£188,800 grant to Woodbridge Community, Arts & Youth Centre

By Craig Ranson
By Craig Ranson

Managing Director – Bridge Classic Cars

Article shared from www.keepingintouchwith.com/woodbridge publication and image shared from Jetty Lane CIC

East Suffolk Council has thrown its support behind the proposed landmark community, arts and youth centre in Woodbridge by granting £188,800 to the social enterprise Jetty Lane CIC.

Jetty Lane CIC is working to build and run a new centre to support young people, artists and community groups in the heart of Woodbridge. Since Woodbridge Youth Club was demolished in 2017, many youth, arts and community organisations have been homeless.

East Suffolk Council‘s financial backing covers pre-construction costs for the planned development located near the River Deben. The proposed centre, which submitted for full planning in August, will provide much-needed space for theatre groups, martial arts and exercise classes, Woodbridge Scouts, Just42 youth charity, services for the elderly, local business people, artists and more.

Caroline Page, Chair of JettyLane CIC commented: “We are extremely grateful to East Suffolk Council for their generous response to our funding application. It is a great boost to the cause and guarantees that the money we raise from here-on-in will be spent on construction. Woodbridge is in desperate need of community space since Woodbridge Youth Club was demolished in early 2017, leaving many local community, arts and youth initiatives homeless. As the town continues to expand with new housing developments, there is a greater need than ever to build a new space for community and local groups to thrive.”

Jetty Lane was founded by County Councillor for Woodbridge Caroline Page, Caroline Rutherford from local charity Just42, Group Scout leader, 1st Woodbridge Adam Thorpe, and local resident Cordelia Richman. The planned building will comprise of eight individual studios to artists, two halls, hireable space for community groups to use at an affordable rent, as well as office facilities provided on a commercial basis.

The results of the planning application are expected before Christmas 2018.

For more information about the project or to make a donation visit Jetty Lane online.

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