Skip to main contentEnter
Purposeful journalism for people who care about our town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our work
News

Architects skydive and cycle 250 miles in record charity year

KLH Architects staff jumped out of planes, cycled through the Netherlands and climbed Welsh peaks in a year of fundraising that delivered a record £35,330 for Inspire, an Ipswich charity supporting young people's mental health.

Group of people
KLH Architects cycled 250 miles through Netherlands for Inspire charity
(KLH Architects)

Why it matters: The money will fund mental health counselling sessions and skills training programmes for young people who need support when life feels tough. Inspire works with more than 7,000 under-25s every year across Suffolk.

The details: The firm's 'Big Charity Year' began with a golf day at Seckford Hall before ramping up in May when team members Vanessa and Lewis strapped on parachutes for a tandem skydive at Beccles Airfield. The challenges escalated with a three-day, 250-mile cycling expedition through the Netherlands, then scaled new heights with the Welsh Three Peaks. The fundraising marathon concluded in December with an Oktoberfest party at Inspire's dome venue in Lindbergh Road, where 400 guests celebrated the team's efforts.

Group of people
KLH Architects presented Inspire with record £35,330 from fundraising year(KLH Architects)

What they're saying: Bryan Wybrow, director of KLH Architects, said: "The team spirit that has evolved as we've taken part in our charity events is a credit to our team and is recognised in the amazing sum we've been able to donate."

Andy Crump, chief executive of Inspire, said: "This support is about so much more than the money. It will give young people access to the mental health support they need when life feels tough. It will help them build the skills and confidence for work and independence."

Group of people
400 guests celebrated KLH's fundraising efforts at Oktoberfest party(Pagepix)

For context: Inspire is a Suffolk charity dedicated to empowering under 25s to achieve a better future. The £35,330 raised by KLH Architects represents the highest amount the firm's team has ever raised for its annual charity of the year.

The bottom line: A year of ambitious fundraising challenges by an Ipswich architecture firm will fund counselling sessions and skills programmes helping young people across Suffolk build confidence and face whatever comes next.

It cost us ~£21 to cover this story

You can read it for free thanks to the generous support of Kingsfleet and Lanman Solar

Despite a lack of promotion, the big reveal drew a good crowd of passersby

We're regenerating Ipswich – but we can't do it without you!

People tell us every day that our work matters – that it's making Ipswich better; that it's needed. But our work costs money, and unlike the Ipswich Star, we're not funded by national advertisers or owned by corporate US overlords. For just £4.75 a month, you can help fund our mission to restore pride of place and accelerate the much-needed regeneration of the town we call home.
Become a member →

In other news...

News

Ipswich launches campaign to unite town behind City of Culture bid

Ipswich has launched a major public campaign urging residents, businesses and organisations to show their support for the town's bid to become UK City of Culture 2029, with just one month until the submission deadline on 8th February 2026.
by
Continue reading →
News

Chess bus tackling loneliness seeks Ipswich venue

A social enterprise that uses mini chess to tackle loneliness and social isolation needs help finding an Ipswich venue for a community event on 22 January, just under two weeks away.
by
Continue reading →
News

99-year-old Fox's Marina sold to Essex marine business

One of Ipswich's longest-established boatyards has changed hands after more than 40 years, with Fox's Marina & Boatyard sold to Essex-based Morgan Marine, but continuing to operate under the same name with the same team and prices.
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
0:00
0:00
Our journalism is free thanks to
Our journalism is free thanks to
Want our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday?

Have you subscribed to our free weekly newsletter?

If you haven’t, you really should. You’ll get our best content delivered to your inbox every Friday afternoon, just in time for the weekend. You can unsubscribe at any time, although 99.7% of people don’t.

  • Lee Walker
  • Joe Bailey of Brighten the Corners
  • Mark Hubert
6,970+ people are already loving it