Ipswich Together Community Interest Company was created to run alongside Geek Retreat Ipswich and to support the work the café does for the Ipswich community.

Geek Retreat opened in October 2021 and quickly became a safe community space for many. The popular game café prides itself on being inclusive with a wide range of games and events- there is something for everyone.  As a business however they were limited to what they could offer especially with the challenges of running a high street business.

So late last year, Ipswich Together CIC was developed. 

Owner, Sharon Lockhart said, “We were approached by various groups wanting to run activities in the café and we realised we couldn’t always help fund these activities.  We were even offered funding but then when finding out we were a business- the groups were unable to give funds.”

“This inability to say yes to everything we want to do, gave us the idea of starting a CIC, Community Interest Company, that could apply for the funding needed to help support people in the wider community.”

Ipswich Together’s mission is to bring people together through common interests. 

Kaori, Geek Retreat manager says, “What we see in the café is the benefits to all- having other people who love their hobby.  A person who is nervous to get out into the community, suddenly feels more confident when they find new friends.”

Ipswich Together will be working on projects- the first being a space for Autistic young people to play Minecraft together, rather than being in their own room at home, participants can play in a group setting on the same server.  Ipswich Together has had an offer of laptops that the participants can use and will also have a space for the parents to be near their child but getting the chance to meet other parents.

“It has been wonderful getting the communities support already,” Sharon said.  “We have gone back to groups that offered us funding for activities and hope to expand what we can offer for the Ipswich Community.”

Kaori, “It is great to scale up what we can do and expand on our ability to meet the needs of the community.”