For commissioners & funders

Our impact

What we can share today: reach across Ipswich, Colchester and Stowmarket, lived-experience feedback from parents and recognition of our model — including questionnaire outcomes below.

Reach at a glance

500+
Families supported since January 2024
1,800+
Class attendances in the last 12 months
520
Classes delivered since January 2024
3
Towns across Suffolk & Essex

Startstrong Fitness CIC delivers free parent & baby fitness classes in:

Ipswich
Colchester
Stowmarket

Demand outstrips supply

60–69%
Of classes reach capacity, depending on town
4,199
Places booked since January 2024
16% → 8%
No-shows, since we tackled them

Capacity measured July 2026: 69% of Ipswich classes, 66% in Colchester and 60% in Stowmarket reach their booking limit. Our booking system stores only a class's current limit and writes it back over past classes, so these were established by hand against the real limits of the day. Waiting lists are not recorded by the system at all — from experience we typically carry four to seven people per full class.

Finding a problem and fixing it

Classes fall short of capacity for a specific reason: when someone does not arrive, or cancels a few hours before, the place cannot be refilled from the waiting list in time. So we introduced a £3 charge for cancelling within 12 hours or not attending, invoiced automatically. No-shows have halved — from 16% of tracked bookings in 2024 to 8% over the last 12 months. That is 358 places lost to empty spaces across the period, and far fewer of them now.

What parents tell us

Feedback is drawn from a 100-response parent questionnaire and from publicly posted reviews (5.0 average across 30 reviews).

Perinatal mental health & physical recovery
“Startstrong Fitness CIC has been a cornerstone of my postpartum recovery… a lifeline while I navigated the challenges of a weakened bladder and postpartum anxiety.”
— Roxie H.
Physical recovery
“They've really helped me get back to fitness after my caesarean. Incredibly welcoming and she's brilliant at adapting the exercises to everyone's needs.”
— Charlotte R.
Childcare barrier removed
“This group has been fantastic in motivating me to keep active after the birth of my second child. A safe and welcoming environment to work out without the worry of finding childcare.”
— Leah D.
Reducing isolation
“A great way to get out of the house, meet other mums and get my fitness back. A lovely, friendly, welcoming group.”
— Jemma C., Ipswich
Reducing isolation
“A lifeline for me as a new parent. Emma and Shannon have created a really welcoming space where you can connect with other parents going through the same newborn and toddler struggles.”
— Chris & L-J B.
Inclusive & non-judgmental
“A laid-back, non-judgmental space where mums and dads can come, do a good workout and feel great for the rest of the day.”
— Poppy W., Colchester

Curated from publicly posted reviews.

9.0/10
Reduced anxiety
85% rated 8+
9.1/10
Improved mental wellbeing
90% rated 8+
8.8/10
Felt less isolated
81% rated 8+
9.4/10
Physical health improved
90% rated 8+

Self-reported, scored out of 10 · 100-response parent questionnaire · "not applicable" responses excluded (the anxiety measure reflects the 80 parents for whom it applied). Formal, independently measured outcome data is in development through the University of Suffolk partnership.

Themes from lived-experience feedback

These themes come from publicly posted parent reviews — not from formal outcome measurement. They describe what parents say they value and how that maps to common commissioning priorities.

Perinatal mental health
In publicly posted reviews and questionnaire feedback, parents describe our classes as a "lifeline" — a non-clinical community setting that supports postpartum anxiety, low mood and the emotional weight of early parenthood.
Physical recovery
Parents report specialist-led modifications that support recovery after caesarean, pelvic floor concerns and other postnatal physical challenges — at a pace that respects each body.
Reducing isolation
Reviews and questionnaire responses often mention getting out of the house, meeting other parents and building belonging — themes that align with common commissioner priorities on social connection.
Removing the childcare barrier
Babies attend alongside parents with mats and toys provided — parents can exercise without arranging separate childcare, a barrier many reviews highlight.
Inclusive & non-judgmental
Parents report feeling welcome at all abilities. Mums and dads are equally invited — reviews describe a non-judgmental atmosphere with clear exercise progressions.

How we align with national priorities

Startstrong Fitness CIC is not a contracted NHS or local authority service. The alignment below describes how our community classes map to widely recognised family and perinatal priorities — not a claim of formal partnership or funded delivery.

Perinatal mental health
Structured, low-barrier social contact and gentle activity — both recognised protective factors for postnatal wellbeing.
Family Hubs
Family Hubs aim to connect families with community services. Startstrong Fitness CIC provides a free, accessible entry point for postnatal parents — particularly those who may not engage with clinical routes alone.
Start for Life & the first 1,001 days
Regular local contact and gentle activity in the critical early window — one component of the wider family support ecosystem.
Health inequalities
Free at the point of access, removing the financial and childcare barriers that often block postnatal fitness and support.

In the room and out in the community

Our stand at a community event
A Tuesday class in Stowmarket
The team at a local event

Recognition

Community Action Suffolk Quality Award

A Quality Standard organisation, assessed and awarded

In September 2026 Startstrong Fitness CIC was awarded the Community Action Suffolk Quality Award, after the Quality Standards Panel reviewed our policies, practice and evidence and found the required standard met in every area.

Safeguarding
Health and safety
Wellbeing
Governance

Awarded 9 September 2026 and valid for three years. Community Action Suffolk supports and strengthens voluntary and community organisations across Suffolk.

View the certificate (PDF) (opens in new tab)

As featured on the BBC

Free bring-your-baby classes from Startstrong Fitness CIC, supporting families across Suffolk and Essex, were featured by BBC News.

Read the article → (opens in new tab)