How the Wolsey 550 project has transformed local history education in Ipswich

The big picture: The Thomas Wolsey 550 project has reached more than 6,400 students across 44 schools, using the cardinal's life story to spark ambition and creativity in Ipswich's young people.

Why it matters: More than 60 partner organisations and 70 volunteers came together to deliver the 18-month heritage project that has:

• Given Ipswich schools a new way to engage students with local history
• Provided nearly £30,000 in community grants to support heritage activities
• Created partnerships between schools, businesses and cultural organisations
• Helped gather valuable insights about how local people view and value Ipswich's heritage
• Set the foundation for future heritage projects in the town

Key events included:

• A heritage parade featuring 350 primary school pupils
• An exhibition at The Hold displaying Wolsey artefacts
• A touring exhibition that visited major events including Latitude festival
• Career workshops across various sectors
• Digital projects where students recreated Tudor Ipswich through gaming

What they're saying: "Quite simply, this has been one of the best projects I've ever been involved in," says Thomas Wolsey 550 Chairman Terry Hunt. "The outputs I've seen have gone way beyond our expectations."

Going deeper: A new ten-minute video and 90-page report capture the project's achievements. "The film is a joyful, uplifting record of an incredible 18 months," says Lee Walker, CEO of Ipswich Central. "The statistics really pack a punch for what has been achieved in a relatively short space of time."

Looking ahead: The project's success has secured additional funding to continue its educational programme until March 2025, thanks to Suffolk County Council's Ipswich Investment fund.

The bottom line: Project organisers are now using insights gained from the past 18 months to prepare plans for a larger heritage initiative, with a lottery funding application expected before summer 2025.