amazing untold storiesthere were.
It was also clear that much moreattention needed to be given tocelebrate, support and ‘Shine ALight’ on the amazing work of themany groups and individuals whodedicate their time to improvingthe lives of those most in need in Suffolk.
Sometimes the reason nobodyknew about these stories was thatthe charities themselves wereworking so hard to deliver and
TERRY HUNT
Editor, East Anglian Daily Times & Ipswich StarEditor-in-Chief, Archant Suffolk
BURY ST EDMUNDS WOMEN’S AID CENTRE
B U R Y S T E D M U N D SW O M E N ’ S
A I D C E N T R E
CHAPTER
1
S H I N E A
L I G H T
LIVING ACCOMMODATION, COURSES ANDCOUNSELLING, TO SUPPORT WOMEN AND CHILDREN
TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES AFTER THE TRAUMATICEFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
“I laid there helpless, not able tobreathe or move, with 13 stone ofweight crushing me to the floor…Ifelt sick as he breathed heavily intomy ear, pinning my arms downbeside me.”
Then there’s Josie, whose life becomes a nightmare, beingroutinely sexually abused by herfather and his friends.
There’s the experience of a teenagegirl who had to flee her familyhome because the beatings from her mother became too muchto bear.
“She beats my face until my jawaches. That day she hit me so hard my earring went straightthrough my ear and came out theother side.”
Describing the experience thiswoman said, “Dani came to acoffee morning at the refuge andlooked at me and asked me if I’dlike to do the writing workshop. Ihad no confidence at all, but I wentalong just the same.”
“I loved it from the first session and for me the whole project has felt better thancounselling or therapy.”
“Going to see the play was scary -seeing what my story would be likeon stage but the actors reallybrought it to life.”
B U R Y S T E D M U N D S W O M E N ’ S
A I D C E N T R E
Writing has long been used as away of expressing difficult unsaidsecret thoughts and finding solacefrom overwhelming feelings.
But the Women’s Refuge in Bury St. Edmunds, working with aplaywright from the Theatre Royal,has taken this form of expressionone stage further.
A unique outreach project withwomen who fled domestic abuse invarious forms, has not only helpedthem pen their experiences but hasculminated in a unique play,Refuge, staged with professionalactors before an invited audience.
The end result was, says one of thewriters, “Better than therapy.’’ Theactors brought everything to life andhelped me deal with what hadhappened to me and really processwhat happened.”
Another simply said, “It saved my life.”
According to project leader andaward-winning playwright DanusiaIwaszko, it was “extraordinary” notonly helping the women involved
but as it was performed live onstage it made a “real connection”with the audience.
The play, which was part funded bySuffolk Community Foundation’sHodge and Shallow Fund, tells fourreal life stories - although theidentities of those involved werechanged to protect the individuals.
There’s Charlotte, a young motherwhose husband gradually erodesher confidence and ends up liftingher off the sofa by her head - justfor eating a biscuit.
Mandy describes being raped byher husband, simply because she’smade a phone call to a friend.
“The effect of this play wasextraordinary. On the night, one ofthe participants described it asbeing ‘better than therapy’, andthat’s exactly what the arts can do.
“There were many people in the audiencewho were greatly moved - it was a ground-breaking piece of work.”
Karen Simpson, the Director of TheTheatre Royal said, “This was just afour week course and at the start we had no idea of the impact it was going to have on those whotook part.”
“Friends of the women involvedwho came along to the play saidthey had seen them change, theirconfidence had grown and theywere beginning to talk more.
“This shows that the arts can be areally powerful factor for changeand this is a hugely important partof our outreach work here at TheTheatre Royal.’’
“Afterwards though I felt a hugeweight had been lifted from me likea release and I also like that it raisedawareness in the audience too.”
Helping the women from theRefuge, says Danusia, has been an“extraordinary” project to havebeen involved with.
“It’s beyond therapeutic. Within thegroup there was a freedom forthose involved to tell their storiesand their confidence grew in theworkshops.
“Their stories were so painful but bytalking about them over and overthe more they were able to getsome distance.
“The other side effect was when theysaw people crying and there was alot of tears in the theatre theyrealised their pain was big.”
According to Annie Munson, ChiefExecutive of Bury St EdmundsWomen’s Aid Centre, “The womeninvolved were initially wary aboutwhat they had to give to the projectand how much they might beexposed.”
But, she said it has been such asuccess that the team at TheatreRoyal have further projects nowunderway.
“I have done this work for manyyears and have seen many womenwith many stories but when I sawthis performance on stage, it is oneof the most powerful things I haveseen in my time at the refuge.”
Suffolk Community Foundationfund holder, Judith Shallow whowas last year’s High Sheriff andwhose family fund, The Hodge andShallow Fund - supported thisproject, described the outcome as “Profound, astounding, soulwrenching and extraordinary.”
She believes that the arts in all forms - theatre, dance, music,writing, painting etc - has a powerto effect positive change wheremany other things can’t.
“That’s why last year I helpedSuffolk Community Foundationlaunch their Arts and Culture Fundwith a gala at The Theatre Royal.”
“Refuge is a perfectproject to illustratejust how powerfulcreative workcan be.”
IPSWICH HOUSING ACTION GROUP
THE KEY TO AN INDEPENDENT FUTUREFOR HOMELESS, MARGINALISED ADULTSBY PROVIDING ACCOMMODATION,SUPPORT AND MONEY ADVICE.
I P S W I C HH O U S I N G
A C T I O N G R O U P
CHAPTER
2
S H I N E A
L I G H T
Thanks to IHAG, it’s outreach teamand intervention at its ChapmanCentre, in Black Horse Lane, henow has his own apartment.
He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, a result ofservice in Northern Ireland, whichhas led to support from the armedservices charity, SSAFA, and ahome. “I am ecstatic because I ambeing given another chance.”
Mary, a 44-year-old professionalbecame homeless through illhealth.
“I had a career, my own house anda car but then I became ill with arare condition which left meparalysed down my left side.”
She lost everything paying foressential care as she recovered anda year ago, with nothing left, askedIHAG for help.
