Putting young people at the heart of our town’s future.
Ipswich is a town full of creativity, culture and community spirit. From grassroots activity to established cultural organisations, there is already so much happening that brings people together and gives the town its character.
The UK City of Culture bid offers an opportunity to build on that energy and, importantly, to think about how the future of Ipswich can be shaped with young people, not just for them.
At Inspire, we believe the strongest communities are created when young people are listened to and involved. The themes behind the bid closely reflect what young people tell us matters most: feeling connected to where they live, having access to spaces that feel welcoming and safe, and knowing their ideas and experiences count.
Andy Crump, CEO of Inspire, shared his support for the bid and the wider opportunity it creates for the town:
“This is a chance to bring people together around a shared pride in Ipswich and to create a joined up vision for the town, driven by young people.”
The bid itself creates space for conversation, collaboration and imagination across the town. It gives Ipswich a platform to celebrate what already exists here and to think confidently about how culture, creativity and community can continue to grow, with young people playing a central role in shaping what comes next.
For us, that means continuing to champion youth voice, supporting young people to share their ideas and experiences, and working alongside partners who believe that culture, community and opportunity should be accessible to everyone.
We’re proud to be backing the bid and to stand alongside those who want to see young people playing a meaningful role in shaping the future of Ipswich.
