Challenging the Ipswich Food Environment
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The ASSET Alumni are our young people that stay on to do Youth Social Action after they leave their ASSET primary schools. We now have young people in Years 7, 8 and 9 from a wide range of high schools in the South Suffolk area.
This year we asked what they wanted to do for their Social Action work, and were inspired by the achievements of the ASSET Arrows' food project, they decided to look more broadly at the factors that affect young people's food experience in Ipswich. On Saturday 1st they took to the Ipswich streets to gather the views of local people and share their own ideas.
Did you know that the average number of fast-food outlets per 100,00 people in the UK is 115? But in Ipswich that figure is 196. That places Ipswich in the top 20 worst towns nationally, and the worst in the South East of England.Â
In 2023/24, 37% of Year 6 children (10-11 year olds) in Suffolk were overweight or obese, which is higher than the England average (35.8).
The Alumni want to challenge those in power - from local and national government, to food manufacturers and fast food retailers - to stop marketing unhealthy food in the way that they do and to take responsibility to create a local food environment that encourages young people and families to access affordable healthy food.
The group created a stand with hard hitting messages and stood outside the town hall on Saturday, speaking to the public, recording a video of local views, and encouraging people to participate in taste-tests and activities to challenge perceptions of healthy food.
Brave leadership from our children, and also from two of our fabulous apprentices, Faith Bennett and Alex Dawson, who support the children in their thinking and their social action. A really rewarding day!
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