Skip to main contentEnter
Join 7,550+ people who care about this town
Ipswich.co.uk logoSupport our work
News

SOS Bus to provide first aid and safe space in Ipswich this Saturday

A mobile first aid post will be stationed near Princes Street bars and clubs from 21:30 to 02:00 on Saturday night to provide assistance to anyone out in the town centre during Fresher's week and the ITFC match.

The SOS Bus in Ipswich
The SOS Bus in Ipswich
(SOS Bus)

Why it matters: The police have requested the SOS Bus charity's presence, as Saturday is anticipated to be a busy night, with Freshers' Week and the East Anglian Derby.

The details: The Newmarket-based charity will park near bars and clubs in Princes Street, offering trained first aiders and first responders alongside essential equipment and support services.

  • The bus carries a defibrillator and naloxone for overdose treatment, as well as water, flip flops, feminine hygiene products and mobile charging facilities.

  • Bars and clubs can contact the SOS Bus directly on 07496 366322 if they need assistance during the evening.

What they're saying: John Borda, chair of the SOS Bus charity, said the service acts as "a first aid post and safe space that regularly looks after anyone affected by the night-time economy."

For context: The SOS Bus is a registered charity that provides mobile first aid and support services during busy nights in town and city centres. The organisation has previously operated in Ipswich and returns this weekend due to the expected high footfall from both Freshers' week activities and the football match.

The bottom line: Anyone out in Ipswich town centre on Saturday night will have access to free first aid, emergency treatment and a safe space if needed, with the service specifically positioned to support what police expect to be one of the busiest nights of the year.

It cost us ~£13 to cover this story

You can read it for free thanks to the generous support of Ipswich School and Ellisons Solicitors

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

GP contract promises faster care – but will it deliver for Ipswich?

The government says a new GP contract will guarantee same-day urgent appointments and boost childhood vaccination rates, but the British Medical Association has warned it risks creating "unrealistic expectations" given how stretched services already are.
by
Continue reading →
News

Teen found guilty of the manslaughter of Andrew Roche

A teenage boy has been found guilty of the manslaughter of Andrew Roche, 42, following an altercation in the Whitehouse area of Ipswich last summer.
by
Continue reading →
News

Suffolk County Council approves plan for two joint chief executives

Suffolk County Council has approved plans to appoint two joint chief executives to lead the authority through local government reorganisation, following the departure of current chief executive Nicola Beach at the end of March.
by
Continue reading →
News

Lovisa opening marks second tenant for revived Grimwades building

Global fashion jewellery brand Lovisa has opened in the former Grimwades building on the Cornhill, becoming the second ground-floor tenant in the landmark property that sat empty for over a decade before the council acquired the building using Towns Fund money.
by
Continue reading →
News

New exhibition to celebrate disability history

A new exhibition exploring the lives, achievements and challenges of disabled people in Suffolk opens at The Hold in Ipswich on Thursday, 27 February 2026.
by
Continue reading →
Feature

'You might just save that person's life': Students take on 24-hour CPR marathon

More than 50 University of Suffolk paramedic students are performing continuous CPR for 24 hours to demonstrate that using the yellow and green defibrillator boxes found across Ipswich is straightforward, with the ambulance service providing step-by-step guidance to anyone who calls 999.
by
Continue reading →
News

Council approves £38m aquatics centre plan

Ipswich Borough Council has approved a £38 million aquatics centre as part of its £70 million four-year capital programme – but questions are already being raised about whether it will ever be built.
byand
Continue reading →
Feature

Suffolk's aging population faces predatory marriage threat

As Suffolk's population grows older, local legal experts are warning families about a disturbing trend that could rob vulnerable relatives of their life savings through marriages designed purely for financial gain. New data reveals widespread public concern about gaps in current inheritance laws that leave elderly people exposed to exploitation.
by
Continue reading →
Load more content
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
7,550+ people are already loving it