Opportunities for young people Archives

Meeting Inspire Suffolk CEO

August 21, 2023 0 Comments by Chris in Education Opportunities for young people

Today I met with Terry Baxter, the CEO of Inspire Suffolk, after the great news that they received £1,360,512 of new funding from the Government established Youth Investment Fund. I have visited Inspire Suffolk many times over my time as MP for Ipswich and seen the important work they do in creating a safe space for youth development. I have previously shown two Minister’s this amazing local charity, most recently Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, Mims Davies MP and previously Vicky Ford MP has visited who at the time was Minister for Children and Families. The new investment shows that the Government have acknowledged the great work Inspire are doing in regards to supporting the fitness and mental well-being of Suffolk.

Inspire will be using a section of their money on refurbishing their current facilities, to better support their work and to give them the tools to support young people. The investment will enable them to build a youth-focused indoor space and facilities, where young people can feel safe to play or hang out, alongside being able to employ more youth workers.

This investment will allow them to take a more holistic approach to youth development. Not just covering education and employable skills but also mental health and creating a safe space for people to socialise. Allowing people to be more rounded and not just helped at surface level. Priory Heath ward is in the 10% most deprived wards in the country, showing how important and necessary this new funding is.

It makes complete sense to not only focus on young people’s educational training and skills in achieving a career, but also giving young people the tools and support to handle mental health issues.

Suffolk University has also put £1.5 million into the sporting facilities at Inspire Suffolk, so the ward and the University will have access these sport fields.

It is great to hear that the digger will be starting on the field in two weeks and the work on Inspire Suffolk is planned to start in November. I look forward to Inspire Suffolk continuing to help our youth and giving them the necessary life skills to thrive and succeed.

Suffolk Devolution deal

December 8, 2022 0 Comments by Chris in Education Infrastructure Local Economy Opportunities for young people

The Suffolk Devolution deal was officially agreed with Government Minister Lee Rowley this afternoon. This involves a significant amount of new funding for Suffolk and powers. Particularly over skills and things like adult education. It will include a £480 million investment fund over 30 years.

This does represent in my view an opportunity for Suffolk and Ipswich. It must be taken.
In principle I’ve always believed in decisions being taken as closely as possible to the people affected by those decisions.

Suffolk will only ever achieve its true potential if Ipswich achieves its true potential. The new devolution settlement for Suffolk must involve a strong focus on Ipswich. I will work with whoever I need to in order to try and ensure that.

I’m hoping this new model will help us get more investment into key infrastructure projects. Whether road or rail. There is much to be done.

Part of this will involve a new democratically elected leader of Suffolk County Council.

Northgate Sport Centre Summer Camp

August 9, 2022 0 Comments by Chris in Education Opportunities for young people

This morning I visited the Northgate Sport Centre Summer Camp to hear more about the IBC Summer Holiday iCard activities for local Ipswich pupils. I met with the Sports and Leisure Service Manager at Ipswich Borough Council, Bella, who showed me around the camp. They have 50-60 users on a daily basis with the iCard Summer Holiday camp being offered for free to any eligible children between 5-16 years old who live between postcodes IP1-IP4.

This is a fun way for Ipswich pupils to fill their summer holidays with sporting activities such as football, gymnastics, basketball and trampolining. I was pleased to see that archery was also being offered with adjustments made for children with disabilities. Bella explained how they are working with charities to deliver sport activities, including some meant specially to support children with disabilities.

I continue to be incredibly supportive of any way to incorporate sports to all pupils, including those with special educational needs. This iCard programme incorporates both socialising with friends, with sporting activities and healthy exercise and whilst there it was clear to see how much pupils were enjoying the variety of activities.

Levelling Up Fund

July 15, 2022 0 Comments by Chris in Opportunities for young people

The Levelling Up Fund bid from Ipswich Borough Council is also looking to upgrade Gainsborough Sports Centre and Gainsborough Gymnastics Centre. As it stands, the centre attracts a large number of users but the facilities aren’t up to scratch.

Community assets like the Gainsborough Sports Centre make sport and exercise accessible and play a huge role in getting people fit and active. We all know the health benefits associated with this, so upgrades to make the sports centre more usable and attractive would have significant benefits for the Town.

The sports centre upgrades will bring 8 sports courts, facilitating mass participation, as well as a health and wellbeing hub and exercise studios. With new high-grade sports pitches for football, Gainsborough Sports Centre will be hosting not only sport and exercise but also community events.

If the bid is accepted, the gym will be made 4 times bigger. This is a significant set of upgrades when it comes to ensuring community access to fitness, and I will by pushing Ministers to see the benefits of this project for Ipswich.

Queens Speech Reaction

May 10, 2022 0 Comments by Chris in Crime Education Health Immigration Infrastructure Misc Opportunities for young people Uncategorized

A few thoughts on the Queen’s speech. Will be making a speech about it on Thursday. It was an amazing experience being in the Royal gallery but sorry not to see the Queen who I know we’re all thinking about at the moment.

Ipswich BMX track

September 12, 2021 0 Comments by Chris in Local Economy Opportunities for young people

Was great to be at Ipswich BMX track yesterday on Landseer Park. It’s grand reopening after months of work to redevelop the track. It’s been transformed making the track an even greater asset to the local community and Town as a whole.

