TFI October Update
Current highlights and prayer encouragement
Starting thought - in this warm Autumn (so far!) may we be warmed by the expectation that God graciously puts into our hearts where He has work for us to do.
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The TFI Steering Committee team continues its focussed effort to make greater connections between churches/charities/authorities, encouraging targeted sharingof expertise/learning/resources for specific ventures, cross church/organisation prayer boundaries, preparing for appropriate action to come. Would you like to know or join in more? - simply email secretary@togetherforipswich.uk.
And do encourage others to subscribe to these emails if you think they would benefit from them!
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Coming up imminently there is National Week of Prayer (NWOP) which seeks to encourage the UK Church to humble themselves, rememberGod's faithfulness, and return to Him in prayer and worship. See the daily prayer guide but do check out the NWOP website which has a number of helpful podcasts on different aspects of our national life.
Sunday 11th October from 7-9pm, Sarah Stone will be hosting a 'Creative Prayer' session in the Lantern Room at St. Augustine's Church, Ipswich. Anyone is welcome and it is suggested that people bring their Journaling Bibles if they have them, but this isn't essential as all materials will be provided free of charge. Please email sarah.stone@staugustinesipswich.org.uk if you would like to be part of this so she has an idea of numbers.
“Crown Him, Ipswich!” key cross church prayer gathering – 15th October (at the 24/7 Prayer Room) in the NWOP. Please see the Events page for full details.
The Ipswich 24/7 Prayer Room will be open as usual! Just use the button below to book in.
Book a slot in the Ipswich 24/7 Prayer Room during NWOP!
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Networking Breakfast summary
This event in late September gave useful opportunity to build relationships and had input from:
Heather Staff (video) – Councillor and in Parliamentary roles in London. She explained some of the challenges and joys of being in civic office and why it is important for Christians to be in such positions.
Irina (video) – a long standing friend of Alan Cutting from Kyrgyzstan who was involved in work related to Samaritan’s Purse Raising Families programme. She has been instrumental in getting church leaders and their congregations to pray and work together for Kingdom blessing e.g. in areas of deprivation. This has been a long process but worth the wait as she explained.
Alan Cutting - summarising the initial output from the "listening season" with church leaders.
We look forward to more and diverse opportunities to learn and grow together!
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Missional Leaders lunch update
The WhatsApp group for this series of events is now active. You can join by using this link.
Please do contact Simon Harris in the first instance for more details and to suggest ideas for future events, or use the WhatsApp group.
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Key opportunities:
1. Short Term Mission opportunity
Alan Cutting writes - Are individuals in your church considering joining an overseas short-term mission team this year or next? Are you struggling to recruit and train up enough of the right people? How about pooling resources with other local churches, and turning it into a team from Ipswich, thus building up local as well as international networks? We have some interesting options for you to consider, for example, in Kyrgyzstan, Croatia, Romania and Kenya, all hosted by trusted partners and led by experienced Ipswich-based team leaders. Please make contact via info@togetherforipswich.uk for an informal chat to find out more.
2. Peacebuilding and ReconciliationAlan Cutting issues a challenge - With so much of the world in conflict, what are you doing to equip your colleagues and church members in how to be peacebuilders and reconcilers? We have access to some great resources and experienced local trainers who are ready and willing to help, in contexts such as church away weekends, team building days, evening courses etc. Again please make contact via info@togetherforipswich.uk for an informal chat to find out more.
3. The Wellbeing group for Ukrainians in Ipswich hosted by Bridge Communities and held at ‘On the Huh’ Cafe is well established, alongside other support groups such as the English Conversation Classes at Hope Church. Pray for their ongoing impact week by week.
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Key updates from churches and charities closely linked with TFI
1. Stoke Green Baptist have run "Open the Book" in local schools for over 17 years and are willing to help other churches develop this ministry. Please contact Michael Clark via this link - https://www.stokegreenbaptist.org.uk/contact-form/
2. Lindbergh Road Community Church - can share their experience about how to start a work based on an estate - recognising each estate is unique.
Could you help them to restart running some community games on an area of land near to them?
3. Opportunity to mentor prisoners coming out of jail - Could your church potentially help here with appropriate specialist support from Shirley at True Vine International Ministries based in Ipswich. Please use contact details from https://tvim.org.uk/.
4. Do you know someone with podcast production and distribution experience? Do you know of a person who has grant funding experience? If so then please contact Shirley at True Vine International Ministries using contact details from https://tvim.org.uk/.
5. Do you want to setup/improve a family focussed Café church or indeed a Community Choir? Landseer Road Methodist Church are happy to share their experience on both these matters and have resources available for each. Please use this link to make contact with Neil or Elizabeth Hepplethwaite. This could be a yet another example of the Body of Christ working together better in Ipswich!
