East Suffolk Council has been putting together 2,000 EAST bags, which will be delivered over the coming weeks to vulnerable older residents who have been identified as being at risk of loneliness and/or social isolation.

The EAST bag (Everyone Active, Supported Together) are reusable jute bags funded by the East Suffolk Community Partnership Board and Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group.

Each bag contains items which will help recipients to stay active, both physically and mentally, during the winter months. Contains include resistance bands, exercise cards, water bottles, hand warmers, recipe cards, freezer boxes, tea, biscuits, puzzle books and seeds to plant when the weather improves. As an extra treat, the bags also include soft drinks and chutney, kindly donated by Adams.

Cllr Letitia Smith, East Suffolk’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Leisure and Tourism, said: “We have all been affected by Covid-19 in one way or another, however, for those who are particular vulnerable due to loneliness and/or social isolation, the pandemic has had a huge impact on their mental and physical well-being. The EAST bags are a simple yet effective way for us to reach out to those who are struggling, particular during the colder, darker winter months, and hopefully encourage them to stay active, mentally and physically, during this challenging time.”

Initially, the EAST bags will be distributed across the Council’s eight Community Partnership areas to older people who are living alone or caring for someone, who have been identified as being at risk of loneliness and/or social isolation by the East Suffolk Council Communities Team or local organisations and groups working with the team.

However, the Council is also asking that those who may know someone who will benefit from receiving an EAST bag get in touch by emailing [email protected]

Pictured, Cllr James Mallinder assisting with the assembly of the EAST bag.