Ask youngsters between 11 and 18 what their over-riding description of Hadleigh would be and the majority have said 'boring'.

A survey of more than 600 young people on the town found that the most oft word used by participants was boring when asked what three words spring to mind when they think of Hadleigh.

However, many also described their 'small' town as friendly, social, nice, good, kind and caring.

Less than 10 respondents thought Hadleigh cool.

One of the key proposals to make youngsters feel more inclusive in Hadleigh is to form a Youth Council, that would feed directly to the town council with ideas to make things better for the under 18s.

Hadleigh town councillors will discuss the proposal at their monthly meeting on Thursday when they will be asked to adopt the Youth Strategy and then dissolve the working group.

The working group was set up in April 2021, initially by former councillor Lisa Gordon, with Cllr Gale Pryor becoming chair in September 2021.

Hadleigh High School students surveyed ({icture credit: Nub News)

Working closely with the Porch Project and Hadleigh High School, the Hadleigh Youth Strategy Working Group's remit was to:

• To determine at the first meeting the age group that will initially be covered by the Hadleigh
• Youth Strategy Working Group, though in future this may be changed to reflect the needs of
• the local community.
• Develop a Youth Strategy for Hadleigh.
• Produce a 12-month and 3–5-year plan for the strategy.
• To work with relevant organisations and with young people to achieve this.
• To liaise with any other service/function that the Working Group may deem as suitable.

The strategy document can be found here.

Although youngster find Hadleigh boring, the Babergh market town often does well in national surveys.

Why Hadleigh is one of the UK's best places to live.