You may also want to check out the weekly Methodist "Bite Sized church" at link.
6. Potential to be involved in town centre prayer
The Ark Church is welcoming anyone who wants to work with them in a new initiative looking to offer prayer for people in Ipswich Town Centre. If this resonates with you then do contact Pastor Penny via arkipswichuk@gmail.com.
7. Network Suffolk - check out this site for details of a wide range of Christian related events, some of which are located in Ipswich. You may even want to advertise one of your own events via this platform!
8. Family First update:
We’re grateful that God is moving powerfully through the work of Family First. Already this year, 38 new families have been referred to us—far beyond our usual 4–6 per month. It’s a remarkable reminder that when God opens doors, He often does so wide.
We’re thankful, too, for His provision. Two recent grant awards now cover around half of our expected annual costs. Yet these grants were based on last year’s workload, and with referrals rising so sharply, we anticipate needing additional funding sooner than planned.
Alongside financial support, we are urgently seeking volunteers. The growing number of families means we need more hands, more hearts, and more people willing to walk alongside those who are struggling.
We would deeply value your prayers. And if you feel your church could partner with us—through giving, volunteering, or simply opening a conversation—please get in touch. I would love to speak with you about how we can serve these families together.
Sarah Stapleton (Service Lead)
Email: Sarah.Stapleton@familyfirst-uk.org
9. KICK looking for new workers for Ipswich area
KICK is a Christian Charity whose mission is to 'Transform young people's lives with God's love through Sport and Support'. They do this by going into schools and delivering Sports, Mentoring, Behaviour Support, Dance and Chaplaincy. Lindbergh Road Community Church know the value of their work as they have a KICK academy running.
At the moment, KICK are currently recruiting for the expansion of their work in the Ipswich area. This is paid work, in both full-time and part-time roles.
Please see this flyer with more information and take a look at their website for more information:
https://kick.org.uk/
10. Could you be a Volunteer Teacher at Oasis English Language School?
OASIS is looking for someone to join our lovely volunteer team! The ESOL classes run on Thursday mornings during term-time in Ipswich. You'll be teaching a small, friendly group of adult learners, helping them grow in confidence, improve their English, and feel more connected to the local community.
A teaching or TEFL qualification is preferred, but we can help support the right person with training if needed.
Oasis has strong links with local churches and a passion for welcoming people from all backgrounds.
If you'd like to find out more, we'd love to hear from you: www.oasisenglish.org.uk
11. Inspire Counselling and Training is looking for your help:
Inspire is currently accepting new clients for counselling and this news needs to be shared. Would it be possible to promote the attached advert in a newsletter you can input to?
They are also currently looking for volunteer receptionists – please see this flyer for relevant information.
12. Home For Good Friends - Home for Good Suffolk as a coordinator supports families who foster, adopt and kinship carers in Suffolk. It exists to provide support and connection and to promote the need for more foster carers and adopters in Suffolk. They are looking for new 'Friends of Home for Good'. This is a new venture but as funding is so difficult to keep gaining they felt this would help in ensuring that the work remains sustainable, meaning that families continue to have the support they deserve. Please see all relevant information in this document and do take a look at their newly produced video
for sharing in churches etc showing the impact of the work of Home For Good.
13. The Help Is Here website lists community support activities run by churches and Christian charities in the area. Help Is Here is part of Together For Ipswich. Please feel free to use the linked banner as the basis for a poster or email to your church or network of contacts so that you can:-
Start signposting people to Help is Here to see what relevant help is available.
List any community support initiatives you are leading which are open to the public.
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The latest Ipswich monthly prayer focus is available at this link – please use it as you find it helpful.
See the National Week of Prayer opportunities from earlier in this email.
Each Tuesday morning there is a prayer time from 7.30-8.20am usually held in All Saints Church, Chevallier Street which is open for anyone who wants to intercede for Ipswich.
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Finally, if you would like to communicate with the TFI Steering Committee (leadership team) about what you sense are God’s priorities for the life of Ipswich – just email secretary@togetherforipswich.uk and I will pass the information on to the team - the next meeting is mid-November.
Praying that this autumn will keep seeing more of God's work being done in lives and communities.
Jonathan Barnes
(TFI Secretary and Acting Chair)
Items of interest from
around the town
- notified to TFI for wider publicity among its contacts
This TFI update email continues to publicise matters which have a wider impact than an individual Church or Christian Charity, or where there is an invitation that is clearly wider than the church itself and open to a broader community.
Please pass this update on to others in your networks who should be aware of its contents.
