Pride in Place - Felixstowe West

Shez Hopkins, born in Felixstowe, locally most well known for her leadership and development of the highly successful Level Two Youth Project. Shez’s former background is in Performing Arts, having trained as a professional acrobatic dancer, and performed worldwide as part of a dance illusion act. Once Shez started her family, she retrained as a social worker, then moved into youth work, and from 2006 took on management roles, settling at Level Two Youth Project in 2011.

Shez’s passion for Felixstowe is ever present in her many community roles outside of the Level Two Youth Project.

When not working, Shez enjoys dance, theatre and family time. Nothing gives her greater pleasure than filling her home with family and friends over a meal together.

Shez is both proud and excited to accept the role as Chair of the Pride in Place initiative. She is really looking forward to working closely with the newly appointed Board to make lasting positive differences for the community of West Felixstowe.

A favourite quote of Shez’s is “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” (Margaret J Wheatley)

Jenny is the Member of Parliament for Suffolk Coastal and has worked closely with residents, community groups, businesses and local organisations across Felixstowe since she was elected in 2024.  

Jenny was proud to help secure £20 million of Pride in Place funding for Felixstowe West and has been closely involved in the development of the programme from the outset. Through her work as the local MP, Jenny has seen both the enormous strengths of Felixstowe and the challenges facing some communities, including isolation, inequality and the need to create more opportunities for children and young people. She is committed to ensuring that the £20 million investment is genuinely shaped and led by local people.  

As the local Member of Parliament, Jenny is a member of the Pride in Place Board and is keen to use that role to support a genuinely community-led programme. She is particularly committed to ensuring that residents whose voices have too often gone unheard are actively involved in shaping local priorities.  

Her hope is that Pride in Place will bring communities together, support ambitious local ideas and leave a lasting social and economic legacy for the whole area.

Mike has lived in the area for many years; he attended a local school and on leaving school became an apprentice Radio, TV and Audio engineer working for a local business. Later in life he was employed at the Port of Felixstowe and until retirement worked there as a Project Analyst.

Having married Anne, they moved to Walton where they have lived ever since. They have two children who both attended local schools and now have four grandchildren.  

Mike has represented his community of Walton since 1983 and latterly the newly created Western Felixstowe on both the Town and District Councils and has been Mayor of the town on three occasions. He is the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of East Suffolk Council and a member of the Planning Committee. He is currently Chair of the Felixstowe Branch of Suffolk Sight and President of the town’s Mencap Branch.  

He relaxes by working out at a local gym, cycling, walking, birdwatching, reading and listening to music.

Mike is truly excited about his appointment to the Pride in Place Board and believes that his long-standing history of working in and understanding the problems of his community and knowledge of local government will be an asset to the project.

Organisation: Iain Cochran Architects and London Metropolitan University

Sam Wingate is an artist and designer. He is Creative Director at Iain Cochran Architects in Felixstowe and Senior Lecturer in Design at London Metropolitan University.

As a Felixstowe resident he is excited at the opportunity the Pride in Place funding offers for the town. Since moving here in 2021 he has engaged in research into its history and development, sharing this knowledge with the Felixstowe Society last year.

Sam brings his understanding of communities, education and design thinking to the board.

Elma Glasgow is an award-winning community engagement specialist with deep expertise in communications and culture. A proud West Felixstowe resident, she brings sharp PR instincts, cultural sector experience, and a real understanding of how to reach and engage with diverse communities.  

Elma is committed to the West Felixstowe Pride in Place board and its mission - and is excited to see local people leave their mark on the future of their area and create a meaningful legacy.  

Elma also sits on the boards for National Portfolio Organisations of FurtherField and HighTide theatre company and sits on the Norfolk and Suffolk Culture Board.

Gemma is a proud Felixstowe resident with deep roots in the local community. Having attended Trimley St Martin Primary School and Orwell High School, she has dedicated more than 21 years to education, building an extensive teaching career with drama as her specialist subject while also teaching a wide range of other disciplines.

Married to Adrian and a mother of two teenage children who both attended local schools in Felixstowe, Gemma is passionate about supporting opportunities for young people and families within the area. Outside of work, she is a keen rugby fan and an active member of Felixstowe Rowing Club, where she can often be found rowing along the Suffolk coastline at weekends.

