Devastation laid bare as Sudbury community and councillors seek answers following collapse of Bridge Project charity
The devastation at a beloved Sudbury charity’s sudden collapse has been laid bare, as councillors and the community seek answers for the vulnerable people affected.
Emotions were high at an extraordinary meeting of Sudbury Town Council on Friday night, when people continued to digest the loss of The Bridge Project.
The social enterprise, which has served adults with disabilities in the Sudbury area for 30 years, will cease operating on Friday due to insurmountable financial difficulties.
The closure not only impacts its long-time users, but also the future of Sudbury Arts Centre – formerly St Peter’s – where the charity has been the primary tenant for the last 18 months.
Ahead of the meeting, The Bridge Project confirmed that work is ongoing behind the scenes towards maintaining services for users, and minimising disruption at Sudbury Arts Centre.
“We are collaborating closely with local partners, and are cautiously optimistic that we can secure ongoing support for our students,” a statement from the charity said.
“There is even a possibility of maintaining a base at Borehamgate under a new organisation, which would provide continuance of service with a number of current staff members.
“As we navigate this challenging time, we sincerely ask for compassion towards our team, our service users and the families impacted.”
Describing the personal impact, the charity’s lead tutor, Paige Carter, revealed there had been ‘no less than turmoil’ since the closure announcement.
“Every single day, we have been dealing with tears, meltdowns, anger and upset, as you can imagine,” she told the town council meeting.
“If you think about that last day at school, when all your friends sign your T-shirt and there are tears because you’re all going to different places, imagine you’ve been at that school for 30 years.
“On top of that, you have a learning disability, and you might have a physical disability. Then you have everything pulled out from under your feet, and feel how that is going to impact your life.
“At the end of the day, I’m heartbroken and devastated, but I can get another job.
“My students are not in that position, and they are the people who are going to suffer from this.”
The Bridge Project confirmed that the Aspect Living Foundation – a Suffolk-based meals on wheels service – has agreed to take on all of its meal delivery service customers.
Several other organisations have offered their support for the transition period, including the Christopher Centre, which will allow the charity to host meetings in its Gainsborough Street HQ at no cost.
At Friday’s Sudbury Town Council meeting, it was heard that Suffolk County Council is open to commissioning new contracts for local providers, who can take on the charity’s services.
Sudbury county councillor Philip Faircloth-Mutton told the meeting: “The grants team says that, under the current situation, as the Bridge is not financially viable, it would be difficult for external funders to be convinced.
“That doesn’t mean this is the case forever. If there is a new phoenix organisation that rises from the ashes, that could change.”
The Bridge Project’s services include education, training and work experience programmes, arts and crafts classes, and a dementia café support group.
Sudbury councillors reacted positively to these overtures, but emphasised that the transition from The Bridge Project to alternative service providers needed to happen without a break.
Nigel Bennett told the council meeting: “We want continuity for service users. What will be the gap? And how long will it be until the new services begin?
“For many users, it’s that break of routine, from a place they have used so much and meant so much. I hope it can be made as seamless as possible.
“Communication in this is really important, so people know what’s happening, what can and, also, what can’t be expected.”
Tim Regester added: “I’ve been connected with The Bridge Project for decades, and I know lots of the students, so I was very sad to hear the news.
“It’s heartening to know the education, training and meals on wheels services might continue, under providers commissioned by the county council.
“The question I’ve been asked repeatedly is, how did this happen? Unfortunately, none of us know, and none of us will know for many months.
“Hopefully, we can get continuation of the service, and maybe a phoenix Bridge Project will come out of this.”
At the meeting, attendees called for accountability from the charity, regarding how its finances had reached such an untenable position.
Town councillors agreed to write a letter to the Charity Commission – the national regulator of the charitable sector – to request an investigation.
Former mayor Jan Osborne said: “What is important is that we found out exactly why this situation has happened.
“The updates we’ve had don’t inspire a lot of confidence. It’s still very much in the air. It causes me a great deal of distress.”
Adrian Stohr added: “It shouldn’t be about making a profit. I get the feeling that it’s looking more like a business, rather than a charity for vulnerable people.
“We should be pressing for more funding to support it.
“There’s a very strong feeling for accountability. It’s one of the most important things, so these mistakes cannot be made in the future.”
Sudbury Arts Centre – formerly St Peter’s – is hoping to continue operating as ‘business as usual’, following the collapse of The Bridge Project.
The charity had served as a key delivery partner for the venue on Market Hill since November 2023.
The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT), which manages Sudbury Arts Centre, says it is now working towards maintaining the successful running of the site.
However, it is unable to confirm any concrete future operating plans, until the relevant stakeholders have been consulted and a plan is formally agreed.
The trust is currently taking advice on a number of ‘complicated financial, operational, legal and HR issues’ that have arisen, which it says may take some time to work through.
Greg Pickup, chief executive of the CCT, said: “We were saddened to learn of the closure of The Bridge Project, which has provided an invaluable service over many years, and has been a tenant at St Peter’s for the past 18 months.
“CCT remains committed to a sustainable future for St Peter’s, and will be working with the team at Sudbury Arts Centre, as well as the network of locals committed to supporting The Bridge during this transition period.
“A key aim is working behind the scenes to try to minimise the disruption caused to the running of the building by the closure of The Bridge Project.”
The Bridge Project similarly stated that it is working with the CCT to ‘ensure any distraction at Sudbury Arts Centre is kept to a minimum’.
A statement from the charity said: “Both partners are working at speed towards no closure of the site – adopting a ‘business as usual’ approach, with the existing staff team retained by the CCT.”
Meanwhile, Sudbury Town Council also agreed on Friday to write to the CCT to formally express its support for the continued operation of Sudbury Arts Centre, without a break.
Hilary Spivey, chairman of the Friends of St Peter’s, added: “We, the friends, will do our utmost to keep Sudbury Arts Centre going after March 28.
“We are working closely with Sudbury Arts Centre staff and the CCT to offer our full support in efforts to keep the building open and to ensure that all events take place.
“We know that everyone in Sudbury and the nearby communities will be joining together to make sure this wonderful building continues to be a welcoming and exciting venue for everyone to enjoy.”
