ActivLives is a local small, grassroots charity, working in Ipswich and across Suffolk, providing local support and motivating people to improve their own health and well-being; keeping people connected with their communities to reduce social isolation and loneliness and providing access to learning, training and volunteering opportunities to enable people to gain skills and find meaningful employment.

ActivLives grew out of a Local Strategic Partnership Project called ‘The Town and Bridge Project’, which started in September 2006 and was aimed at the two most hard pressed areas of Ipswich, the town centre and the area known as ‘Old’ Stoke. In June 2012 the charity ActivLives was born, with a wider remit, but with the same strategic aim and enabled us to reach even more older, lonely and vulnerable people, by rolling our successful ActivHub and Sports project out across Ipswich and rural areas of Suffolk.

ActivLives is a very diverse organisation, offering a wide range of activities and opportunities for people including Horticulture, the Environment/ Conservation, Construction such as our ActivSheds project for men, Training, Community Singing, Preventative services such as reducing falls and fractures, working with and supporting Former Carers, Volunteering and our inclusive ActivIpswich project getting people aged 55 years and over into a sport.

ActivLives can therefore reach and support a wide cross-section of people including:

• People with mental ill health, stress, anxiety and/or depression
• People with learning disabilities
• Former Carers
• Older people, including people living with Dementia and their Carers
• Young people
• Women of all ages and helping them access skills training
• People with physical health problems and long-term health conditions
• Local communities, including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups and individuals
• Schools and colleges
• Jobseekers and long-term unemployed
• People who want to Volunteer or learn new skills or share skills

Our activities help to build confidence and self-esteem, maintain good physical and mental health, reducing stress and loneliness and preventing the onset of depression and anxiety.

We currently have over 2,000 people registered with ActivLives and over 60 volunteers who help to nurture and maintain our two Community Gardens, run our Lunch Clubs, lead our Health Walks or help at our exercise sessions.

Our members tell us that they like attending our sessions because they are fun and welcoming, that we take care to find accessible local venues, such as, Church Halls, Libraries, Scout Huts, Sheltered Housing Schemes etc and we provide interesting and inclusive activities that anybody and any ability can take part in.