Ipswich Secures £1 Million Sport England Boost to Help Residents Get Active

There’s brilliant news for our town as Ipswich Borough Council has secured a fantastic further investment of approximately £1 million from Sport England. This funding is dedicated to supporting residents right across Ipswich to lead healthier, happier, and more active lives.

This major boost will allow the Ipswich Place Partnership to build on the incredible successes of its very first year. By taking an innovative, community-led approach, the partnership is working hard to improve physical activity levels and tackle health inequalities in our local neighbourhoods.

Putting Local Communities First

Back in 2025, Ipswich was proudly selected as one of Sport England’s 53 Place Partnerships. A special focus has been placed on helping people in Whitton, Gainsborough, Belstead Hills, and their surrounding neighbourhoods.

The beauty of this programme is that it brings together local organisations, community groups, and everyday residents to identify—and break down—the barriers that stop people from enjoying physical activity.

During the partnership’s first year, six dedicated Community Connectors worked tirelessly across the town. They engaged with more than 500 residents and local groups to truly understand people’s real-life experiences with physical activity, listening to the unique challenges and opportunities tied to where they live.

Activities Tailored to You

The invaluable insights gathered from our community have already helped shape a fantastic range of initiatives designed around what local people actually want and need. Highlights have included:

• Empowering women’s self-defence sessions.
• Exciting Pickleball opportunities for students at Chantry Academy.
• Inclusive football sessions for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
• Fun, accessible community events at our local sports and social clubs.

Alongside these amazing projects, the partnership has continued to champion local organisations through networking, shared learning, and training programmes. This means stronger local services and even more chances for residents to get moving in ways that suit them.

What the Partners Say

Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Sport England’s Executive Director for Partnerships and Place, is thrilled by the progress: “Ipswich has shown what can happen when you listen to communities and turn what you hear into action with them. This next £1 million of investment gives the partnership a real opportunity to reach even more people facing barriers to being active. By working with local people and partners, we can create lasting change and make it easier for more people across Ipswich to be active, connected, and healthy.”

Tom Wright, Active Suffolk’s Development Officer for Place in Ipswich, highlights the community impact: “Working in Ipswich to understand what local residents need to be able to access and enjoy physical activity has been such an insightful experience. Building on, reflecting on, and taking action around what we’ve been hearing from our communities has been crucial. We know that getting active is one of the best ways anyone can improve their overall health, and I’m excited to continue working with our partners to bring positive change to even more local communities in our town.”

Councillor Stefan Long, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sport, added: “This investment is fantastic news for Ipswich and a real recognition of the strength of partnership working across the town. We already have so much positive work happening within our communities, and this Place Partnership will help us build on those foundations. By working alongside our communities, we can create more opportunities for residents to be active in ways that feel accessible, welcoming, and meaningful to them.”

Here at Ipswich.love, we are absolutely delighted to see such a strong commitment to the wellbeing of our town. Whether you’re trying a new sport, enjoying a walk in your local park, or joining a community club, this funding means there will be more opportunities than ever to get active your way.

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