In November students from across the Eastern Education Group participated in two Youth Effect Hacks, one in Ipswich and, for the first time, one in Bury St Edmunds at Abbeygate Sixth Form College.
Delivered on behalf of Suffolk’s Director for Public Health, these events (along with the Hack that took place in Lowestoft) directly informed the 2025 Suffolk County Council Annual Public Health Report.
This represents a milestone as the first strategic Public Health report to focus solely on Youth Social Action, designed, led, and captured by young people.
During the Hacks, students explored three key questions:
- What matters most to you in your community?
- What would you change?
- How would you create solutions?
Discussions highlighted themes such as:
- community cohesion and connection
- transport barriers
- lack of safe, affordable youth spaces
- underinvestment in local communities
- the need to shift from reactive to proactive approaches, recognising the wider economic and public health impact
On Thursday 15th January, students who took part in the Youth Effect Hacks were invited to attend the launch of the Public Health Report at Ipswich Town Football Club. The morning began with a welcome from Cllr Steve Wiles, who opened the Health and Wellbeing workshop, followed by the official launch of the report by Stuart Keeble, Director of Public Health. He provided an overview of the report’s findings and the funding that will support the work moving forward.
Alongside the report, a series of videos were premiered documenting the journey of the Youth Effect Hacks. These films capture interviews with young people and representatives from partner organisations – including the Eastern Education Group – who have played an important role in amplifying the voices of our young people. We are incredibly proud that much of the footage and many of the interviews were filmed and produced by our WSC Journalism students; seeing their work showcased on a public platform was a fantastic moment for them.
After introductions from Stephen Skeet and the iWill Ambassadors, delegates took part in Round Table discussions. Participants were grouped across ten tables, bringing together representatives from local councils, CEOs, partner organisations, and, importantly, young people. Conversations focused on the themes that emerged from the Hacks – what surprised us, what resonated personally, what young people need to thrive, and the barriers that stand in their way.
We also explored how to ensure young people continue to have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect them, and how organisations across sectors can collaborate to remove barriers and create better outcomes for young people.
The event concluded with a shared sense of purpose and optimism. It was clear that the Youth Effect Hacks were not a one-off consultation, but the start of an ongoing commitment to placing young people at the heart of public health decision-making in Suffolk. By creating spaces where their voices are genuinely heard, valued, and acted upon, the initiative demonstrated the power of youth social action to drive meaningful change.
For the students involved, the experience reinforced that their perspectives matter and that they can influence systems beyond their immediate communities. For partners and decision-makers, it served as a powerful reminder that sustainable solutions are most effective when they are shaped alongside the young people they are intended to support. As the findings of the report begin to inform future strategy and investment, the legacy of the Youth Effect Hacks will be measured not only in policy, but in stronger, more connected communities where young people are empowered to thrive.
You can access the Annual Public Health Report and associated videos here – Annual Public Health Report 2025 – Healthy Suffolk