With a strong commitment to the town where she lives and works, Gemma is enthusiastic about joining the Pride in Place Board. She looks forward to contributing her experience, local knowledge and community spirit to help deliver positive changes and make a lasting difference for the people of Felixstowe.

Courtney Hessey has lived in Felixstowe for most of her life and brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work in the community. After working on the Port of Felixstowe in early adulthood and overcoming experiences of homelessness and mental health challenges, she has dedicated her career to supporting young people and strengthening the local community. 

Now Courtney works as a Music Youth Worker with Level Two, using arts and creative engagement to empower young people and improve wellbeing.  

She also works as a Youth Empowerment Consultant for Furtherfield, an arts and ecology organisation. She is recognised locally for her work with young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) and has presented to European policymakers on the value of artist-led community workshops in shaping effective policy. 

As a board member of Pride in Place, Courtney is passionate about ensuring that investment in West Felixstowe creates meaningful opportunities for local people. She believes that increasing access to activities, creative programmes and employment pathways will improve the wellbeing of young people and help build a stronger, more connected community for future generations.

A wife, mum to four children, grandmother to two grandchildren, Carolyn Jones has proudly called Felixstowe home all her life. She began her career at Barclays Bank in Felixstowe in 1975, and after 40 years in the industry, she retired as Branch Manager in 2017.  

Alongside her family and career, Carolyn has been Treasurer of Walton Community Association, helped organise Walton Carnival, raised funds for local charities, and contributed to the design and funding of the Walton Village sign beside St Mary's Church. She has also been a Parent Governor and supported PTAs at local schools and established the Orwell High School uniform shop to help families access affordable uniforms.  

Since retiring, Carolyn has delivered budgeting workshops in schools and the community as a Christians Against Poverty Money Coach. She also helps run St Philip's Community Pop-Up Shop and established the St Philip's Community Hub, which has become a valued resource for local people.  

Supporting vulnerable and isolated people is close to Carolyn's heart. She believes everyone has potential, is known for being approachable and a good listener, and hopes to use her role to ensure local voices are heard and help shape a positive future for Felixstowe.

Organisation: Felixstowe Youth Development Group Ltd

David has lived in the Felixstowe area all his life. Until retiring in 2025 David worked in Environmental Protection and as a Trade Union Officer.

David is currently a Director of Felixstowe Youth Development Group Ltd which operates Level 2 Youth Project, a school governor, Director of the Felixstowe Communities Alliance CIC which operates the Felixstowe Charities Network and Treasurer of the Felixstowe Carnival Association.

David is a Town Councillor for Port Ward which covers part of the Felixstowe West area and is currently Deputy Mayor. David was Mayor in 2024/25.

David has a long history of public service having been Chair of Suffolk Probation Service, a member of Suffolk Police Authority, Deputy Leader of Suffolk County Council and a Justice of the Peace, as well as holding ministerial appointments linked to the Fire Service.

David is delighted to have been appointed to the Pride in Place Board as he sees it as a real opportunity for the local residents and businesses to make an impact on the community without having to worry about funding.  

In his spare time he enjoys playing bowls and attends a local church.

Having grown up in Felixstowe and returning to the area 17 years ago, Jess feels incredibly fortunate to call Trimley St Mary home, where she lives with her husband, three teenage children and a naughty Cockapoo! With much of her extended family based in Felixstowe West, she has a strong personal connection to the community and is passionate about seeing it thrive for future generations.

For the past 20 years, Jess has worked in the voluntary and community sector and is currently Programmes Manager for Public Sector grant making at Suffolk Community Foundation. Her experience has given her a deep understanding of the importance of listening to communities, building strong partnerships and investing in projects that make a genuine difference.

As a Pride in Place Board Member, Jess hopes to help create lasting, positive change by ensuring local people have a real voice in shaping the future of Felixstowe West. She believes the greatest and most sustainable change happens when communities are empowered to identify what matters most to them and work together to make it happen.