“I was terribly depressed because ofwhat had happened tome but all the housingteam were reallysupportive.”
They helped with accommodationand benefits and thanks to theirsupport she is now moving into herown home with a full time job too.
At the other end of the spectrum isPaul, 50 and on an early morningwalk with IHAG’s Outreach Team isfound in St. Clement’s Churchyardtucked up on ancient gravestones indonated sleeping bags. All thatprotects him from the rising dampare £1 plastic sheets.
I P S W I C HH O U S I N G
A C T I O N G R O U P
For 40 years Ipswich Housing ActionGroup has been helping thehomeless in Ipswich.
Walk around Ipswich as the sunrises and the homeless are all toovisible in shop doorways, in churchcemeteries and on the Waterfront.
However they got to where they are,sleeping rough exposes thesepeople not just to the elements,cold, rain, snow but also a host ofother problems too.
They may have physical and mentalhealth issues, learning problems,addictions; they may have beenforced onto the streets because ofdebts or problem behaviour.
The evidence also shows that thelonger people sleep rough the moredifficult it becomes to help them,which is why the “No Second NightOut” campaign has been launchedacross the UK.
In Ipswich, says, Halford Hewitt,Chief Executive of IHAG, it issupported through his charity withan outreach project funded by Suffolk Community Foundationgrants through the Safer Suffolk Fund.
Halford says that no-one can makeassumptions about homelesspeople - just one thing needs to gowrong like losing your job, divorce,illness, mental health issues or addiction - and you could find yourself without a roof overyour head.
Take Robin, an ex-serviceman, whospent six years sleeping out in tentsbetween spells in prison.
“As a former soldier it’s what I have been trained for. I’d put up my tent on the edge oftown near a 24-hourservice stop to get a wash and I was fine.”
“The earlier an intervention is madethe sooner a solution can befound.”
Suffolk’s Police and CrimeCommissioner, Tim Passmore said,“Ipswich Housing Action Groupdoes a fantastic job working directlywith homeless people.
“I am very proud to have supportedthe “No Second Night Out”campaign. It is crucial that no onenew to rough sleeping spends asecond night out on the streets inour county town.
“So I was very pleased to award agrant from the Safer Suffolk Fund of£20k for this project.”
Suffolk Community FoundationTrustee, Selina Hopkins said, “IHAGdoes an amazing job to help those,
who for whatever reason, findthemselves homeless and have noother alternative but to sleep rough.
“Some of the individuals involvedhave very complex needs and manyhave ended up in a downwardspiral through illness, relationshipbreakdown or a job loss through nofault of their own.”
“The outreach work is vital so they can access the help they need to make that change.”
He has been sleeping out on thestreets after losing his place atanother hostel. “There was analtercation,” he explains.
Paul’s life has had ups and downs,he’s spent time on the streetsbefore, for 18 months he “sofa surfed”, and spent time inprison too.
“When you are on the streets, thehelp you get from IHAG and theChapman Centre makes a hugeamount of difference. You can getsomething to eat, read thenewspapers and have a shower”
“They also help you sort out yourproblems, especially if you have tofill in forms and find it difficult. It’shard living like this thoughespecially in the winter.”
Halford, who has been at IHAG for25 years, says there are about 16“hardened” rough sleepers inIpswich with 1,080 more who are“sofa surfing”.
“We have an outreachworker who goes out inthe mornings and tries topersuade the rough
sleepers to come into theChapman Centre.”
We offer food, washing facilities, apostal address, advice aboutbenefits, healthcare but makeappointments to help individualsaccess other specialist services too.
IHAG, explained Halford, has alsobeen instrumental in helping to setup Ipswich Locality HomelessnessPartnership, a group of 40organisations, which work togetherto help vulnerable andmarginalised people.
This means IHAG can signpostpeople to services that can sort outthe complexity of their problemsand find long-term solutions.
JUST42
J U S T 4 2
CHAPTER
3
S H I N E A
L I G H T
AN OPEN ACCESS YOUTH PROVIDERMAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE
LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND CHILDREN IN RURAL SUFFOLK
Mary, - whose name has beenchanged to protect her identity -said that she eventually talked to hermother and through the school waslinked up with Just42 and a mentor.
“It’s made all the difference. Wetalked about what made me happyand how I could find differentsolutions to my problems and howthat in turn could make me moreconfident.”
The whole process took place oversome weeks but now Mary is adifferent girl - she’s worked outwhat she wants, has caught up inclass, can talk to teachers, has awider friendship group and knowswhere she wants to go.
Rosie Evans is one of the mentorsand says her fellow volunteers comefrom a wide variety of backgrounds- although she was previously a teacher.
She says, “Even if young peoplehave a wonderfully supportivefamily sometimes they just needsomeone who is not connected tothem who they can talk to.
“Having an adult who can listen totheir concerns and difficulties allowsthem to work through what theymight be going through. Yousupport them so they can helpthemselves.
“Although we are not counsellors we can draw on experience and access materials that might be
able to help them.”
J U S T 4 2
Being a teenager has always beendifficult but the pressures on youngpeople today are more complexthan ever. Just42 runs a youth workmentoring programme offeringhelp and guidance.
The internet and what’s on it,
mobile phones, cyberbullying and exampressures make growing up in the 21st century ever more demanding.
And statistics show that nationallyincreasing numbers of teenagersfeel stressed, anxious anddepressed.
However Just42, which operatesyouth clubs and groups inWoodbridge and villages roundabout has a mentoring scheme thataims to help young people who arestruggling - for whatever reason.
Caroline Rutherford, Manager atJust42, explained that Compass
Mentoring is aimed at youngpeople aged between the ages of11 and 18 in Farlingaye orKesgrave High School catchmentswho are either struggling with avariety of issues or don’t havesupport from elsewhere.
“It might stem from bereavement,loss of family, bullying or poorsocial skills.” What happens is thata young person comes to Just42maybe through a recommendationfrom their school or elsewhere andwe offer them a mentor who helpsthem on a regular basis during termtime", she said.
