What a week it has been at ICM. Our Big Give Christmas Appeal kicked off with a big bang, and we couldn’t be prouder of the incredible support we’ve received from our community. From silly games to heartfelt generosity, this week has been a true celebration of what it means to come together for a common cause. Here’s a look back at our amazing week.
Launch Lunch: Fun, Food, and Friends
We began our week with a fabulous launch lunch at our new home, Westgate House, affectionately known as ICM HQ. Guests gathered for an indoor picnic featuring delicious food, great company, and plenty of laughter. True to our values of fun, we played silly games like stacking as many loo rolls as possible and picking up M&Ms with chopsticks. Why not, we say. Thank you to everyone who joined us and made this event such a joyful way to kick off the appeal.
Watch our Launch Lunch film put togther by Luke Tomlinson.
A Busy Week for the Team
Our Integration Team worked tirelessly, juggling the fundraising launch lunch and Christmas fayre, assessing close to 80 new learners, and finalising end-of-course paperwork for existing learners—all on top of their usual activities. Their dedication embodies the spirit of ICM, ensuring that our community feels supported every step of the way.
Making Waves: Battle of the Bands
On Wednesday, our Making Waves youth group held their much-anticipated Battle of the Bands event. These talented young people took charge, booking bands, securing the venue, and organising a fantastic show with minimal help from our Youth Manager Helen and youth support Ramon. A special shoutout to The Smokehouse for hosting the event and donating tickets to a Brighten The Corners gig for the winers. Congratulations to all the bands who participated and to the winner XXXXXXX—your energy was electric.
Photo credit: Luke Tomlinson
Christmas Fayre: Festive Fun for Everyone
Saturday saw us hosting our Christmas Fayre, a day filled with gifts, goodies, and festive cheer. A massive thank you to the Ipswich Mayor, Elango K. Elavalakan for opening the event and to the incredible Ipswich Romanian Community, whose volunteer dancers showcased Romanian folk traditions, inviting everyone to join in the "Hora." The Dancing Divas added sparkle with their spectacular Bollywood performance.
We also had our South Street Kids breaking records with challenges, like seeing how many T-shirts they could wear and eating doughnuts (with no hands of course).
A special thanks to Local Businesses
Thank you to all the businesses who donated raffle prizes and helped make this event a success, including Loveone, who ran an in-store raffle and donated prizes, and
East Anglia Sales Ltd, Asian & Afro and Hopsters, and many other generous Ipswich businesses. Your support demonstrates how local businesses can be the backbone of community projects, helping charities like ours make a tangible impact.
Thanks also to New Wolsey Theatre, Eastern Angles, and Red Rose Chain for donating theatre tickets. We are incredibly fortunate to have such generous cultural spaces in Ipswich, offering not only their support but also enriching our community with opportunities to engage with the arts.
The Grand Total
With everyone’s help, we raised an incredible £8,922.75 (including Gift Aid). We are overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of our supporters. This funding will enable us to continue making a difference through vital programmes like:
Community events that foster connection.
Integration support for those in need.
Youth activities that nurture belonging and growth.
A Heartfelt Thank You
We are deeply grateful to everyone who donated, liked, or shared our posts, as well as our incredible ICM staff, who worked tirelessly to make this week a success. Together, we’ve proven that community is at the heart of everything we do.
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