'People just want to talk': What the suicide bus heard in Ipswich

Why it matters: When the 5asideCHESS Battling Suicide Bus, which tours the country tackling loneliness, stopped outside the Town Hall, the feedback revealed a community struggling with isolation and searching for practical ways to reconnect.

What they're saying: Ross Smith, co-founder of 5asideCHESS, a social enterprise tackling loneliness and suicide prevention, said a common theme throughout the day was that people wanted to feel more pride in their town but were "finding it difficult other than when Ipswich Town FC win a match".

Suggestions ranged from practical improvements, such as "more bins to keep streets cleaner", to converting empty shops into warm spaces where people can gather "without pressure to spend". Many emphasised creating safe spaces with activities for young people.

One 19-year-old told the organisers: "Act to engage young people positively and give them something to be involved with rather than reacting when they do bad things out of boredom. Prevention is better than cure."

One visitor, David, 64, "loved how different people had gathered to try and solve the chess puzzle together despite not knowing each other at the beginning".

Ross added: "As he said, Ipswich has a multicultural population which should be positive but people are frightened of each other because there is nothing to draw them together. Doing activities together helps to break down barriers."

The big picture: Ross said loneliness emerged as a recurring theme throughout the event on Thursday, 22 January, with some passers-by telling organisers "they just needed someone to talk to". The bus itself is covered in hundreds of messages written by people who have lost loved ones to suicide or who have been in a dark place themselves – a visible reminder of why this work matters.

For context: The 5asideCHESS Battling Suicide Bus, a social enterprise founded in 2015 by Smith and business partner Ian McKay, uses chess as an 'international language' to break down social barriers and get people talking. The organisation previously visited Ipswich Cornhill in 2023, and this event served as a warm-up ahead of a planned UK-wide tour later this year.

The bottom line: People have spoken about isolation, fear and lack of pride in their town. The Battling Suicide Bus has moved on, but these issues remain for Ipswich to address.

Learn more about the social enterprise