Take 14-year-old Mary for example,an academic pupil with an ambitionto eventually study at Oxbridge,who lives in Woodbridge andattends Farlingaye High School.
“In school I had problems withhomework and lessons and my self-confidence was not good. I didn’ttalk to any of the teachers and therewere only two people in my classthat I would speak to"
“When I was at home I wouldn’t goout, even with my parents,preferring to keep myself to myself.All of this got worse and built upover time. I didn’t have the faintestidea where to go for help.”
Funding - amounting to £12,000 -for the mentoring programme hascome through the Children andYoung People’s Emotional Healthand Wellbeing Fund. Jo John -Transformation Lead for Child andAdolescent Mental Health Servicesfrom NHS West Suffolk ClinicalCommissioning Group commented:‘’The Compass mentoring work thatJust42 is providing shows howimportant the role of charities are indelivering the help and supportmany of our young people need sothey can live happy and fulfillinglives.’’
Caroline added, “In addition to ourmentoring programme Just42
supports children with dynamicgroups, activities and mobile ruralyouth clubs.
“Just42 builds life and employmentskills by engaging thedisadvantaged and disillusionedand providing diversions fromantisocial behaviour.”
The charity, based at WoodbridgeYouth Centre, Kingston Road, workswith around 450 children andyoung people each week in term time, and a further 300 atschool assemblies. It also runsholiday clubs.
Rosie added, “It’s something that’sentirely voluntary but I feel is veryhelpful as I have three grown-upchildren and have seen howimportant other adults have been intheir lives.”
Kevin Woods, who is the CompassMentoring Co-ordinator says thatover the last three years 138 youngpeople have benefitted from theprogramme.
He said they came for help becauseof home or school; they might besuffering from anxiety issues,depression, anger, stress or mentalhealth problems.
“We believe there are 20,000 young people in Suffolk who are in need of mentoring.
With the Children and Young People’sServices in the countrybeing reduced,
what we do is even more important.”
PORCH PROJECT
P O R C H
P R O J E C T
CHAPTER
4
S H I N E A
L I G H T
SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE’SPHYSICAL, MENTAL, SOCIAL
AND EDUCATIONAL WELL-BEING
“So this year there was a decision todo something similar at St Andrew’sin Great Cornard when the vicar,The Rev Chris Ramsey, decided toopen its doors to young people ona Friday night,” said Craig.
“The crime in Cornard - offenceslike criminal damage etc - has beenvery high for a long time so it wasdecided that we’d launch a PorchProject here. The results have beenremarkable - already there’s beena 50 per cent reduction in crime.”
Craig says the problem has beenthat there’s been nowhere for youngpeople to go but he says PorchProject Cornard has really giventhem something to look forward to.
“I work with student services at Thomas Gainsborough Schooland we publicise the projectthrough there.
“During the week I work with a lotof young people who havebehaviour problems but becausethey want to attend the Porch Projecton a Friday their behaviour seemsto have got better.”
Word has spread across the community and to other schools in Sudbury too with young people walking out of
town to St Andrew’s for the evening.
P O R C H
P R O J E C T
It’s a Friday night and in GreatCornard the place to go if you areyoung and looking for things to dois St Andrew’s Church.
For a casual passer by it might seemsomething out of the ordinary towalk past a Suffolk church on adark night and see scores of youngpeople waiting around in thechurchyard.
Draw closer and as you walk insideyou’d witness something even moreextraordinary - a church full ofteenagers, loud pop music, vast TVscreens broadcasting films, videoand computer games.
Elsewhere are young peopleplaying table football, pool andthere’s even a group of girls beingcreative with nail art.
It’s a sight that would certainly haveraised more than a few eyebrows ofthe founders who built this historicplace of worship but the PorchProject Cornard has actually donewonders for the local communitymaking it a better and safer place.
Craig Hutton, the project leaderexplained, “We have been runningthese Friday night sessions at St Andrew’s since January and it’sbeen getting bigger and morepopular since then. Last week therewere more than 100 young peoplehere and it looks like numbers willbe even higher tonight.”
The Porch Project for young people wasoriginally launched some years back inHadleigh and has played a significant role in the reduction of crime in the town.
So why is it so popular?
Joelle Worley, 16, who attends theOrmiston Academy says, “I havebeen here three times now - peoplefrom Thomas Gainsborough Schooltold me about it and it gives us anopportunity to meet with our friendsin the evening. There are loads ofthings to do and you don’t have topay for it either."
Cade Huckle, a student atColchester Institute who lives inGreat Cornard said he has beenattending the Friday night sessionsfor about seven months andactually started off as a teammember.
“It’s just a fun thing to do. Before onthe streets there was nowhere to goand there could be trouble.”
“People would hang around in biggroups, someone would takeoffence at something and you neverknew what would happen.”
“But here there’s a place to go and it’s safe and everyone can come together.
You can listen to music, be calm, talk to your friends and enjoy yourself.”
Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s Police andCrime Commissioner, works inpartnership with Suffolk CommunityFoundation to create the SaferSuffolk Fund. This fund awarded agrant of £20,000 to help the projectget off the ground.
Craig says “With this funding weaimed to reduce crime by 10 percent - but we have exceeded that.”
Craig says, that the evening is freeand the only thing that’s required is
that the young people should signin and out.
“We have a team of 30 volunteerswho work on a rota to help out,many of whom are members of thecongregation here.”
“They have been amazing andregularly donate home bakedcakes, bread, pizza etc so there’salso free food available during theevening.”
REACH
R E A C H
CHAPTER
5
S H I N E A
L I G H T
LIFTING PEOPLEOUT OF POVERTY IN AND AROUND
HAVERHILL
Jacinto Barros, partner Elis AngelaSanchez Da Costa and their threechildren have also been helped.
Volunteer Lesley Ashford-Smith said“Jacinto came to the charity with afood voucher from social servicesand we began to understand hissituation from there.”
“Our food bank is part of theTrussell Trust network and the rulesare that Jacinto could have threeboxes in three months. It turns outthe food was just the tip of theiceberg - he’d previously had agood job earning over £1,000 amonth as a cleaner but because ofan accident and being on a zerohours contract he wasn’t entitled tosick pay."
