Meet the experts
Stephen Skeet
Director of Impact and Business DevelopmentWith over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, Stephen is the Director of Impact and Business Development at Volunteering Matters, a national charity based in Ipswich that enables people to take action on the issues that matter to them. He is passionate about creating positive social impact and empowering young people.
Youth action expert
News
What the government's 'game-changing' new youth strategy means for Ipswich
The government has published its first National Youth Strategy in 15 years, outlining how it plans to give every young person "someone who cares, somewhere to go, and a community they feel part of" through over £500 million of investment over the next decade.by
Oliver Rouane-Williams
Opinion
Student pressure today: Does it create diamonds or burnout?
I know what student pressure feels like – I'm living it. Across the UK, students like me are facing unprecedented levels of pressure, whether that be financial, academic or emotional, and the consequences are becoming impossible to ignore.Opinion
Why this Palace fan hopes Ipswich bounce back to the Premier League
I'm a keen Crystal Palace supporter living in East Suffolk. When Town were relegated from the Premier League last season, I felt an unexpected pang of disappointment – not just for the fans around me, but because it meant the end of a rivalry I'd been looking forward to watching continue. The last time these two sides faced each other in a competitive match was seven years ago. I want them to meet again.Feature
St George's flag: A symbol of pride or division in Ipswich?
When we asked 185 Ipswich residents how the rise of St George's flags made them feel, three-quarters said it represented national pride. But for others, the responses revealed something more troubling, writes student journalist, Kaelyn D’rozario.Feature
Does volunteering actually work for young people?
Volunteering is booming in Ipswich, with organisations like Volunteering Matters pushing it into the spotlight. The question is: does it work? Can giving your time for free really help you navigate an increasingly brutal job market?News
'A reminder of what happens when young people are trusted' - Ipswich celebrates youth changemakers
Ipswich hosted a major celebration of youth social action on Wednesday, 19 November, bringing together 75 local leaders, civic dignitaries and young changemakers to mark the town's national leadership in empowering young people.byOliver Rouane-Williams
Feature
Why local news must stop ignoring its youngest readers, and what we're doing about it
Local journalism has traditionally struggled to engage young people. If we want to shape a town worth staying in, we need to start listening to the people who will inherit it.byOliver Rouane-Williams
News
New platform celebrates young Ipswich changemakers
From litter picks to peer support networks, a new initiative aims to celebrate the often-overlooked contributions young people make to their communities by creating a searchable hub of youth-led action across Ipswich.by
Elouise Lavington
Feature
Making space: How youth-led culture is changing Ipswich
Whilst Westminster debates youth engagement and councils struggle with consultation fatigue, something different is happening in Ipswich. Here, young people aren't waiting for formal invitations to civic life—they're creating their own spaces, literally and figuratively, through dance, film, design, and community action.byElouise Lavington
News
Fire pods and gang awareness workshops grip Ipswich pupils
This year's Crucial Crew featured interactive scenarios on everything from online safety to criminal exploitation, with the smoke-filled Fire Pod proving most popular.byOliver Rouane-Williams
Feature
This is youth power: How Ipswich is leading a national movement
Welcome to the first in a four-part series on Ipswich as the UK’s first Town of Youth Social Action. We'll explore what it means for the town, county, and country, and share our plans on how, as a media outlet, we are committed to giving the young people of our town a voice.byElouise Lavington
News
Suffolk Council commits to giving youth a voice following Ipswich's national recognition
After Ipswich became the UK's first Town of Youth Social Action in 2023, Suffolk County Council has now signed the Power of Youth Charter with ambitions to become the UK's first County of Youth Social Action.byOliver Rouane-Williams
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