Have you got an Open Heart?

At Ipswich.love, we love our red heart logo and brand, putting the love back in to Ipswich,  and so when we saw new green hearts appearing in the Town, we were intrigued 💚.

We popped in to ‘Fresh Start’ in Carr Street to chat to Angela Gregg, the Founder.

Fresh Start Charity’s Ipswich programme works with young adults aged 16-24 that are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET), teaching them valuable and transferable skills in both the hospitality and retail sectors.  Since opening the Ipswich Shop and Cafe in May 2022,  Fresh start has  helped over 30 young adults to participate in the training  programme. The young people passing through the training are encouraged to write a review of their experience with the Charity.  Some of them can be read here:  Our Fresh Start Champions | Fresh Start Charity

Fresh Start offers one free kid’s meal with every adult meal purchased during the school holidays.

As well as Fresh start, the Team has also started a service called the ‘Open Heart Campaign’ .  Imagine you’re really upset or angry, overwhelmed and no where to turn to?   It can feel like a lot to handle, right?  The idea is that when someone is wearing a green Open Heart Pin, it indicates that they are happy to talk to you and help to learn how to express and talk about those feelings. Once you can put your emotions into words, you can figure out better ways to deal with how you’re feeling.  This is called social-emotional learning, and it’s pretty incredible!

Purchasing and wearing the Green Open Heart pin is a symbol that you are open to talking and listening and signposting someone who is struggling with their mental health.  It does not mean that you are a professional who can give advice.

Pins and more information are available from Fresh Start in 29-31 Carr Street, IP4 1HA.

Fresh Start Charity is looking for volunteers to work in the Ipswich Shop. If you are someone who would be willing to sort through our donations of clothes and bric-a-brac, then please get in touch.  If you have DIY skills and can put flat-pack furniture together, or utilise spare pieces of furniture to create new furniture, that would be a huge help.  In return they offer a great atmosphere, free lunch prepared by the young people and hot drinks – it’s a way to meet new people of all ages and do something special to help your local community.  If you feel that you might help, do contact the team by visiting the shop, or emailing the team at [email protected]

Who wrote this about Ipswich?

Sam Sherman

Sam is a Co-Founder of Ipswich.love. Passionate about Ipswich, Sam looks to see how we might jointly reverse some of the recent negativity and bring some deserved positivity back to our beloved Town.