Laura Locke has been a resident of Felixstowe for many years. She went to school at the old Middle and High schools and worked in the tourism industries in the town. After having a family (her sons both went to school in Felixstowe) and studying for her degree, she worked as news editor for Suffolk and Essex Business Magazines and in education, being course leader for Events and Tourism programmes at the University of Suffolk.  

She runs WAMfest (women arts and music) Felixstowe, is Felixstowe Wellbeing Hub coordinator, and is a radio presenter and was recently chair of Felixstowe Radio.

She is delighted to have the opportunity to be a board member for Felixstowe's Pride in Place, as she is a strong advocate for Felixstowe and keenly aware of the need to ensure all residents have equal access to essential services and resources.

Sara Turner was raised in the village of Kirton and attended Orwell High School. At the age of 17, she moved to Devon to study Hotel Management at college, beginning a career that has spanned hospitality, education, and community service.

Her early career included roles as a Mobile Manager for Debenhams Catering and as a Customer Service Trainer for the Burton Group. She later worked for a local Devon company, helping to establish coffee shops and restaurants.

In 1994, Sara returned to Felixstowe to raise her family in the Cavendish Park area, where her children attended local schools. In 2003, she founded her own successful childcare businesses, including Twinkletoes Pre-School, TSM Out of School Club, and Kirton Kites Pre-School LTD.

While balancing family life and running her businesses, Sara retrained as an Early Years teacher, earning a degree and achieving Early Years Teacher Status. Following her retirement from business in 2023, she moved to the seafront area of Felixstowe and trained as an assessor. She now works as an Apprenticeship Tutor, supporting learners aged 16 and over in Early Years and Retail qualifications.

Outside of her professional career, Sara is an active member of the local community. She volunteers on the Felixstowe Carnival Committee and enjoys making use of the town's leisure centre and beachfront facilities.

Sara has applied to join the board of PIP because she is passionate about ensuring that local people's voices are heard and represented. She is committed to making a lasting, positive difference for the residents and community of West Felixstowe.

West Felixstowe has held a special place in Jo’s heart since childhood. Growing up in Felixstowe during the 1980s and 1990s, she loved life by the sea, from walking family dogs at The Grove to enjoying the Carnival and the annual Lighting Up celebrations. Those experiences gave her a strong sense of community and belonging that continues to inspire her today.

After leaving Felixstowe in 1996 to study at the University of Exeter, Jo built a career in education, working in inner-city schools and advocating for children and families from all backgrounds. In 2013, she moved to Colchester with her wife and son and became Assistant Headteacher at Queen Boudica Primary School. In October 2023, Jo achieved a lifelong ambition when she was appointed Headteacher of Langer Primary Academy, reconnecting her with the town she has always considered home.

Passionate about education, reading and nature, Jo is committed to creating opportunities that help children and families thrive. She is particularly concerned about the challenges faced by families supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities, and the lasting impact that austerity and the COVID-19 pandemic have had on everyday lives.

The loss of her father to suicide gave Jo a profound understanding of loneliness, bereavement and the importance of community support. Through Pride in Place, she hopes local people will shape the future of West Felixstowe by sharing their experiences, ideas and aspirations. She is especially passionate about supporting bereaved families, young carers, family carers and parents raising children with complex needs. As a board member, Jo hopes to help create a lasting legacy that benefits generations to come.

As a member of the Pride in Place Board, Alan is really looking forward to playing a part in supporting a conversation with local people and businesses about how we create and promote a thriving, inclusive and vibrant community here in Felixstowe West.  

With nearly 30 years of experience working with local councils to manage and transform public spaces he hopes to bring this experience to help Felixstowe West look and feel better, thanks to Pride in Place funding. The quality of our streets, parks, and open spaces can make a real visible difference to the pride that people have about where they live and work.

What really excites him is that the objectives of Pride in Place mean we can take a different approach in how we determine what, where and how to invest in our neighbourhood, with local people and businesses having a direct say in agreeing our priorities.

He is keen to support initiatives that engage with young people and ensure their voices are heard in shaping the future of Felixstowe West. Alan wants to better understand their aspirations and develop projects that make their neighbourhood a place they are proud to call home.

And although Alan has only been a resident of Felixstowe West since February 2026  he has been running along the promenade since 2018, and has seen the town change for the better, which made hi want to make Felixstowe his new home.