Felixstowe was declared Suffolk’s Most Active Town at this year’s Suffolk Community Awards.
Representatives from Felixstowe Town Council and the Felixstowe & District Council for Sports and Recreation joined fellow nominees at the Food Museum in Stowmarket on Tuesday 20th September for the presentation of the 2022 Suffolk Community Awards, honouring groups and individuals who contribute so much to their community.
The event recognised the outstanding contributions from 13 individuals and organisations representing young people, community buildings and volunteers as well as initiatives that have contributed to creating the most active communities and village and town of the year.
The awards are a partnership between Community Action Suffolk, Suffolk County Council and the Suffolk Association of Local Councils. Their purpose is to celebrate and recognise the huge contribution that groups, individuals, town and parish councils make to the overall quality of life in communities across the length and breadth of Suffolk.
In collecting the ‘Most Active Town’ Award, the Mayor of Felixstowe, Cllr Sharon Harkin, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this award on behalf of Felixstowe, which recognises the extra mile put in by our Council and community groups to improve the wellbeing and quality of life across the town. This award is a tribute to so many people who provide such an amazing range of things for people to do locally. From classic sports associated with the Felixstowe & District Council for Sports and Recreation, including cricket, rugby, football, hockey, judo; to our large-scale events, parkrun, award-winning triathlon, our growing interest in sea swimming and water sports; through to other grassroots activity such as litter picking, dog walking, yoga on the beach, growing veg at the allotments and volunteer gardening. Going forward we shall continue to invest in our active agenda for a healthier Felixstowe, improving existing facilities and developing new opportunities.”
Compere Mark Murphy, BBC Radio Suffolk, added “There’s far too much to mention about sport and physical activity in Felixstowe in a short summary. From football to fishing, tennis to triathlon, water sports to walking, cycling to shooting, running to rugby, Felixstowe is a town full of opportunity for anybody wanting to be active. Recent initiatives of note include hosting the finish of the final stage of the 2021 Women’s Tour cycle race, the establishment of the award-winning Felixstowe triathlon, outdoor table tennis tables distributed across the town as part of the PING! initiative and the return of the Felixstowe Fun Run. With two sports centres, a parkrun and a junior parkrun, 475 allotments, many walking and cycling routes, trim trails, parks, open spaces, the beach and sea, over 200 community groups, clubs and organisations and many events, Felixstowe is a deserved winner of Suffolk’s Most Active Town 2022.”
The Award was presented to Felixstowe by Cllr Bobby Bennett, Suffolk County Council Cabinet Member for Equality and Communities, who said: “Wherever you go in Suffolk, there are towns and villages doing amazing things to help and support their residents to be active and stay active. The huge contribution their efforts make to the health, wellbeing and resilience of people of all ages often goes unnoticed and unrecognised let alone celebrated. I’m delighted that the Community Awards throws a light on this hugely important aspect of Suffolk life and the impact it has.”
Christine Abraham, Chief Executive Officer of Community Action Suffolk, said: “The CAS awards celebrate and recognise those who “go the extra mile” and make positive contributions to their community.”
Sally Longmate, Chief Executive Officer of the Suffolk Association of Local Councils, added: “These awards provide an opportunity to showcase and applaud organisations and individuals who step up and make a real difference across our County.”