Did you know that there’s only one standard gauge heritage railway in Suffolk? On this week’s episode we’re “All Aboard!” as we meet the team at the wonderfully nostalgic Mid Suffolk Light Railway, or ‘The Middy’ as it’s affectionately known. Kevin Burch took at trip up the A140, to meet some of the army of volunteers who run the railway. The Middy attracts in the region of six thousand visitors each year, and Ian (Chairman of the Trust), John (Marketing Manager), Don (retired US airforce pilot) and David (who wears many hats!) tell Kevin all about the fantastic events they have planned for t ..read more

Our latest Suffolk Money podcast is a really uplifting story about a local charity, which helps young people who could otherwise slip through the net when it comes to education, training and employment. The charity is called Fresh Start and Colin Low went to their new second-hand furniture shop and café in Carr Street (Ipswich) to find out all about the secret of its success and meet the ever-smiling Café Manager, Tina Sinderby. Tina talks about how she came to join the charity and how her life has changed since. An inspirational figure within the group, her positivity is infectious, as is h ..read more

A UK wide network, this is all about social connections and friendship, whilst sharing skills and knowledge. There are several Men’s Sheds in Suffolk (including Stowmarket, Debenham and Bury St Edmunds) and for this week’s podcast, Kevin Burch took a trip to visit Stour Valley Men’s Shed in Long Melford. Here he meets Colin Muddimer, as well as Dave, Graham and many other members, who tell him all about their non-profit organisation; how it came to be and the vital sense of purpose it gives to men in the local community. Everyone is made to feel welcome and it is the perfect place to socialis ..read more

This week is a special landmark for Suffolk Money Podcast, as we release our 100th episode! We’ve met and spoken to some truly amazing guests since our launch back in 2021, and this week is no exception; as Lesley Dolphin took a trip to meet customers and volunteers at the Community Shop at Sproughton. Opened in 2010, Sproughton Community Shop has become a vital resource for the village and the surrounding area. However, as shop manager, Stacey Palmer explains, it has faced plenty of challenges along the way and, especially after the pandemic, its future was very uncertain. But thankfull ..read more

2024 marks the 140 years since the launch of the Chamber of Commerce in Suffolk. This landmark anniversary is being celebrated with a special project called C140 and, in this week’s podcast, Colin Low talks to Molly Williams (Project Officer for C140) and Paul Simon (Head of Public Affairs) about the history of the Chamber, its work today and the importance of C140. With an outstanding heritage of being relevant to the business community for 140 years, the Chamber has not only impacted business and commercial activity throughout this time, but also the wider community and the people of Suffol ..read more

Many of us love board games - from Monopoly, to Scrabble to Trivial Pursuit. But for our guest this week on the Suffolk Money Podcast, they’re something of an obsession. John Mariani is a games developer and highly successful entrepreneur from Ipswich, who spends his days thinking up new ideas and researching thousands upon thousands of fiendishly difficult quiz questions. Kevin Burch went to meet him and find out more about his passion for board games and trivia. With his Italian heritage, John not only speaks Italian, but is also fluent in Spanish and speaks French and German too. His love ..read more

Welcome to the first episode of season five of our Podcast, Suffolk Money. Today, we’re visiting a hugely-popular venue in Ipswich, called Geek Retreat. Having opened just over two years ago, this is not only a shop and café, but a true community hub, where people go to find their niche and find their people. In this episode, Lesley Dolphin meets Sharon Lockhart, one of the owners, who explains how Geek Retreat has become a real haven for people who love gaming. Here, people can eat, meet, shop and play – everything from board games and trading card games to roleplay games and crafting too ..read more

For the first podcast of 2024 from Suffolk Money, we’re looking back at some of the most memorable moments from the last twelve months. Amongst the voices you’ll hear are a young taxidermist, a retirement rebel, a campaigner against plastic pollution, a young entrepreneur with global ambitions and fund-raisers planning a lasting memorial for the Suffolk-based comedian Roy Hudd. Extra points if you can guess who’s who! Our sincere thanks to all the guests who joined us in 2023, and we’re thrilled to have now produced 90 podcasts since we launched the podcast nearly three years ago; all support ..read more

For our final podcast of 2023 Colin Low took a trip to Middleton, to visit the family-run company, Tosier Chocolate, which makes a delicious range of niche products. Having started in their business in 2016, Deanna and Jonathan Tilston have progressed from a basement to a converted dairy on the Suffolk coast, where they now run their small batch craft chocolate factory, chocolate shop, café and tasting rooms. In this episode, Jonathan explains the royal heritage of their intriguing name and, Deanna talks us through the fascinating alchemy of the chocolate production process, from bean to bar ..read more

The focus for this week’s podcast is the charity Emmaus Suffolk, who help people who’re vulnerable, isolated in society and at risk of being homeless. Colin went to meet the charity’s chief executive, Claire Staddon, at their community hub in Ipswich, to find out more about the support they offer. As Claire explains, it is Emmaus’ ambition to introduce Suffolk to new ways of tackling entrenched homelessness, isolation and unemployment.  Their hubs, across Ipswich and Felixstowe are a safe and welcoming space, free to attend and open to all. Visitors to the hubs are encouraged to join Em ..read more