We held another great event in Whitehouse Park to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III.

Fun at Whitehouse park

CDC Street Dancing School performing several of their dancing routines

Children’s entertainer, Joshua, performing balloons tricks

Rickshaw rides around the park

We are delighted to find that girls from Westbourne Academy are taking advantage of the training that we are funding.

On International Womens Day 2023 we paid a visit to Eastern Training at Baylam to see the progress of Westbourne Academy students who we have funded for the another year to take part in a BTEC Construction course and were delighted to see three young women taking part in this year’s group.

The picture above shows two of the girls putting the finishing touches to the skirting boards in their pod.

We visited ERT just before Autumn half term with school representatives to see how the students were doing and below is a report from that visit:

Throughout this academic year a group of 10 Westbourne students are attending Eastern Region Training (Baylham) one day a week to study a BTEC L2 course in Construction and the Built Environment.

This opportunity has been provided through to a collaborative project between The North West Ipswich Big Local Trust, Westbourne Academy and Eastern Region Training.

So far the students have built their own frames, installed flooring, fixed stud walls in place and put on the first coat of paint.

Included in each session are theory lessons based on each aspect of construction which will eventually form part of their final grade. The other aspect considers the quality and finish of their final built project.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING WESTBOURNE ACADEMY

A proposal for Vocational Training for local high school students who live in the BLT ‘Pink Area’ was approved by the Partnership for inclusion in our new BIG LOCAL PLAN.

In September 2021 we commissioned Eastern Regional Training (ERT) to provide this training for 10 students at Westbourne Academy

Our interest in pursuing this form of training, which is not a part of the general school curriculum, comes from the view many of us have that post COVID 19 many people will struggle to find gainful employment without vocational skills some of which are currently in high demand, especially in the building industry. The Government have many training courses for adults but this occupational training will give some of our local high school young people a head start in the jobs market having been trained to BTEC level whilst still at school in the highly sought after skills of bricklaying, plastering, plumbing, roofing etc,

A recent press report from the building federation commented that many thousand extra building workers will be needed in the East of England to satisfy demand.

North West Big Local Trust knows that lack of funds will often be a barrier to someone from fulfilling their potential.  Part of what we do at Big Local is about recognising the talent and initiative of people in our area where sometimes a bit of funding can make all the difference.

As part of our Inspiration Awards, which are available to any resident of the area who meets certain criteria agreed by resident members, we funded a young person to help achieve their dream of becoming a children’s entertainer.  

Some years ago, 11 year old Tommy Bradshaw, a pupil at one of our local High Schools was identified as someone who fitted the bill.  At the time his mum said “We couldn’t afford to get him a new booth to use for his Punch and Judy performances as it wouldn’t be fair on the other children.  He was making do with a homemade stand constructed by his dad.  But this is what he loves to do and having heard of the Inspiration Award we found a way to support him.  People love his shows, it’s a unique talent and they are always surprised when a little boy appears at the end.” 

Five years on we recently caught up with Tommy, and this is what he says about his Big Local Inspiration Award:

The Big Local Trust were very generous to me for supplying my Punch and Judy theatre. I started Punch and Judy at the age of 5 when a lady based in Claydon came to do a show for my family’s Halloween party, ever since then I’ve always pursued to be a children’s entertainer.

It came to a few years ago when I was in need of a professional Punch and Judy booth to perform. Luckily I managed to get in contact with the North West Ipswich Big Local Trust and I’m so glad the Trust decided to help me out. A few years has now passed by, I am now sixteen years of age and whilst I am studying at college, I am still performing Punch and Judy in the very same booth, as well as other things I do such as children’s discos, children’s magic shows, mascot costumes and more. 

The Big Local Trust has helped me so much for doing this as the booth I got with the grant can fold up nice and small so I am able to travel with ease. Me and my Punch and Judy show have travelled all around Suffolk and beyond. Every May in Covent Garden in London there is a Punch and Judy festival and thanks to the folding booth, I am able to take part in this using public transport.  As soon as I leave education I intend to make this my fulltime job.

Tommy Bradshaw, NW Ipswich BLT Inspiration Awardee

We are all so proud of you Tommy and delighted to have supported you on your way to a successful future.  You have helped us tick 3 of our boxes:  supporting young people, recognising talent and initiative, and enterprise – well done!

We are excited to announce the winners of the photographic competition.

The aim of the competition was to encourage children and young people aged from pre-school up to 18 to reconnect with the great outdoors during the Covid-19 lockdown, focusing on what they could see from their window.

There were 4 categories and each winner was rewarded with a £20 Amazon voucher. Special thanks to our Judge, Andy Greenacre – a Suffolk based photographer and artist

Overall winner was Skyla!

The judges particularly loved the mix of man made and nature, also the rainbow image was great.

Skyla wins a voucher and a brand new Sony cyber shot camera!

Thanks also to local resident Rachel Zagni for approaching us with the idea and for all your support to make it a great success!