The Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Elango Elavalakan, celebrated with 117 volunteers, members, staff, partners, and supporters for local charity ActivLives’ Annual General Meeting (AGM) on the 14th of November at the Kesgrave Community and Conference Centre. This year’s event highlighted the important role of volunteers and the impact it has on their own health and well-being as well as the people and communities they support across Ipswich and Suffolk, through the charity’s inclusive sports, gardening and exercise programmes and hubs.
Three dedicated volunteers who have given their time and commitment with ActivLives for over a decade were honoured at the annual meeting. One of the volunteers, Anita Bimpson, who was recognised has been helping the charity’s St Mary at Stoke Lunch Club. She has been serving local men and women in Ipswich with care, support and meals for 16 years. “I’ve seen people’s lives changed, as they grow, as they come and as they made friends. Our lunch club is very much like a family,” she said.
It is ActivLives 11th AGM, since it became a Charity in 2012, promoting health and wellbeing in Ipswich and Suffolk’s local communities and organisations. CEO Julie Stokes shared how volunteering and team effort kept the charity delivering services that make a difference in people’s lives.
“We have experienced ‘change’ and ‘challenge times’, but I have an amazing team of caring, passionate, enthusiastic and experienced staff and a wonderful team of dedicated and loyal volunteers across the organisation, who work exceptionally hard to keep our services running”, she said. She also thanked everyone involved in the charity for their support, generosity and feedback.
ActivLives looks forward to developing existing partnerships, building new relationships with funders, supporters, donors and growing ActivLives services to reach more people and communities in the coming year.
Notes to Editor: ActivLives delivers innovative and impactful health and well-being programmes to communities in Suffolk. We work in collaboration with the NHS, Public Health Suffolk, local authorities, voluntary services, schools and other agencies, feeding into local, regional and national strategies, ensuring our services address the needs of the community and partner groups. ActivLives encourages everyone, of any age or capability, to lead an active, healthy lifestyle, through volunteering, work experience, learning and training at our community gardens and outreach projects, ActivSheds woodworking project, health walks, seated/standing exercise, lunch clubs and community events.)
ActivLives Press Contact Information: Jomel Gutierrez, Communications and Marketing Officer
email: jomel@activlives.org.uk
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