“So four people were living on £88a week, were in rent arrears, debtand to compound it all Elis Angelawas pregnant. In addition theirWorking Tax Credit and ChildBenefit had been stopped.”
Further investigation revealed theywere living in high rent poorhousing, that had problems.
“We worked with social services,creditors, the landlord and variousbenefits departments and managedto get £10,000 back from HMRC.We’ve also managed to get thefamily rehoused and Jacinto is nowback at work.”
Jacinto says, “I simply don’t know what we would have done withoutREACH and Lesley.
Everything they have done has
changed our lives.”
R E A C H
Josephine is clutching a handful ofbrown envelopes containingdocuments that in a few short weeksmight see her and her 14-year-oldson homeless and out on thestreets.
As a last resort she’s come to theREACH drop in at Leiston Road inHaverhill to see if there’s anywaythey can help to keep the bailiff at bay.
She’s had a summons to courtbecause she’s got £2,000 of rentarrears - built up through thebedroom tax - and there’s no wayof paying it back.
“I have a four-bedroom house,we’ve lived there for 22 years and Ihave raised my family there.”
She’s on benefits and there’s noway she could pay the additionalrent because when her eldest childmoved out all her benefits changedas well.
“REACH is helping me sort out mymoney, and someone is even goingto come to court with me andexplain that we are trying to find asmaller property.”
Meanwhile David and his uncleMichael are waiting in a receptionthat is crowded with people withworried faces and brownenvelopes.
David said when his mum suddenly died, they became liable forbedroom tax and had also fallen foul of changes indisability benefit legislation and got
into debt.
“I had been registered disabledfollowing a serious road accident -but then the Department of Workand Pensions decided I was fit towork and changed my benefits.
“We came to REACH and theyhelped us with food, finding asmaller house and they sorted ourbenefits. We even had helparranging mum’s funeral.”
He said that the REACH teamincludes himself, Ann Merrigan andCorrine Sing aided by 50 activevolunteers including Lesley whogave up her employed role to givethe charity additional funds.
Their aim is obviously to helppeople in need but also whereappropriate to drill down and seekout the root cause of theirdebt/money issues.
Darren Chaplin sits on the grantspanel of a private fund that wasestablished from the legacy of aprivate individual.
“The levels of deprivation present inHaverhill are quite staggering and
we could not have been moredelighted to grant £3,968 for corecosts for REACH”.
Tim Holder, Development Directorof Suffolk Community Foundationsaid, “REACH are real championsfor vulnerable people in crisis and demonstrate truely inspiringpassion and empathy with everyconversation they have!
“Often completely unavoidablechanges in circumstances of anindividual or family can turneverything upside down. REACHprovides vital support and advice toprevent an often already badsituation from getting worse.”
Henry Wilson, the CEO of REACH,said the charity started off 11 yearsago at the River of Life CommunityChurch in Haverhill as a debtadvisory service.
Since then the range of support theyprovide has just grown and grownand it now also extends its servicesto a ten-mile radius of Haverhill.
In addition to the drop in centre,there’s now a warehouse toaccommodate the food bank andtheir admin office is also housedfrom within these premises.
There is a furniture bank too, whichalso offers home starter packs forthose moving into newaccommodation and a newoutreach project has just beenlaunched in the local Job Centre.
Henry says the majority of peoplewant help filling in or readingforms, they’ve had tax creditsstopped or been sanctioned by theJob Centre and their benefits aren’tbeing paid.
“Sometimes people have fallen behind with their gas or electricity and don’t know what to do next.”
The reasons why this happens arecomplex, sometimes people haveproblems understanding officialletters, there may be mental healthissues or people make poorchoices."
THE RURAL COFFEE CARAVAN
REDUCING THE STRESS OF RURALISOLATION BY VISITING COMMUNITIESWITH A FREE COMMUNITY CAFE ANDMOBILE INFORMATION CENTRE
T H E R U R A LC O F F E EC A R A V A N
CHAPTER
6
S H I N E A
L I G H T
T H E R U R A LC O F F E EC A R A V A N
“We’ve come to Rural CoffeeCaravan since it started and itmakes such a difference to us thatwe have asked them not to closedown on us too.”
Ann Osborn, Rural Coffee CaravanManager said, “The charity wasstarted in 2001 by the Rev CanonSally Fogden who recognised thatrural isolation in Suffolk was a hugeproblem.
“Aldringham was one of the firstplaces we came to and we bring thecaravan to the village monthlybetween April and October.
“During the rest of the year, thanksto the Rev Mark Lowther vicar ofFriston and Aldeburgh, meetingsare now continuing at the pub or inpeople’s homes.”
The charity visits morethan 70 villages
offering free tea, coffeeand cake at some placesbut in others offers aninformation service.
For the last 14 years Rural CoffeeCaravan has toured villages acrossthe county offering tea and coffeeas a counter to rural isolation.
It’s a warm summer day and JoyceAtkins, Jean Wall and Joyce Slaterare sitting on garden chairs on thegreen in Aldringham enjoying acuppa, homemade cake and agood old chin wag.
They talk like old friends do aboutwhat’s been going on in their lives,their families and warm days ofsummers past when they used tospend every moment with theirchildren on the beach.
But those everyday opportunities tomeet are gone and, Joyce adds, it’sonly thanks to the Rural CoffeeCaravan that this monthly meetingof friends exists at all.
There’s nowhere to meet in thevillage anymore - apart from thepub - but these ladies are not goingto be popping in to the Parrot andPunchbowl for a pint anytime soon.
“We’ve got no school, no hall, no shop,
the church is way out of the village on the other side of the road and we’ve got no bus either as we can’t get to the bus stop.”
“We used to have a village hall butthat was sold. Also we don’t haveneighbours because manyproperties in the village are holidayhomes,” she explained.
Which means that now, as the triofind it harder to get about - Joyce is79, Jean is 87 and Joyce is 93 - theonly opportunity to get together iswhen the Rural Coffee Caravandrops by.
“Of course we keep in touch bytelephone but this is the only timewe can get to see each other.
