News

Halesworth Campus was represented at the Living Well event organised by Halesworth Volunteer Centre and the Waveney Community team, where all kinds of organisations were able to network and learn more about one another. We also made a live presentation to Halesworth town councillors and provided them with up-to-date details of the Campus project. We meet regularly with some town councillors and the Apollo Youth Club leader, and talk to other youth-focused organisations, because we are concerned to play a full part in creating and improving opportunities for young people – including in sports, in training and in volunteering.

Congratulations to Southwold Rugby, who train on the Campus, and whose first XV have gained promotion to London 2 North East – their highest level yet.

The Campus Development Board approved an Arts Policy to include promotion of the role of the arts in forward planning.

• An enhanced physical environment – by art on walls and sculpture in the landscape; beautiful planting; well designed furniture and signage; sympathetic colour schemes; good materials; architectural design and layout; beautiful places to walk, run, cycle and sit
• Increased wellbeing because art can – bring on a smile or frown; make you calm; positively arouse emotions; get people interested in new things; tap into unknown talents; involve those who are disengaged; be beautiful to look at or feel
• Community engagement across the generations, genders and abilities – working with schools and youth club to get young people designing and creating; elderly people expressing themselves; those who are excluded finding a voice; people finding a different focus to everyday life; beautiful new relationships formed
• Support for local art organisations and artists – building on the interest already shown by organisations such as Art Link and The Cut money will be sought to commission art pieces and group projects so creating beautiful art for the Campus

In the Skills Centre, evening classes in “Computing for the timid”, Digital photography, and Sugarcraft/cake decoration, began with good attendance.

Big January storms damaged the fencing around part of the Campus site. Thankfully, the Apollo youth club organisers took quick remedial action to help ensure safe access to their building. In February work squads from the Community Payback scheme removed the fencing and did substantial clean-up work on site.

Campus Trustees met with Apollo youth club leaders and agreed a new lease for the youth club premises. Town councillors accepted that they had issued wrong information about the Apollo youth club lease, and they published an apology and correction on the Town Council website. Halesworth Campus stated that it has been supportive of the youth club and its activities for several years, and will go on being so.

On 17 November 2017 a transport workshop brought together several organisations to discuss transport in the context of the integrated Halesworth Campus/Healthy Neighbourhood development. Campus trustees announced their intention to ensure green, flexible, accessible and affordable transport to and from and across the whole site. Walkways, seating and planting will be an important part of integrating the various elements that form the Healthy Neighbourhood development.

Halesworth Campus is part of the Healthy Neighbourhood development that forms an important part of the Waveney Local Plan.