Women's self-defence to pickleball: Ipswich secures £1m to get residents active

Why it matters: The funding will allow the Ipswich Place Partnership to build on a first year of work aimed at helping residents in some of the town's most under-active communities lead healthier lives.

The details: Ipswich was selected as one of Sport England's 53 Place Partnerships in 2025, with Whitton, Gainsborough, Belstead Hills and the surrounding areas identified as priority areas.

Since then, six Community Connectors have spoken to more than 500 individuals, organisations and communities across Ipswich about their experience of physical activity and how living in the town affects this.

That feedback has shaped a series of test-and-learn projects, including:

• Women's self-defence sessions
• Pickleball for Chantry Academy students
• Football sessions for children with special educational needs
• Community open events at local social and sports clubs

The partnership has also supported local community groups through regular opportunities to connect, share learning and train together.

What they're saying: Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Sport England's executive director for partnerships and place, said: "Ipswich has shown what can happen when you listen to communities and turn what you hear into action with them. This next £1 million of investment gives the partnership a real opportunity to reach even more people facing barriers to being active.

"By working with local people and partners, we can create lasting change and make it easier for more people across Ipswich to be active, connected and healthy."

Tom Wright, Active Suffolk's development officer for place in Ipswich, said: "Working in Ipswich to understand what local residents need to be able to access and enjoy physical activity has been such an insightful experience so far, and I really want to thank both our community connectors and all of the extremely committed locally trusted partners that we've worked with so far to engage in those needed conversations with our communities."

Councillor Stefan Long, Ipswich Borough Council's portfolio holder for environment and sport, said: "We already have so much positive work happening within our communities, and this Place Partnership will help us build on those foundations – supporting local people, organisations and networks to grow what's already working well, so that Ipswich continues to thrive as an active and connected town."

For context: Sport England is a public body that invests up to £300m of National Lottery and government money each year in projects to help people get active. Tackling inequalities is central to its 10-year Uniting the Movement strategy, with a focus on people who are inactive and groups typically less active, including women, disabled people and those on lower incomes.

Active Suffolk, the Active Partnership for Suffolk, currently runs place-based work in Babergh & Mid Suffolk, East Suffolk, West Suffolk and Ipswich.

The bottom line: With community consultation shaping everything from self-defence classes to pickleball courts, Ipswich's Place Partnership says the fresh £1m will let it reach even more residents facing barriers to being active.

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