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Activities to be aware of:
1. Growing Hope – from Graham Alcock (Chair of Trustees for Growing Hope Ipswich). Please read this new update to see the progress since last year on this project to provide free therapy for children and young people with additional needs in partnership with local churches. The update highlights the impact this work can make and how we can be in prayer for it at the moment.
2. Footsteps Walking With You – a mental health charity providing professional counselling for 8-25 year olds. We serve the whole of Suffolk and are pleased to announce that we have opened a Counselling Hub in Ipswich, at Holly Lodge Baptist Church, Bramford Lane IP1 4DF. Our service is as accessible as possible. We ensure cost is never a barrier to children and young people receiving the help they need. We offer a range of therapies, i.e. Face to Face, Online, Family, Walk and Talk and Child-led, to best suit our clients. Booking a session with a counsellor is easy, anyone can refer including the young people themselves.
Contact Us: • fb.me/footstepswalkingwithyou • info@footstepswwy.org.uk • 07955 898151 • www.footstepswwy.org.uk - Appointments by arrangement.
2. Kick Academy linked to Lindbergh Road Community Church in the South East of Ipswich is still going strong, well attended by young people and seeing young people attend church for the first time which is exciting. Please see original poster for details of how to engage with this outreach activity.
3. Faith In Recovery Ipswich – this provides a space for anyone who has a faith, or is open to a faith, in Jesus and struggles with an addiction. The group meets 6-7pm on Wednesdays at The Key, 15, St Margaret’s Street, Ipswich, IP4 2BB.
It is now linked to St. Mary Stoke church rather than St. Augustine's.
4. The Gather Movement has produced a fascinating “Heart of the Neighbourhood” report – the results of partial countrywide mapping what the church is doing to meet community needs, perhaps. There is a 2 min read summary to make the report more accessible! It was recently presented recently at the Houses of Parliament.
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Requests for support:
1. Workplace support for Ukrainian young man?
A 16 year old Ukrainian young man has been studying Information Technology (IT) at Bury College for 2 years but now needs work experience to complete his 160 hours of college practice. This has to be done by May 2027. He is not looking for paid work, just the opportunity to gain any IT experience e.g. cyber security. He is based in Stowmarket but able to travel to Ipswich.
If you think you can help or know someone who might be able to help then please email Alan Cutting via ahcutting@yahoo.co.uk who has been leading on support for Ukrainian guests in the area.
2. Funding for a Ukrainian support plaque
Alan Cutting writes - "Through Together for Ipswich, I have been befriending and supporting hundreds of members of the Ukrainian community who have found refuge in Ipswich since the major outbreak of war in their homeland.
To remember the fifth anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Ipswich Borough Council have agreed to donate an OAK TREE which is due to be planted in ALEXANDRA PARK on that day (24 February 2027). But WE NEED A PLAQUE as a forever indication of what the tree represents, which is two-fold. Firstly it is a symbol of ongoing WELCOME from the people of Ipswich. Secondly it is a THANK YOU to Ipswich from the Ukrainian community.
We need to raise £500 for the production and installation of the plaque (in bronze or aluminium), and any funds raised over these costs will go directly to the Ipswich Vigil for Ukraine events that have been held annually in the town. Thank you for your generous donation. Use this Gofundme link to donate as you feel nudged.
3. Opportunities with Greener Ipswich CIC
“GI Generate” is the working title for a fresh programme, focussing on engaging young adults aged 18-24 who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs) as volunteers, while supporting them in the acquisition of accredited essential life skills.
Greener Ipswich is therefore looking to imminently recruit approximately twelve volunteer mentors to support these young adults as they strive to fulfil their potential. Please read this for the essential information to help you decide whether you should offer to help!
4. Wall of Prayer - You may be well aware of this but in England there is a plan to build an 'Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer', which relies heavily on people submitting answers they have experienced (given the encouragement of Psalm 66:16 which says, "Come and hear… and I will declare what He has done"). Do consider what you could submit to add another brick into this wall.
5. Shine Your Light - this Christmas in Ipswich!
Calling musicians, singers of all ages, youth and young alike, evangelists, prayer walkers alike! Looking for interested Christians to come together to shine our light for Jesus in the midst of the crowded and cloudy Christmas time here in our town of Ipswich! It is hoped this will take place on 12th December in the Buttermarket (to be confirmed) - this will be its 3rd year!
This project is happening all across our country in other towns and villages and is growing too, on our streets, in our schools, in our shopping centres, in care homes, sheltered accommodations etc, come and join our team for prayer, chat and to share ideas for Ipswich!
There is a lunchtime prayer time being planned for 22nd October.
To find out more please contact Susan via susanhr11@gmail.com.
