Charity marks 10 years of 'learning and creativity'

A charity which works with "those at the margins of society" was holding a series of events to mark its 10th anniversary.

Ipswich Community Media (ICM), which runs language courses and a range of youth projects, was founded in 2015, with no funding or premises.

Since then, the charity said it had connected with 60,000 people through workshops, events, and performances.

Director Bruce MacGregor said: "This milestone is about more than what we've achieved; it's how we've done it: through participants, volunteers, staff, partnerships, passion, and trust."

The charity celebrated with a town parade last week, with a music and food event set to run over the weekend.

A parade through Ipswich town centre was held on Saturday, 21 June, accompanied by drummers and people wearing cultural dress.

A birthday party with live music, dance and international food was planned to be held on the following Saturday at St Stephen's Church music venue.

There was also an event to launch a new music video and EP created by South Street Kids - one of the ICM projects which engages 7-12 year olds, at the Eastern Angles Centre.

ICM Connected, an online alumni network, was also being developed to mark the anniversary.

ESOL Integration team manager and co-founder Linda Vines said: "It's a place where we bring people together, we empower them, they feel safe, they feel heard."

Reflecting on the start of the charity, she told BBC Radio Suffolk: "There were nine of us.

"We were made redundant from our previous employment, and we had a dream really. We started off with nothing, basically, and we were able to build."

Initially, ICM was able to use a room inside the Ipswich Council for Racial Equality office, before moving youth projects into South Street Studios and language teaching into space on St Matthew's Street in 2019.

"Gradually, we were able to secure some funding...now, after 10 years, we have had over 2,000 learners who have come through the integration team," she said.

Monika Puchala, who joined in 2016 and now works for ICM as a maternity project co-ordinator, said: "I started as a learner, then a volunteer as a community champion, and now I'm in my fourth year of working for ICM.

"This shows what you can achieve if you have the right level of support."

• 2,112 learners have accessed English language courses
• They worked with people from more than 40 different nationalities
• 249 young people engage each year in youth and music programmes
• 900-plus advice sessions were run supporting people navigating life in a new country
• 110 volunteers have contributed time, skills, and energy
• More than 60,000 people have been connected through workshops, events, and performances

Gulshan Kayembe, chair of the board of trustees and current High Sheriff of Suffolk, said: "Over the past ten years, Ipswich Community Media has championed local stories, provided vital education and skills training, and created spaces for people of all backgrounds to come together to learn and to grow.

"It has created a 'family' that no one wants to leave and where everyone who it has touched, who has been part of the ICM journey, wants to come back."

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