“If you are a lonelyperson and you feelundervalued, it can make a huge
difference if someonecalls you by name.
It’s not rocket science but it makes a difference.”
Richard Cooper of SuffolkCommunity Foundation’s SuffolkGiving Fund panel says this projectis of huge benefit.
“It’s important from theFoundation’s point of view that wego out into the community and seehow charities are using their grantmoney.
“Today in Aldringham it’s clear thischarity is very effective in reachinga lot of people who have becomeisolated in rural areas because thevillages they live in and the way welive has simply changed.
Suffolk Community FoundationTrustee, Terry Ward, said, “ This isthe first time I have been to see thework of Rural Coffee Caravan and
it’s quite a treat. It’s clear RuralCoffee Caravan makes a verypositive difference to Suffolk.”
Fellow Foundation trustee, JonathanAgar said, “It’s a very simple thingthey do but it’s really successful.
“We are in a world that’s becomingmore and more complicated butsimple things can really make adifference.
“We are constantly behind desks,behind screens or behind doors orwindows but we are human beingsand going out to spend quality timewith each other face to face is soimportant”.
“Joyce, Joyce and Jean have beencoming here since the start and this opportunity to meet means so much.
“We have promised we will keepcoming here until the money runsout or they aren’t here any longer.”Ann says it costs almost £100,000a year to run the charity and SuffolkCommunity Foundation has alwayshelped with grant making.
Most recently the Foundationawarded them a £10,000 WorkingTogether Award on behalf of SuffolkCounty Council.
“I was over the moon because itshows the council thinks we areworth working with and values thework we do.”
The Rev Fogden said, ”I startedRural Coffee Caravan as I realised
how many very lonely people therewere in the farming community.”
She said that conversation andsocial interaction is vital foreveryone but for older people insmall villages it’s just not possiblebecause there is no-one to talk to.
There are villages where propertyprices are so high young peoplecan’t afford to stay and wherehomes are sold as weekendcottages or to commuters so localservices are no longer viable, sheexplained.
“Rural Coffee Caravan has helpedto fill that gap through its monthlyvisits.
“Ann and Project Officer GarrySimmonds are very good atremembering people’s names andthat’s really important.
SIGNPOST GUNTON
S I G N P O S T
G U N T O N
CHAPTER
7
S H I N E A
L I G H T
IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIVES OFPEOPLE IN LOWESTOFT AND THE
SURROUNDING VILLAGES LIVING INCHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES
“We wanted to know whatconcerned them about growing upin Lowestoft. We realised that theissues effecting a nine-year-oldwere different than that of a 16-year-old,” said Hannah.
This was followed up with two BigDream conferences firstly atBenjamin Britten School and then atThe Ashley School because, shesaid, they wanted to make sure thatyoung people with special needshad a say as well.
The organising group involved 14teenagers all of whom are YoungLeaders with Dreamworx - and theconferences were such a successthat the schools have asked them torepeat them next year.
“Topics under discussion includedthe issues that were highlightedthrough the survey and werediscussed with a panel of experts
that included councillors, the police,media and local people.
“I think it’s difficult for us to have oursay in the community becausepeople just think we are young anddon’t take things seriously. We thenfeel as if we are not being listenedto,” said Rhiannon.
The project was funded throughSuffolk Community Foundation’sYouth Social Action Fund. This waskick started by The Cabinet Officeand the Step up to Serve #IWillcampaign to raise levels of youthvolunteering in the East of England.Suffolk Community Foundation thendoubled the funding by engagingsupport from private donors.
Grants Manager Andrea Pittocksaid “Dreamworx is an excitingelement of the work of SignpostGunton. They are working withsome of the most deprived young
S I G N P O S T
G U N T O N
Young people inevitably look at theworld in a different way and wherebetter to seek an innovative solutionto a community “Bin Wars” problem?Suffolk Community Foundation visitsLowestoft’s Dreamworx Youth Project.
Bin day in Lowestoft is perhaps notquite like bin day anywhere else.
“On some estates people stealwheelie bins so you can’t just leaveyour rubbish out to be collected asand when,” explains a teenagerfrom Dreamworx.
“People actually wait until the binlorry is on their street before puttingtheir bins out and take them straightback to their gardens.
“Some people who have jobs have actually paid neighbours to guard their bin so that it doesn’t get stolen.”
And of course if you don’t have abin for two weeks what do you dowith your rubbish? It just getsdumped and litter starts becominga serious health hazard.
It’s a problem that young people inLowestoft decided to take on afterDreamworx youngsters launchedtheir youth action project, whichtook the form of a communityconsultation project at every schoolin Lowestoft.
Hannah Harvey, Rhiannon Hale,Lauren Benjamin and Sharon Pullfrom Dreamworx, based at GuntonBaptist Church in MontgomeryAvenue, explained that theysurveyed all the schools with twoquestionnaires targeted at youngerand older children.
“We decided that the problem at theroot of it all was the wheelie binsand if they didn’t get stolen in thefirst place people wouldn’t need todump their rubbish.”
They also identified that theyneeded to change the “culture”where people simply stole bins andremoved any identifying numbers orstickers.
The solution they havecome up with is to startpersonalising people’sbins in a creative artisticway with indelible spraypaint using a uniquedesign for each.
They suggested homeowners coulduse something that’s very personal- perhaps their family pet or afavourite picture.
“We are getting the younger onesinvolved too by getting them tomake the templates for eachdesign.”
With the help of Councillor Cherry,the plan to modify the bins has now also been approved by thecouncil too.
Dreamworx co-ordinator, LouiseCrisp said the next stage is to create a campaign to launch andfundraise for the project.
“We’ve got a prototype design andare now getting started and thething that will make it work is thateach bin will be completely unique."
people in the Waveney area,achieving significant engagementand higher levels of youthvolunteering with this hard to reachgroup."
One of the key areas of discussionwas litter in Lowestoft and as a resultthe Dreamworx team has decidedto do something about it and takenthis project further and come upwith a “Banksy” style solution too.
They firstly identified that much ofthe litter was caused becausepeople’s wheelie bins got stolenand as a result residents dumpedhousehold rubbish in the streets andalleyways.
