> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Young Ipswich residents help shape £40m community regeneration plans - URL: https://www.ipswich.co.uk/young-ipswich-residents-help-shape-40m-community-regeneration-plans/ - Published: 2026-08-18T09:30:27.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-18T09:30:27.000Z - Description: Young people from Whitehouse, Stoke Park and Chantry came together last Wednesday, 12 August, to share their views on how £40m of government funding should be spent in their neighbourhoods, as part of the Pride in Place programme. - Author: Nicola Sebastian - Tags: News, Pride in Place Programme, Volunteering Matters, iWill Movement, Community Impact, Community Hub Ipswich (CHIp) **Why it matters:** The two areas are each set to receive £20m of funding over the next decade through the government's Pride in Place programme, with residents deciding how the money is spent. Youth collaborators are being asked to share their views on what their areas need. **The details:** The session took place at CHIp Hub on Princes Street on Wednesday, 12 August, and was organised by Volunteering Matters as part of the #iWill movement. It focused on branding and content creation, with young people encouraged to discuss what already exists in their areas, where they spend their time, and what they would like to see change. **The big picture:** Much of the discussion centred on parks and green spaces. Young people said their areas had no shortage of parks, but recognised there were few venues for them to actually spend time in. Youth clubs also came up repeatedly, with the collaborators saying it was often the branding of youth clubs that put them off attending, rather than a lack of interest. **For context:** Young people said there were not many events in their areas, however pointed to a festival-style celebration for Jamaica's 63rd anniversary of independence, held at Bourne Vale Social Club in Bourne Park on Saturday, 8 August, as an example of the kind of event they enjoyed. The "Summer Colours" event gave them a chance to be around other young people, and they said they would like to see more like it. Collaborators also took part in a collaging activity, using magazines to create images of what they think Ipswich and their areas should look like. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/29/1e/291e4b7f-e551-4458-b546-61963954b22f/content/images/2026/08/IMG_3698-1-1.jpeg) Collaborators took part in collaging activities (Photo: Nicola Sebastian/Ipswich.co.uk) **What they're saying:** Suzanne Chung, town of social action engagement lead at Volunteering Matters, said the session was designed to give young people a role in shaping Pride in Place: "The session was about branding and content creation because we want the youth collaborators to be involved with shaping Pride in Place overall. The youth collaborators will be involved with community engagement and finding out where people want the £20 mil to go." She said the sessions had already revealed generational differences in how young people see their neighbourhoods: "It's been interesting to hear different perceptions of local areas; for example, if we take Whitehouse Park, there were differing opinions even amongst the youth collaborators. Adults feel like it's a safe place but younger people – especially teenagers – don't think this is the case." **What's next:** The youth collaborators will continue attending community events to gather residents' views on how the £40m should be spent across Whitehouse and Stoke Park and Chantry. **The bottom line:** With £40m of long-term investment heading to their neighbourhoods, young people in Whitehouse, Stoke Park and Chantry are being given a direct say in what changes – and they point to: better-branded youth clubs, more places to go, and more events that bring young people together. --- **Don't forget:** If you enjoy our content, please [add Ipswich.co.uk as a "preferred source" on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) so you can easily find more of the content you value. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=ipswich.co.uk&ref=ipswich.co.uk) --- ### This article cost us \~£80 to produce It's free for you to read thanks to the generous support of our two community impact partners: local contractor [Barnes Construction](https://barnesconstruction.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk), and flat roof waterproofing and design firm [Axter](https://axter.co.uk/?ref=ipswich.co.uk). Please support us by supporting them.