Tracey Reeve and others have done a great job leading the fundraising efforts. British Cycling made the major contribution here and it was clear when I met with them how much importance they place on supporting grass roots clubs such as Ipswich BMX Club. Ipswich Borough Council also made a contribution and the hope is that the £25 million we got as part of the Town Deal can also make a small contribution to further enhance the facilities.

Clearly excellent resources such as Ipswich BMX track are great from the perspective of encouraging physical exercise but it also gives young people in the area something very positive to get involved in and aspire towards. Potentially even keeping them out of trouble.

As you will know, the track sits at the heart of the Gainsborough community where there are pockets of significant deprivation.

Levelling Up Agenda

May 25, 2021 0 Comments by Chris in Local Economy Opportunities for young people

This morning I asked a question to Kwasi Kwarteng MP, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. I told him that my constituents want to know and want to have a firm commitment from the Government that the levelling up agenda doesn’t just cover the North and the Midlands but also Ipswich.

Of course we have got £25million from the Town Deal which goes some way to assuaging concerns however I asked if the Secretary of State agreed with me that the skills improvement plan pilot bid from Norfolk and Suffolk could be a fantastic example to prove to the people of Ipswich that we are at the heart of the levelling up agenda. I also asked if he will he engage with the Department for Education about the possibility of this pilot scheme, which of course would also feed the new Freeport East which is going to be in Felixstowe which already employs 6,000 of my constituents but could employ many more.

Kwasi Kwarteng responded by acknowledging the Town Deal and that fact that clear skills is the core of any levelling up agenda and there are great ideas in Ipswich and great things being promoted in East Anglia so he hopes to engage with me on some of these.

Local Homes for Local People

April 30, 2021 0 Comments by Chris in Infrastructure Opportunities for young people

Despite calling for one for the last 2 years it’s a shame that the local Labour Party refuse to introduce a proper local residency requirement for council housing. Local people get slight preference, that’s it as it stands.

What we need is a firm policy. Local Conservatives are proposing a new system that would mean you would have to live in Ipswich for at least 6 years before you’re eligible. They’ve studied other local authorities who have done this. No reason why we can’t do it here in Ipswich.

There is a long waiting list in the thousands for council properties. Let’s properly back local residents for all properties.

The Town Deal

March 9, 2021 0 Comments by Chris in Local Economy Opportunities for young people Town Centre

Today I asked a question to the Chancellor about how the Town Deal and the new Freeport East together will be vital to the creation of new local skills in Ipswich and will therefore be crucial to supporting local businesses.

Through the Town Deal we have initiatives such as the creation of a new Tech Campus and Sustainable Construction Centre based in Suffolk New College, as well the Academy of Yacht Building based on the Island Site which will focus on skills that will lead directly into new jobs.

On top of this, we have the new Freeport East which will progress the levelling up of skills-based jobs in the local area. This Freeport is only one of eight nationally, and that includes airports such as East Midlands Airport. The Freeport East enables us to build a global trade hub on our doorstep providing a great opportunity for local manufacturing businesses. The area will be exempt from import taxes on goods which are not destined for the UK and it will therefore be an attractive draw to manufacturing businesses which can import materials tax free before exporting their products elsewhere. At this time, we are not 100 per cent sure how wide exactly the Freeport area will be, but I want it to be as extensive as possible. It also provides a further incentive for infrastructure improvements which will benefit our county more generally.

The Chancellor agreed that the Town Deal money and the Freeport East will together provide a boost for Ipswich, delivering growth, jobs, and prosperity and he noted my efforts in long campaigning for both the Town Deal and the Freeport for our town.

The Budget

March 4, 2021 0 Comments by Chris in Infrastructure Local Economy Opportunities for young people Town Centre

On the whole, I think this is a really good budget for Ipswich. Clearly there are two items that are specific to Ipswich and the local area that stand out. Firstly, the £25 million that was announced for the Ipswich Town Deal that will fund 11 projects across the Town. These projects have now been confirmed having previously gone out for public consultation and I look forward to working closely with Dr Dan Poulter and other members of the Town Deal Board to turn these projects into a reality and a positive legacy for the Town.

Having Freeport East confirmed as one of the first freeports in the country was also great news. All in all, around 6,000 of my constituents are either directly or indirectly employed by the Port of Felixstowe and I’m very excited about what the implications of the Port being a freeport could mean for skills, jobs and investment in the area.

More generally however, I was also very pleased to see the significant amount of new support for businesses. Particularly the hospitality sector that has been so badly impacted by the pandemic. The recovery grants and the positive news regarding VAT, business rates and duties may well end up being a lifeline for many.

I signed a few letters ahead of the budget with other MPs. I signed one calling for the £20 increase in Universal Credit to be extended for as long as the pandemic and its effects go on for. I’m pleased it was confirmed today that the increase has been extended for 6 months. I also signed a letter calling for fuel duty to be frozen. I’m pleased that it was confirmed today that it has been frozen for a record 10th consecutive year.

I also believe that the decision to extend the furlough scheme until the autumn is wise. Hopefully by the time it ends, the economy will have had a good few months to really kick off following the end of the restrictions and we can safeguard as many of those jobs as possible.

Clearly, over the coming years the Chancellor is going to have to make a number of tough decisions to repay the huge debts we’ve incurred fighting this pandemic. He made a start today in outlining some of the ways he plans to do this. However, I was pleased that in outlining his approach to increasing Corporation Tax over time he is acutely sensitive to the need to not hit smaller businesses.

Category: Opportunities for young people