To assess the scale of the problem,they carried out a survey of theestates to find out the “litter”hotspots and were shocked andsaddened by the result.
“So we ran a series of night walksand invited local councillorsincluding Waveney CouncillorMalcolm Cherry to come and walkwith us to see what the situation wasand to take our concerns further, ”explained Rhiannon.
“We showed what it looked likefrom a young person’s perspectiveand although they were aware ofproblems in children’s playgroundswe showed them other places thathad issues.”
Some of the alleyways had becomedumping grounds, they said, and inone spot they even found a filthydiscarded mattress.
The “Dreamworx Young Leaders”then got their heads together withsome of the younger children thatthe project is involved with to comeup with a plan.
SUFFOLK ARTLINK
S U F F O L K
A R T L I N K
CHAPTER
8
S H I N E A
L I G H T
TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF PEOPLEOF ALL ABILITIES THROUGH TAKING
PART IN ENGAGING AND INSPIRATIONALCREATIVE ACTIVITIES
S U F F O L K
A R T L I N K
Whether it’s rap or rock, pop orpunk, techno or electronic, youngpeople’s love of music has a way ofhelping them find their “voice”.
There’s a long tradition in the popindustry of teenagers on the fringeusing their music to explore theircreativity.
In doing so they have invented newgenres, become poets and socialcommentators and, for some, it’seven resulted in stardom and riches.But playing in a band does muchmore - it teaches valuable life skillsabout teamwork, hard work, itbuilds confidence and expands
horizons in more ways than one.Suffolk Artlink, for example, isrunning ‘Rock Up’ modern musicsessions at Colville House YouthClub in Lowestoft, which has seenremarkable changes in the youngpeople who attend.
It is aimed at anyone aged 12-18living in the Kirkley and Whittonareas of Lowestoft, which areamong the most deprived wards inthe entire UK.
Project Officer, Candida Wingatesays the project has been verysuccessful, “Not only has ‘Rock Up’given the young people the chanceto learn musical skills, but they havealso gained social and personalskills as well.”
Last year seven of the young people created a band,‘Coolville’ and played at the Amplifier Gig atHalesworth Cut.
A further nine young people madeDJ mixes and their work has beenposted to Mixcloud.
“We have a core group of ten whocome each week but sometimes weget up to 20. It’s taken a long timebut it’s wonderful to see how theyhave grown in confidence.”
It’s been such a success that thisyear ‘Rock Up’ is introducing ArtsAwards, designed to help creativityand leadership, and qualificationsrecognised by the music industry.
Candida explained that the sessionsare run by professional musiciansBryan Hall, Matt Shepherd and
Sophie Tott who all have national/international playing expertise.
During the weekly sessions eachyoung person works in a group butalso has an individual lesson withoptions in drums, guitar, keyboard,vocals, songwriting or on the decks.In addition there are on-linetutorials for all the students so theycan practice their skills at homeduring the week.
Karen Booth, Youth Worker/Directorof Colville House says the ‘Rock Up’sessions, held in addition to themain youth club, have helpedattract young people who might nototherwise have come along.
He’s been producing his own musicsince he was 15 and on oneoccasion has played for Radio 1Academy.
Funding for the whole project hascome from a variety of sources,principally Youth Music. In additionSuffolk Community Foundation hashelped with matched funding fromvarious sources, including the De laRue Family Fund.
Colin de la Rue said the fund wasoriginally created by his daughterMay through a sponsored walk.She is now aged 18 and isparticularly interested in music and
supporting young people withchallenges or disability who arefinding help through this art form.He said that when SuffolkCommunity Foundation suggestedthey might like to help fund ‘RockUp’ it seemed a perfect fit.
Suffolk Community Foundation’sbrand new Arts and Culture Fundalso hopes to support other projectsthat help people of all ages todiscover a talent, learn a new skilland explore the challenges theyface through creativity.
According to 18-year-old Marianna,Suffolk Artlink’s music sessions havebecome a highlight of her week.
“This is the third year I haveattended and it’s brilliant as I get toplay music, learn guitar and vocals- it’s something I really like and something I don’t get to do at home.
“I’m now at college doing achildcare qualification - I wouldhave loved to have done a musiccourse but I can’t read music so theywouldn’t let me in.
“This has allowed me to keeplearning, I took part in the gig atHalesworth and I have even writtensong lyrics too.”
Moving forward, Marianna alongwith James, another musician fromthe group, are now planning to takethe next step and perform at anOpen Mic night in Lowestoft.
James, 18, says these sessions havehelped him tremendously as well -he’s learnt guitar, played with theband and says it also helps himdeal with stress.
“I never thought I would be able to playwith the band at our gig
and ten minutes before I was struck withnerves. I did it though and enjoyed it so much I would do it over and over again.”
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Jack hasused the sessions to develop hisown electronic music and says it’salso helped him integrate with awider group of young people at theyouth club.
UPBEAT
U P B E A T
CHAPTER
9
S H I N E A
L I G H T
PROVIDES REHABILITATION EXERCISE,SOCIAL AND HEALTH SUPPORT INCLUDINGCARDIAC NURSE CONSULTATION FORPEOPLE WITH HEART RELATED PROBLEMS
With more than 600 members andrecommendations from the medicalcommunity and specialists at WestSuffolk Hospital and Papworth,what Upbeat offers is unique, but asvisitors have observed its servicewould benefit every single town andcommunity across the country.
Hilary, who is Upbeat’s secretarysays, “Most of our members areretired and everyone says it has alsohelped them change their lifestyle -improve their diet, exercise and giveup smoking.
“But every session is also anopportunity for people to have acoffee, make new friends andsocialise. We also welcomehusbands, wives, partners and carersto come along and take part too.
“We recognise that coronary heartdisease does not go away - youcannot get better but keeping theheart working through exercisekeeps you well for longer.”
The charity costs £53,000 a year torun - but Sylvia, Hilary and all theorganising team, work on avolunteer basis.
Every penny counts - and is spenton specialist nurses, fitness trainersand of course premises.
