We are delighted to announce that The Bridge Project has signed official property lease documents, marking the start of a well-crafted and significant partnership with AFC Sudbury. We are incredibly excited to begin the next phase of our redevelopment, and we will continue to keep our regular service users updated every step of the way.
Testing the Practicalities
We’re very pleased to have successfully tested the practicalities of integrating our students into the football club, by providing catering and hospitality support, and following a year-long trial period, we are confident the space at AFC Sudbury will work effectively for our students. With the official documents signed, our contractors can now make the necessary structural changes to the existing kitchen space, which will create a safe and valid working environment in which our students can thrive.
The new site will increase the outdoor pursuits we provide, which aim to educate our students and nurture their wellbeing. These activities include horticulture lessons, vegetable growing, nature walks, the replanting of native trees, path laying and creating natural habitats including ponds.
The Environmental Impact
CEO of The Bridge Project, Dave Jackson, explains that the environmental impact was carefully considered throughout the planning and implementation process of the redevelopment. The land which will house our new HQ was previously overflowing with an invasive plant species before it was recently cleared. Working closely with ecologists and arboriculturists, a long-term strategy has been developed to repopulate the site with several native species of plant, which will increase biodiversity and make it a more suitable home for local wildlife. Although it may not look like it now, in two years’ time, the land will be an oasis for local wildlife.
Commitment to Sustainability
Our commitment to sustainability continues with the structural materials lined up to be used for the build. A modular timber frame construction costing just £1, which was due to be discarded, will be repurposed into three classrooms, a large multi-use room, and a large social room which are all carefully designed to allow stress-free access throughout the internal and external areas.
Dave Jackson, CEO at The Bridge Project, said “This next phase of the development has been a long time coming, and we are extremely pleased to see the hard work of our team come to fruition. Our partnership with AFC Sudbury will greatly and positively impact our students, our regular service users, and the wider Suffolk community. We are excited about this next phase in the development and grateful to AFC Sudbury for their continued support.”
Andrew Long, Chair of AFC Sudbury said, “We are delighted that our carefully planned partnership with The Bridge Project has now been formally signed, and we look forward to a long and successful collaboration together. Both parties are committed to further benefitting our local community, and we will work hard to ensure Sudbury, and the surrounding area, is a great place to live, work and thrive.”
Please contact us today if you have any additional questions about our move to AFC Sudbury.