Jetty Lane CIO A new community, arts and youth hub

Jetty Lane will be a new community, arts and youth hub for Woodbridge and the surrounding area.

Facts about the Jetty Lane Project:

After 60 years all the groups using Woodbridge Youth Centre found themselves homeless - their premises condemned and demolished. Starting from nothing in 2017 we have signed a 125 year lease at a peppercorn rent on the old youth club site near the River Deben. Jetty Lane will be an iconic building - purpose-built, sustainable, easy to use and maintain. We have obtained full planning permission for the Centre. Initially set up as a CIC we became a Charity last year and have been successful in raising over £250,000. The Centre will provide space and opportunities for thousands of people, enabling them to participate in arts, cultural, health and wellbeing activities for all age groups. A novel aspect of the Project is the creation of a series of commercial units within the Centre which will be available to rent at market rate. There is a pressing need for office space in Woodbridge.

Participation of the Community:

A number of local community groups and charities have already committed to hiring space from us. This includes Just42, a children’s charity running youth clubs and a mentoring project, New Horizons lunch club for older people, Woodbridge Excelsior Band, Company of Four theatre group and Kuk Sool Won martial arts club. Jetty Lane will have a kitchen and hall space suitable for lunch clubs, talks, community events, choir practices, film shows etc and also studios available for artists. Governance: Jetty Lane is run by a team of 5 Trustees Chaired by Woodbridge County Councillor Caroline Page with assistance from a Council of Reference which comprises a range of local people with professional skills and experience. They are supported by a Project Manager and Architect Team. Jetty Lane is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered in England and Wales. Registered Charity Number 1184713.

Our Present Situation:

These are particularly challenging times for our Charity. The actual Centre is not built yet and funding opportunities have, quite rightly, been diverted to provide support to Charities working at the front line of efforts dealing with issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, we believe that as people have become more aware of the importance of community, and as we enter an economic recession, the need for a Centre providing accessible wellbeing and leisure activities will become even more important.