For instance, says Hilary, a grant of£2,000 was received from SuffolkCommunity Foundation’s partnershipwith the Pargiter Trust, which has paidfor a cardiac nurse for one day perweek for 20 weeks resulting in a totalof 513 consultations.
U P B E A T
Heart disease is a killer, resulting in73,000 deaths a year but Upbeat,a small charity in Bury St Edmunds,is helping to make a local dent inthis mighty statistic.
Exercise has long been advocated as theelixir, if not of life, then certainly of a healthy heart.
But it’s one of those “lifestyle” thingsthat too many of us push to one sidebecause we are too busy, caught up in work, family life or caring for others.
For some people though, when theinevitable happens - a heart attack,angina or even heart surgery -exercise is always part of theprescription to help restore fitnessand regain years of active life.
The problem is, say Sylvia Bakerand Hilary Neeves of Upbeat, afterthe first six weeks of supervisedrehabilitation at the hospital, peopleare pretty much left to exercise ontheir own.
“However, after a heart scare,people aren’t always confidentabout doing this.”
That’s where Upbeat comes in,running five exercise sessions aweek in Bury St Edmunds andSudbury, all supervised by aqualified cardiac nurse.
“When they arrive they see thenurse, have their blood pressuretaken and she assesses what levelof exercise each individual iscapable of,” explained Sylvia, thechairman.
There are three classes, all done tomusic, at different levels gradedaccording to people’s differentabilities.
“I was not referred for anyrehabilitation and was just senthome after the operation. For twomonths I could barely walk, it was areal struggle and it wasn’t until sixmonths after the operation that Icould walk at a reasonable pace.
“My vision was also impaired forabout four or five months too.”
Richard said that after ten weeks hefelt so much better that he evenstarted some gentle jogging.
Suzanne Gardiner, the chair of thePargiter Trust - a charity which aimsto help disadvantaged older peopleto be independent, healthy andsocially included, explained theirgrant to Upbeat was made throughSuffolk Community Foundation.
“Last year was the first year we didany work in Suffolk and it was niceto be able to help a grass rootscharity and help to make a hugedifference.”
Suffolk Community FoundationTrustee, Terry Ward says that whatUpbeat does is, “a critical part ofthe recovery and continuing wellbeing of people who have heart
problems and their carers. Upbeatdoes that in a very engaging,interesting and welcoming way.
“What they are doing is textbook stuff and it’s mightily
impressive.”
“The Cardiac Nurse is absolutelyessential to our group, she checksevery new member who comes tojoin i.e. blood pressure, medicalhistory and is also available for anymember, including carers, to consultwhile she is attending the exercisesessions.”
Janet and John Arnold, fromFornham All Saints are amongUpbeat’s regulars at theCommunity Centre on the HowardEstate and say it’s made a hugedifference to their lives.
Janet says, “Five and a half yearsago I had a heart attack and wasrushed to Papworth where they gaveme a stent.
“I did rehabilitation at the West SuffolkHospital but Upbeat has totally changed my life because there is no way I could afford to go to the gym.”
She explained that for 30 years shehas been a full time carer, lookingafter John who has a musclewasting condition.
“I now come and exercise twice aweek and because John comesalong too we have met new people,some who are in the same situationas us and it makes a difference.
“People come in here feelingdepressed but they go out feelingon cloud nine. It’s not just theexercise but we really enjoyourselves.”
Richard Frame has also beenattending Upbeat regularly havinghad two “episodes” of heartproblems and as a result has hadtwo stents at Papworth.
WARDEN’S CHARITA
BLE TRUST
W A R D E N ’ SC H A R I T A B L E
T R U S T
CHAPTER
10
S H I N E A
L I G H T
RESIDENTIAL, RECREATIONAL AND
ARTS-BASED FACILITIES FORPEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
W A R D E N ’ SC H A R I T A B L E
T R U S T
People are living longer but old ageand good health don’t necessarilygo hand in hand, which can causeproblems if you live in a rural area. It’s an autumn afternoon, greyclouds are billowing across the clifftops, the sea is flecked with whitehorses and it looks like there’s acoastal squall in the offing.
This is the Suffolk coast in its picture-book off-season glory, looking asbleak, wild, deserted and beautifulas it gets.
Yet today more than 20 olderpeople have gathered at thisisolated and stunning spot inSizewell, not for the views but to singtheir cares away at the Warden’sCharitable Trust.
It’s a special monthly music sessionorganised for people living withdementia and their carers and
they’ve come from Aldeburgh,Framlingham, Saxmundham,Yoxford and various scatteredvillages in between.
Centre Manager, Bev Levett hasbeen running these afternoons forsome months now and says theresponse has been wonderful.
“Not only have thenumbers been growingbut a whole host ofmusicians have
volunteered and turnedup to help.”
Bev says that for people withAlzheimer’s and other forms ofdementia, music and singing has areally positive transformative effect. It’s also an opportunity for theircarers, who are often very isolatedto get out and socialise.
Vicky Hutchinson, DementiaCommunity Development Officerfor Age UK who helps organisethese sessions said, “Music cantrigger old memories so even forpeople who cannot contribute verymuch they can still sing songs andremember all the words.”
The afternoon includes an incrediblerepertoire of favourite songs - YouAre My Sunshine, Moon River,Streets of London - and althoughthere are numerous song sheetshardly anyone needs them.
As each song starts people’s faceslight up, they sing, they smile andsome even get up and dancearound the room making contactwith people they might not otherwisebe able to communicate with.
Geoff Smith from Aldeburghsupports the group; his wifeMargaret had Alzheimer’s beforeshe died.
“It’s so nice to see people come outand enjoy themselves. I know whatit is to care for someone withdementia and it’s so important thatsessions like this exist because theymake such a difference.”
Sue Bateman from Saxmundhamalso supports the group as a formercarer - both her parents haddementia.
“I came here because Vicky used tosupport both my parents. I cannotsing - I have a voice like a foghorn -but it’s so welcoming and informaland it’s a really enjoyable twohours.”
