Ipswich MP Jack Abbott has opened applications for his 2026 Summer School programme, offering young people in Ipswich and Suffolk a chance to gain hands-on experience in politics and public service.
The two-week intensive course is open to individuals aged 18 to 24. Participants will engage in workshops covering campaigning, communications, and public speaking, alongside visits to Parliament. Sixteen people will be selected for the programme, which runs from Monday 10 August to Friday 21 August 2026.
Abbott, who was elected as the MP for Ipswich in July 2024, launched the initiative based on his own early experience in politics, where he participated in a similar scheme as a 20-year-old. The inaugural programme in 2025 saw 17 participants lead real-world campaigns, including one that encouraged over 80 local businesses to sign an assistance dog-friendly pledge in partnership with Suffolk Sight and the Suffolk Guide Dog & Visually Impaired Forum. Another group worked with Suffolk Family Carers and the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust to raise awareness for young unpaid carers, reaching approximately 10,000 people.
The impact of the programme is already visible, with alumni pursuing further involvement in public life. Past participants include Saffeen Yamulki, who stood as a candidate in the May 2026 local elections, and Erin McCormick, who is currently an intern in the MP’s Westminster office.
Interested applicants must submit their forms to [email protected] by 17:00 on Friday 19 June 2026.
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