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Charity seeks £4,000 funding boost to help SEND families in North West Ipswich

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A Suffolk charity is requesting nearly £4,000 in funding to expand its support for families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in north west Ipswich. The North West Area Committee will consider the application at a meeting on Thursday 7 November at 7.00pm.

The big picture: Families Together Suffolk has applied to the North West Area Committee for £3,957.75 to increase their SEND coordinator's working hours by three hours per week.

The coordinator currently sees around six families weekly, and the expansion would allow them to support at least two more families each week to "help alleviate deprivation relating to Health and Disability."

Shakespeare Road in Whitton, Ipswich
Shakespeare Road in Whitton, which is in the top 10% of deprived neighbourhoods in England, according to Families Together SuffolkOliver Rouane-WilliamsIpswich.co.uk

Why it matters:

  • The charity currently supports 18 SEND families across Ipswich, with the highest concentration of need in the north west area.

  • Areas of Whitton and Castle Hill are among the most deprived neighbourhoods in England, according to the charity.

  • There are over 7,000 young people in Suffolk with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), representing a 200% increase since 2014.

What they're saying: Recent feedback from families using the service highlights its impact. One parent said: "[The SEND Coordinator] helped me to feel more confident and get the support I needed for my son and for myself and helped me fill in forms that I didn't understand."

What's next: The North West Area Committee will make a decision on the funding request at their meeting on Thursday 7 November. If successful, the expanded service would:

  • Support 3-6 additional families in north west Ipswich

  • Benefit between 12-24 people directly

  • Focus on areas including Castle Hill, White House and Whitton

The bottom line: The charity says many families they support in north west Ipswich are lone parents, unemployed and without personal transport, making their free home-visiting service an essential lifeline for those navigating SEND support services.

Attwells staff outside their Ipswich office

An award-winning local law firm

Rated as "Excellent" on Review Solicitors with an impressive 4.8/5 on Feefo.

Attwells staff outside their Ipswich office

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Computer scientist son of micro-brewery owner first to complete Ipswich pub trail

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Adam Littler, a 23-year-old computer scientist whose parents were brewers, has become the first person to complete both Sip'Swich drinks trails, visiting all 15 venues in just two days.

Why it matters: The Sip'Swich trails, organised by Ipswich Central  in conjunction with Ipswich Borough Council, aim to showcase the town's brilliant selection of pubs and bars to a wider audience, helping people discover new venues they've never visited before.

The big picture: Littler, who moved to Ipswich six months ago, was awarded a limited edition Sip'Swich reusable cup and received a surprise £50 voucher from men's retailer James St. Peter's for being the first to complete both trails.

Mark Hubert of James St. Peters presenting Adam Littler with his voucher
Mark Hubert of James St. Peters presenting Adam Littler with his voucherIpswich Central

What they're saying: "Having moved to Ipswich six months ago and loving a drink with friends, when I saw the trails being promoted in the local paper newsfeed it was right up my street as something to do!" Littler said.

By the numbers: The ambitious pub-goer visited 13 venues on Saturday 8 March before returning to complete the final two a couple of days later. He collected his prize less than a week after the trails launched.

The details: As a computer scientist with brewing in his blood, Littler scored each location on a 1-10 scale rating for enjoyment of the drink, price and atmosphere.

"The Arbor House and Crafty Fox were two venues that I was really impressed with for their friendly and knowledgeable staff plus recommendations they made. The Arbor House was an unexpected gem that I'd go back to, and, the Crafty Fox had a really lovely vibe about it," he said.

To make the challenge more interesting, Littler had a different type of drink in every venue, including wine at Boom Battle Bar, a cocktail at Cosy Club and a spirit at The Black Horse Inn.

Adam Littler sitting in a cafe
Adam Littler was the first to complete the Sip'Swich trailAdam Littler

What's next: Littler plans to do the trail again with another group of friends so his girlfriend can also win a reusable cup. Meanwhile, the trails will run until the end of April or when all prizes have been claimed.

Lee Walker  from Ipswich Central said:

Ipswich is so lucky to have an incredible range of pubs and bars each with their own character and ambience. We devised Sip'Swich as a way of showcasing those places to a wider audience.

The bottom line: Further special prizes will be awarded over the coming weeks, including a voucher for a brewery tour donated by the Briarbank Brewery. Details and trail cards can be downloaded from www.allaboutIpswich.com/sipswich or collected from any of the 15 participating venues.

Attwells staff outside their Ipswich office

An award-winning local law firm

Rated as "Excellent" on Review Solicitors with an impressive 4.8/5 on Feefo.

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