“Thanks to a grant from SuffolkCommunity Foundation we havebought a second hoist and I’veemployed another carer, LesleyClarke to help so we canaccommodate more people.
“It makes such a difference to havea bath and have a hair wash forthese people and it helps in manyways.
Suffolk Community Foundation hasalso helped towards the cost oftransport on the day too.
Bev has also introduced, with thehelp of ActivLives, sessions whichinvolve various wheelchair games tohelp with mobility.
“Then four times a year we have fishand chips together, which is wellattended. We provide entertainmentand everyone really enjoysthemselves.”
The “Sing Your Cares Away”afternoon sessions have receivedfunding from Suffolk CommunityFoundation’s Leiston and SizewellCommunity Benefit Fund.
A grant was given in October 2015.Niki Rousseau, Community LiaisonOfficer for Sizewell B said: “Thepanel voted unanimously to providefunding to the Warden’s CharitableTrust in Sizewell to host activity daysfor people affected by dementia,their families and carers.
“A grant of £4,928 was given for 16
workshops to provide vital support andinteraction for localpeople who are oftenfaced with socialisolation.”
The Warden’s Centre, originally aprivate museum, was gifted byRichard and Elspeth Gimson to theWarden’s Charitable Trust and isused by disability groups from
across the UK and Suffolk but it isalso a hub for local people as well.
In addition to singing sessions, Bevalso works with social services andolder people and has a bath day onWednesdays for up to 12 people.
“I started doing this because thereare so many people locally who arenot able to get in and out of the bathand we have the facilities.
“People come from Badingham,Wickham Market, Leiston,Saxmundham and Aldeburgh.Some have not had a bath for years.
Giving Back to SuffolkGiving Back to Suf
Giving Back to Suf
folkGiving Back to Suf
folk
M E E T T H E T E A M
[ 0 1 4 7 3 ] 6 0 2 6 0 2
JUDY DOWDevelopment Executive
TIM HOLDERDevelopment Director
ANDREA PITTOCKGrants Manager
JULIE ROSEGrants Officer
JADE WILDINGFinance & Data Officer
MANDY ABDEL-AZIZOperations Director
WENDY HERBERPartnership Development
Manager
HOLLIE MARTINOperations Assistant
LAURA RIPMANEvent Coordinator
STEPHEN SINGLETONChief Executive
• You can set up a named fund to give now, orbuild one over time. Creating this personalfund is an effective and straightforward wayfor you to get directly involved in local giving,without the administrative and legal costs ofsetting up a separate charitable trust.
Your gift can either be invested within ourendowment to provide revenue for grantseach year, or used as ‘flowthrough’ fundingwith the amount given used for grantsannually. Acorn funds are a special type ofendowment fund where you can build upyour gift over a number of years.
• You can make one-off or regular donationsto support our Suffolk Giving Fund or one ofour other themed funds: the Arts andCulture Fund, the Sports Fund or the RuralFund. You may wish to support our SurvivingWinter Campaign. We welcome donationsthat are made in memory of loved ones,which can be made to any of the themedfunds at the Foundation.
• You can leave a gift in your will to set upyour own named fund or to the SuffolkGiving Fund, or one of our other themedfunds.
• You can join one of the Foundation’s givingcircles which is an excellent way to increasethe impact of your donation:
Through the Suffolk 100 Club we are aimingto build a group of 100 leading individualsand businesses committed to supporting thesmall, grassroots community organisations thatwork hard to improve the quality of life forpeople across the county.
The Women and Girls Fund Suffolk is asupportive network of people who care deeplyabout the county, and who would like to putsomething back into the community to helplocal women and girls in need.
If you would like to become involvedwith us in any way, or would like anyinformation on the work of theFoundation please do get in touch orvisit our website:
Tim Holder: [email protected] Dow: [email protected]
Suffolk Community FoundationTel: 01473 602602www.suffolkcf.org.uk
We have invested in the community thanks to people just like you - peoplewho love Suffolk, believe in its future and want to be a part of making it abetter place for all. Your giving can be part of it.
Whether you want to set up a named fund, or join with others in givingaround a shared interest, there are options for everyone which enable you tosupport causes in the way that suits you.
W I T H T H A N K S T O
MORE STORIES OF A BETTER SUFFOLK PROJECT TEAM:
Sharon Teague (Designer) • Tim Holder (Project Lead) • Nicki Mayhew (Project Co-ordinator) • Anne Gould (Editor) • Simon Lee (Photographer)
Also with thanks to Liz Nice, Lynne Mortimer, Rachael Mikulskis, and all ofthe charities and community groups who opened their doors to us andhelped us tell their stories in words and pictures.
PATRONSCountess of Euston, The Lord Lieutenant of SuffolkGareth Wilson, Chief Constable, Suffolk ConstabularyWilliam Kendall, High Sheriff of Suffolk 2016/17The Right Reverend Martin Seeley, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich
VICE PATRONSLord & Lady Cunliffe, Scilla Dyke, Sir Christopher Howes, ChristineJanes, Lord & Lady Stevenson of Coddenham
TRUSTEESJames Buckle (Chairman), Lady Howes (Vice Chair), Peter Newnham (Vice Chair), Jonathan Agar, Selina Hopkins, Iain Jamie, GulshanKayembe, Sir David Rowland, Nigel Smith, The Very Reverend Dr FrancesWard, Neil Walmsley, Terry Ward
With special thanks to all at the CCLA for their generous supportproducing this book.
Education, Research and Story Telling for a Better Suffolk
We thank our supporters who have generously sponsored the above publications.
They have played a vital role in assisting the Foundation in achieving its charitable objectives to uncover need, advance education and encourage partnerships and positive action to improve the lives and well-being of all in Suffolk.
CCLA Investment Management
Coveris
Ipswich Building Society
Leiston Press
Private Donor
Rathbones Investment Management
If you’re not fortunate enough to live in Suffolk, there will be a community foundation in your local area.
Suffolk Community Foundation is one of 46 foundationssupporting their local communities across the UK.
To find out more visit: www.ukcommunityfoundations.org
SUFFOLK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IS A MEMBER OF
Company Registration No. 05369725Charity No. 1109453