The Festival of Suffolk 2022

One example that illustrates the role that events can play in catalysing social change is the Festival of Suffolk 2022. The festival wanted to use the power of events to bring people together, creating lasting legacies in the Platinum Jubilee year and beyond.

The organisers of the Festival of Suffolk 2022 had clear aims. They wanted to capitalise on the 2022 events calendar to strengthen community cohesion, health and wellbeing, create economic opportunities, champion enterprise, improve sustainability and celebrate Suffolk’s rich cultural heritage. It set some ambitious goals which included increasing participation in physical activity by 2025 and the recruitment of community champions in every neighbourhood to promote volunteering.

The day-to-day work of coordinating the festival was led by a small team of four people. They were supported by a much larger group of partner organisations which included the county and district councils, business groups, cultural, faith and civil society organisations.

The Festival of Suffolk 2022 mostly used existing events to achieve its aims, although it helped to organise new events in the Jubilee year. The project team and partners used the opportunity of these events to promote the Festival’s aims. For example, Festival organisers worked with the Suffolk Show to make sure that its schools’ programme had a strong focus on the environment. Community Action Suffolk was represented among the many trade stands at the show and used this opportunity to promote volunteering and recruit community champions.

Fundraising for future events was another activity. The project team aimed to secure a £5m Festival Fund by 2025, administered in partnership with Suffolk Community Foundation. The team are already planning their next event.