The local Ipswich based charity ActivLives celebrates its 20th year anniversary of offering inclusive and accessible exercise, sports, nature and garden programmes and specialist hubs in the local communities in Suffolk. The Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Pat Bruce-Browne, joined the celebration together with the charity’s members, volunteers, staff and supporters at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Kesgrave Community Centre on 15th September 2026.
CEO Julie Stokes shared at the AGM how the charity has been supporting local communities in Suffolk.
“ActivLives has 46 weekly sessions, alongside a range of amazing projects and services supporting some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people aged 18+, as well as people aged 50 and over living with long-term health conditions, mental health needs, neurodivergent conditions and addictions. We also support people living with dementia, Parkinson’s and stroke, together with their amazing carers,“ she said.
Two decades ago, the charity started as a two-year funded Local Strategic Partnership project called the Town & Bridge Project, led by Dr Brian Keeble, Director of Ipswich Public Health. The project aimed to work with and support people aged 45 -74 living in the town centre and Stoke (Bridge) area of Ipswich to improve their physical and mental well-being and bring communities together through neighbourhood projects. It was extended for a further two years, during which time some of its major projects began, including the People’s Community Garden, the Fit as a Fiddle exercise programme, community singing group Keep on Rockin’, and two Lunch Clubs at St Mary at Stoke Church and the Ipswich International Church.
In July 2012, the Town and Bridge Project became a charity called ActivLives to continue providing healthy lifestyle programmes in Suffolk. Today, through the wide range of inclusive programmes that ActivLives delivers, it has been providing opportunities to over 1,000 individuals annually to connect with others, become more active, learn new skills, gain employment and become volunteers.
A member of the Men’s Hub, one of the charity’s specialist hubs in Ipswich, shared how attending a regular session with ActivLives makes a big difference to his weekly schedule.
“The Men’s Hub helps me get up in the morning. It is a gathering of men which is quite rare where we can give our thoughts and impressions and views on various subjects and interests…it helps people to get back on track and motivates people to improve their lifestyle and get active rather than just stagnating at home,” he said.
For anyone who wanted to join ActivLives various programmes or volunteer for the charity, please call 01473 345350 to find out more information.