6. Fair Trade Shop - encouraging update! The Fair Trade Shop has re-opened in Felixstowe on the main shopping street after 36 years in Ipswich. Praise God for His provision of these new premises and pray that many people will benefit from the products on offer and the ethos behind the venture.
7. Triangle Church has a day to day presence in its community through its charity shop "Living Water" in Dickens Road. This is in need of more volunteers and also customers! Please see details of what is required in this Living Waters volunteer appeal information sheet. Thanks to Rev Lawrence Carey for highlighting this need.
8. Latest update on support for Sizewell Hall – for 50 years this property has been used to change lives for Christ and the trustees have been given the opportunity to buy the Hall from its owners. Please see this updated encouraging communication with more information on how you could help to make this possible – especially as £759,000 of the required £1.2million by end of 2026 has been raised already from a wide range of sources.
9. A Giant has arisen! - Rob Wright has founded a social enterprise CIC seeking to tackle the giant of poverty in innovative ways. It is looking at collaborative housing development, construction apprenticeship pathways, building financial skills and building up wealth in the hands of communities. See his social enterprise document or email him via rob@wearegiant.holdings for more information or a conversation. He is seeking to work with Selig who also seek to provide social housing.
10. English language classes and more
As does OASIS, the organisation Realise Futures provide English language courses which are free to most adults 19+ who are residents in Suffolk dependent on their income. It is a Community Interest Company with 3 departments - Employment, RF Works and Learning, Coaching and Advice. Courses cover key areas such as Health & Wellbeing, Work Skills, Digital Skills, Learning in Families, and English, Maths, and ESOL. They are from Entry Level to Level 2, including both accredited and non-accredited provision.
See www.realisefutures.org for more information or contact melanie.hercus@realisefutures.org directly who leads the Learning, Coaching and Advice department.
11. Can you help with an opportunity to engage with the community and deliver awareness information about heart failure? In partnership between the local NHS Integrated Care Board and ITFC Foundation we are looking to do some awareness and prevention work around heart failure. We would love to attend any events, lunch clubs or coffee mornings you have coming up where we can engage with the community and deliver some information around what heart failure is, the signs and symptoms to look out for and what we can do to prevent it.
For more information or to get involved please email Molly Roberts.
12. Home Fire Safety Visit awareness
The Prevention Team at Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) seek to work with partners/agencies/volunteers to ensure they are aware of the free Home Fire Safety Visits we provide to residents of Suffolk and how to refer onto us. We are also very willing to speak at groups/events re: Home Fire Safety.
A Home Fire Safety Visit (HFSV) considers and offers advice regarding:
Detectors and Assistive Technology
Fire Safety in the Home
Clutter and Hoarding
Safer Heating and Electrical Safety
Medicines and Medical Devices
Carbon Monoxide
Smoking related fires
We want to ensure we are reaching out to all faiths and communities in Suffolk with a particular emphasis on reaching the most vulnerable in Suffolk, hence this contact with members of the church community in Ipswich.
Please do email Sarah Campbell (Partnerships and Delivery Manager) for more information.
13. Sailing Opportunity next year!
The Morning Star Trust is a Christian sailing charity (www.mst.org.uk). They seek to encourage the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of young people and adult groups through active involvement in our yacht sailing voyages. Our Christian faith underpins all we do and all our skippers are Christians. They have had several engagements with charities in the Ipswich area this year and have finished their season.
If you are interested in exploring opportunities for next year or praying specifically for their ministry then please do contact Adam Davis (via adam.davis@mst.org.uk) soon for more information on prayer requests and how to get involved.
14. Creativity Input to the City of Culture bid
Ipswich's journey to become UK City of Culture 2029 is gathering momentum as the bid moves into its second phase, with a new team now in place to lead the work. Amy Vaughan has been appointed bid director, joined by four local creative producers drawn from the town's own creative community - Marcus Harris-Noble, Kath Cockshaw, Kirsty Tallent and Hannah Houghton. Together they will help shape an inspiring vision for Ipswich's cultural future, building on the ideas, energy and creativity already shared by communities across the town.
Residents, artists, organisations and young people are being invited to play an even bigger role in co-creating the bid with the local producers. This phase, to prepare our full submission in time for the August deadline, is about turning ideas into action and showcasing the wealth of talent that defines our town. From grassroots creativity to major cultural moments, Ipswich is ready to tell its story with pride.
This is our opportunity to put Ipswich on the national stage and create a lasting cultural legacy for generations to come.
To find out more and get involved, visit ipswich2029.com
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Blessings on behalf of the TFI team.
Jonathan Barnes
(TFI Secretary and Acting Chair)