Mary Berry once famously said, “Cakes are healthy, if you eat a small slice.” In our opinion, truer words have never been spoken (though we’re choosing to ignore that last part). So, come next Tuesday (July 13th) we’ll be hotfooting it over to Jetty Lane, where we hear that they are having a Free Cake Day.

 Yes, you heard us right! It’s a Free (that’s free!) Cake (yes, cake!) Day (all day! Cakes ALL day!).  From 10am to 3pm, you can go along and visit their workspace at the containers opposite Kingston Playing Field, and learn about their exciting plans for the future while munching on a sticky bun (or two!).

 Jetty Lane came about in 2017, when the unfortunate demise of Woodbridge Youth Centre meant that many groups and clubs within the community were left with nowhere to go. This was a harsh blow to the area, particularly young people who desperately need a safe place to congregate, and the town’s thriving community of artists and creative. Woodbridge is often seen as the cultural hub of Suffolk.

 It’s said, however, that when one door closes, another opens, and this door revealed a group of people refusing to allow their community’s needs to go unmet, united by the desire to nurture art, youth and creativity in a place built to last. And with that Jetty Lane was born, launching the ambitious plan for a purpose-built arts centre in the heart of Woodbridge. Designs for the centre are well underway, intended to provide space for inter-generational community groups, artists’ studios and commercial offices. And Jetty Lane will be here for the long-haul, having signed a 125 year lease on a peppercorn rent on the old youth club site at Kingston Playing Field near the River Deben, just a five-minute walk from the train station.

 Many residents of Woodbridge cannot wait to see this dream come to fruition: “There is no doubting the potential for Jetty Lane to transform young lives and the project will be a brilliant asset for our town,” says Alan Swerdlow and Jeremy Greenwood, supporters of the project. Others are excited to see different ventures benefit from the new premises; Joan Robinson, a volunteer for the New Horizons Club (which provides sociable activities and lunches to elderly residents) says: “Coming here means the world to the old people, and Jetty Lane will have better facilities for us: a better kitchen, more space, a better situation for parking. We’ll be able to see more people and having everything on a level surface will make a big difference.”

Until then, Jetty Lane continues to operate out of the containers, kindly gifted to them by Eric Reynolds, the owner of Woodbridge Boat Yard. So far, they have raised an impressive £250,000, but they need YOUR help, now more than ever, to meet their goal of £3.5 million.

The Free Cake Day will be a fantastic opportunity to hear all about their plans for the future, or simply to meet the team and artists who congregate there – and if you can bring a cake, they will love you forever!

* If you would like to make a donation to Jetty Lane, go to: www.jettylane.org/donate-1

Or, send a cheque made payable to Jetty Lane CIO, to:

The Treasurer,

31 Hilly Fields,

Woodbridge

IP12 4DX

To learn more about how you can become a friend to Jetty Lane, go to www.jettylane.org or email info@jettylane.org