The youth charity defying the odds and expanding

1 hour ago

Jon Wrightin Felixstowe

News image — Young people exploring Level Two's new container space for the first time after the official opening

Jon Wright/BBC Five young people stand on some stairs in front of a blue shipping container unit. — Young people exploring Level Two's new container space for the first time after the official opening

A youth charity has opened a new seafront base inside four reconditioned shipping containers.

Level Two in Felixstowe is expanding its provision for seven-to-25 year olds despite other charities in Suffolk facing closures or cuts in services.

The space, called The Seagull, is in addition to its centre on Cobbold Road in the town, and has cost £228,000 to complete.

The charity's chief executive, Shez Hopkins said: "It is a lot of money, but it's come from multiple sources... the funders have been so supportive."

Jon Wright/BBC A block of four blue shipping containers, with people standing outside. — The new space is made from four shipping containers, refitted by a company in Melton

The Seagull was officially opened on Tuesday, with young people seeing inside for the first time.

The ground floor has a communal area with two large sofas, a private room, a kitchen area, toilet and an accessible lift to the second floor, which has music and DJ facilities.

Monica, 9, said: "I love it....I want to make a song and I love to dance and sing, so I'll do a lot of that up there too."

Lucas, 13, said: "It's just epic, super accessible for people with wheelchairs and with everything going upstairs it's going to be a musician's dream!"

Jon Wright/BBC Two women sit on a sofa. There is a big piece of art on the wall of a sunny tropical scene. — Ruth Miller (left) who officially opened the Seagull and Level Two chief executive Shez Hopkins inside the downstairs space

The project comes at a difficult time for many charities, with some in Suffolk announcing closures, such as Gatehouse in Bury St Edmunds, Access Community Trust in East Suffolk and the Suffolk Parent Carer Forum.

Hannah Bloom is chief executive of the Suffolk Community Foundation, a grant-giving organisation that links funders, investors and charities.

"We know from the recent State of the Sector reports that in 2023-24 income coming into Suffolk charities decreased by £33m compared to the previous year," she said.

"We are still seeing the impact of the pandemic when a lot of additional funding was made available to charitable organisations to increase their services to meet local need.

"However, since then this funding has ended, and there has been a decline in public sector money and the impact of increased cost of living has negatively affecting giving.

"So, the additional funding has gone away, yet the demand for help remains.

"Charities find themselves trying to fill the gap where they can to maintain their services as they know they are needed, but there simply isn't enough money available for everyone.

"As a result, from 2023-24, expenditure by Suffolk organisations decreased by £62m, indicating many are reducing services and some are closing which leaves a gap in local provision."

Jon Wright/BBC A boy in a blue t-shirt stands next to a DJ deck. — Lucas is looking forward to doing a DJing course at the Seagull in the coming weeks

Hopkins added: "It's really really tough, and I hold in my head and in my heart charities locally and regionally that I know are really, really struggling.

"I am blessed with a board of trustees that believe that this project deserves a CEO full time, a project manager full time, an assistant project manager full time."

She said it allowed her to spend most of her time "looking at needs analysis.. bringing the money in, meeting new funders and networking which is a massive part of the role".