On The Horizon

Realise Futures are running a ‘Confidence in Everyday Household Budgeting workshop that will take place on Wednesday 25th November from 10am – 1pm at the Stowmarket Adult Learning Centre IP14 1AB.

The workshop is designed to be a great first step that will explore simple ways to manage everyday spending, how to save money and make the most of your budget.

Including:

• Talk about everyday costs and bills
• Share top tips for saving money at home
• Look at easy ways to reduce energy costs
• Learn where to find help and advice when you need it
• Build confidence with money in a supportive environment

For more information on the course contact Realise Futures on 0300 456 2050

Feel Good Suffolk is raising awareness of this year’s Stoptober campaign and the support it offers for any smokers in the county who want to stop.

Since launching in 2012, Stoptober has helped millions of people across the country to quit smoking for good by encouraging them to stop smoking for the month of October. Research shows that staying smoke-free for 28 days means you are up to five times more likely to quit for good.

The Stoptober campaign has the tagline of ‘Lets quit smoking together’ and Feel Good Suffolk is reassuring smokers there is a range of free help and support available.

Further information found here.

The service, funded by NHS England, runs from September 2026 until March 2027 and aims to support individuals living in the East of England who are experiencing gambling-related harms, as well as family members, friends and colleagues who are being impacted by someone’s gambling.

Research highlights that around 1 in 7 adults in the UK have experienced, or are at risk of experiencing, gambling-related harms. The impact can extend beyond financial difficulties and affect mental health, relationships, physical wellbeing and performance at work and/or school. Gambling includes online casino games, dog/horse racing, computer gaming, sports betting, scratch cards, slot machines, fixed odds betting terminals and rapid day trading (shares, cryptocurrencies).

Support available includes:

• Fully funded 1-to-1 counselling sessions for individuals affected by gambling harms: This support is for the person gambling, as well as the people around them who are being impacted. Counselling sessions are weekly, with up to eight sessions available per person. They are offered in-person, online and over the phone.
• Fully funded workshops designed to increase awareness, understanding and improve wellbeing. Two workshops are available:
  1. Anxiety Management: Gambling Harms helps attendees to develop practical strategies to manage anxiety linked to gambling harms and addiction.
  2. Understanding & Supporting Addictive Behaviours: Gambling Harms provides attendees with a greater understanding of addiction, behaviour change and ways to support others.

Both workshops are open to those experiencing a gambling addiction, those impacted by someone else’s addiction and anyone in a professional role who may encounter someone experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, gambling-related harms. Please consider signposting anyone who may benefit from the support detailed above. Suffolk Mind accepts self-referrals, and you can also refer on someone else’s behalf.

Services can be accessed by:

📞 0300 111 6000
🌐 www.suffolkmind.org.uk/services/gambling-harms
📝 Self-referral form: www.suffolkmind.org.uk/self-referral-form
✉️ info@suffolkmind.org.uk

Skylarks is a fun and friendly singing group for people living with Parkinson’s and their companions.
East Suffolk Skylarks groups use techniques based on years of research to help those with Parkinson’s to maintain or improve their psychological and physical wellbeing through taking part in regular singing activity.

Britten Pears Arts are offering free music sessions in the Community to those in later life who may be living with dementia, long-term health conditions, Parkinsons or are possibly socially isolated.

Their sessions are delivered by a range of professional artists who are trained to work in a community setting and their staff have received training to support those living with dementia.

They’re currently delivering sessions in Kesgrave, Woodbridge, Saxmundham, Leiston and Snape and the workshops are fun, engaging, and interactive; our participants benefit from the wellbeing music offers. There is also transport support available in some of our locations.

Britten Pears Arts are offering free music sessions in the Community to those in later life who may be living with dementia, long-term health conditions, Parkinsons or are possibly socially isolated.

Their sessions are delivered by a range of professional artists who are trained to work in a community setting and the staff have received training to support those living with dementia.

They’re currently delivering sessions in Kesgrave, Woodbridge, Saxmundham, Leiston and Snape and the workshops are fun, engaging, and interactive; our participants benefit from the wellbeing music offers. There is also transport support available in some of our locations.

Britten Pears Arts are offering free music sessions in the Community to those in later life who may be living with dementia, long-term health conditions, Parkinsons or are possibly socially isolated.

Their sessions are delivered by a range of professional artists who are trained to work in a community setting and our staff have received training to support those living with dementia.

They’re currently delivering sessions in Kesgrave, Woodbridge, Saxmundham, Leiston and Snape and the workshops are fun, engaging, and interactive; our participants benefit from the wellbeing music offers. There is also transport support available in some of our locations.

Britten Pear Arts are offering free music sessions in the Community to those in later life who may be living with dementia, long-term health conditions, Parkinsons or are possibly socially isolated.

Their sessions are delivered by a range of professional artists who are trained to work in a community setting and their staff have received training to support those living with dementia.

They’re currently deliver sessions in Kesgrave, Woodbridge, Saxmundham, Leiston and Snape and the workshops are fun, engaging, and interactive; our participants benefit from the wellbeing music offers. There is also transport support available in some of our locations.

Realise Futures are running a ‘Confidence in using a Slow Cooker’ course that will take place on Mondays 12th, 19th & 26th October from 9.30am – 12.30pm at the Stowmarket Adult Learning Centre IP14 1AB.

After completing the course you will be gifted a slow cooker to give you the opportunity to keep practicing at home and building on knowledge and skills gained on the course

The course will include:

• Explaining how to use a slow cooker and the great benefits it can bring to regular use in your daily life.
• Demonstrating the cost benefits of a slow cooker and how it can help to save you money.
• Identifying the fantastic health and wellbeing benefits that using a slow cooker can bring.
• Exploring healthy recipes through group discussion that you could try yourself at home on completion of your course and receipt of your slow cooker.

For more information on the course contact Realise Futures on 0300 456 2050

Realise Futures are running a ‘Confidence & Wellbeing Course‘ from the 2nd – 23rd October, 10am –1.30pm at the Stowmarket Learning Centre 27 Ipswich Street, Stowmarket IP14 1AB.

The course will explore:

• The meaning of confidence.
• Help with the personal barriers that can get in the way.
• Discover practical ways to help build your confidence and self-esteem.
• How to move forward with confidence.

To book your place or find out more Tel: 0300 456 2050 or email: info@rlearn.co.uk

Realise Futures are running a Level 1 Mental Health Awareness course that explores the impact of mental health issues, social and personal influences, cultural diversity, and how we respond to mental health challenges.

Elders in the Woods a wellbeing project for those aged 60+ and takes place in Kaliwoods, Holton, Halesworth IP19 8NQ.  The Autumn term starts on Thursday 17th September, 12pm  – 3pm  with dates running weekly on Thursdays until 17th December.

Exploring seeds – physical seeds of trees to plant as well as seeds of our lives.
For all the details and dates visit their website

The National Autistic Society’s Teen Life Programme aims to empower parents/carers to understand more about autism and to discuss useful strategies in how to support their young person. 

Their course is open to parents and carers of autistic teen (10-16 years) with a confirmed diagnosis (within the last 2 years) living in Suffolk.

Upcoming courses will be in Lowestoft and Saxmundham starting in September 2026, and will be hosting in other towns across Suffolk later in the year.

For more information or to book a place on the course, please contact them at: teenlifesuffolk@family-action.org.uk or visit Teen Life Suffolk – Family Action