Jun 1, 2021 | ActivGardens, ActivHubs, ActivLives, ActivSinging, ActivSports, ActivSuffolk
We’re very happy to reveal that we’ve been chosen for Green Token Giving scheme at Asda Stoke Park. This amazing opportunity could be vital in helping us to continue our outreach and community work over the next few months. Voting is online and you can choose to give your green token to ActivLives, by doing so, your help could mean we receive £500 from the Asda Foundation.
ActivLives work includes running sports sessions, hosting singing clubs, Better Balance sessions and our ActivGardens which includes the People’s Community Garden and the Chantry Walled Garden. It’s a huge breadth of activities that aims to help isolated and lonely people who otherwise would struggle to engage with their community. You can see a flavour of our work in the community in our image above, it shows just a tiny amount of what we do and how we try and keep the community active and engaged.
You might be wondering how to vote for us online, well it’s super easy! Just head to asda.com/green-tokens type in Stoke Park into the box which says ‘select your local Asda store’ and then vote for ActivLives/ActivGardens.
The Green Token scheme is open right now and runs until Saturday 31 July so make sure to vote and then tell all of your family and friends to vote too. Everyone at ActivLives would like to thank you for your kind support and your vote to help get us to that £500 donation!
Get voting now and don’t forget we’re listed as ActivLives/ActivGardens: asda.com/green-tokens
May 29, 2020 | ActivLives
As with many Charities, social enterprises and community groups the Coronavirus lock-down has had a real impact both financially and the way that services are delivered to support people in the community, who are vulnerable and at risk. During the lockdown this is really important as vulnerable people are feeling even lonelier and cut off from family, friends and neighbours.
ActivLives is a local Charity that normally provides a wide range of face to face activities, for all ages, particularly older people and their carers, to keep people active and connected with the community and also provide volunteering and learning opportunities for people who want to share or learn new skills.
Ms Julie Stokes, ActivLives CEO, said “We had to close nearly all our activities down overnight, in Ipswich, East Suffolk and Sudbury. This was very upsetting and emotional for our staff and volunteers, as well as our members, many of them having to self-isolate as they fall in the ‘at risk’ category. So we were really grateful to receive funding from The Suffolk Coronavirus Fund to enable us to establish new and exciting initiatives to keep in touch with our members and volunteers, as well as, the general public.
The funding has enabled us to develop new ways of working to keep our groups connected, we have created WhatsApp groups, run Zoom Social and singing sessions and have set up a Befriending and health check telephone service so we can check our members are OK, if they need anything or just want to have a chat.’
An ActivSinger commented after a zoom singing session,’ I just wanted to say what a boost that gave my spirits. I’m at home alone, so bringing together a few of us and seeing their faces really made my day. Thank you ActivLives for organising.’
ActivLives also wants to support those people who don’t currently use their services, so people can join in with Activ@Home on the website www.activlives.org.uk , there are exercise videos, singing videos, quizzes and a reminiscence / arts project called ‘That Remind Me’ which includes a different theme each week and people can send in photos of what they have created themselves, with their family or people they care for.
The funding has also supported ActivLives, two ActivGardens, the People’s Community Garden and Chantry Walled Garden, which although are closed to the public, are still being maintained by staff and a small core group of dedicated volunteers who are growing vegetables for the local community and have established an on-line plant sales service, so that people who can’t get out, can order plants and have them delivered safely to their door.
A happy customer said, ‘We were thrilled with our plants and happy to support a good cause.’
If you would like to order plants please visit https://activlives.org.uk/activgardens/online/ or contact Susannah Robirosa on 07530407302.
Julie Stokes added, ‘The Suffolk Coronavirus Fund is certainly helping the voluntary sector and individuals to support those in need in the community during the Covid-19 lock-down, please donate what you can, it really can make a difference.’
ActivLives is currently looking at how they can re-open their activities in the future and what they will need to do to ensure the safety of their members and staff. For more information about the services ActivLives provides please contact 01473 345350.
Jun 17, 2019 | ActivLives, ActivSports
Local charity ActivLives is celebrating being awarded almost £10,000 in National Lottery funding to support its work keeping older people active and connected in their community. ActivLives is based on Hadleigh Rd in Ipswich
and provides a wide range of preventative activities across the town and in East Suffolk to support inactive older people, become active. The funding will support existing activity, new taster sessions, a sports festival and a half day Sports Leadership course for members and volunteers to encourage more people aged 50 plus to ‘have a go’ at a wide range of inclusive sport sessions.
Everyday Activ-Ipswich now runs 14 sessions across Ipswich, attended by 200 people each week. The sessions provide a range of accessible and inclusive sports such as walking football, Boccia, New Age Kurling, Ping Pong, ActivYoga, ActivStretch, Bowls and Badminton that enable people of all abilities to take part in a sport and reduce loneliness and social isolation by providing opportunities for people to get out and about and meet and make new friends.
The new funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will see more people aged 50 years and over participating in inclusive sport activities and attending sessions in North West Ipswich.
ActivLives will also be working closely with the North West Ipswich Big Local Trust and other local organisations to reach and engage more older residents living in the area.
Mike McCarthy, Everyday Activ – Ipswich Manager says: “We are absolutely delighted to have received this funding which will help ActivLives to sustain, and further develop, our Everyday Activ programme in the NW area of Ipswich. The aim is to encourage more adults to get involved with ‘easy to access’ sport and physical activity and, through this, to promote increased physical and mental well-being. We are also planning to provide some Sports Leadership training to those who would like to help others to become more active in the area – it’s an exciting time for the project!”
A member said, “This is excellent news. At least while we are all here playing Kurling, we aren’t filling up the doctor’s surgeries are we? More people should come and give it a try.”
Oct 30, 2018 | ActivGardens, ActivHubs, ActivLives, ActivSinging, ActivSports, ActivSuffolk
Dear Friends and Supporters of ActivLives
WE NEED YOUR HELP
Aviva has selected our EverydayActiv project in Ipswich to go forward for voting, to support and develop our much needed activities in Ipswich, which we know you all love to attend.
We need you, your friends and families to register and cast your vote online so we have an opportunity of winning.
You can use up to 10 votes per person to support our project.
Voting closes at midday 20th November 2018.
If we get enough votes we have an opportunity to win £10,000 to support our much needed activities in Ipswich.
Please do share this with your friends, families and neighbours to help us win.
Thank you for your support.
All of us at ActivLives
Apr 23, 2018 | ActivLives
Ipswich Lions Club volunteers and ActivLives staff and a very friendly Lion joined forces to raise funds for the two Charities with a ‘Community Stomp’ around Christchurch Park on Saturday 14th April 2018. Meeting at the Reg Driver Centre participants enjoyed a walk around the park, as well as, finding out interesting facts about the park with the ‘Quiz in the Park’.
Julie Stokes, ActivLives CEO, said “It was great to see so many of ActivLives members and the general public taking part in the walk and helping raise funds for the two Charites. Both charities support local residents with different initiatives, support, services and activities. The Ipswich Lions Club volunteers made some lovely cakes, there was a tombola and refreshments were available for participants and the general public to purchase during and after the walk.’
£358.06 was raised on the day and when all the sponsorship is collected this funding will be split between the two charities.
ActivLives and the Ipswich Lions would like to thank everyone who took part and Ipswich Borough Council for the use of the Park and the Reg Driver Centre
ActivLives holds a walk in Christchurch Park every other Monday. You don’t have to walk alone, come and meet and make new friends and help improve your health at the same time.
For more information about ActivLives call 01473 345350 and the Ipswich Lions Club contact 0845 833 2804.
