Haverhill Town Council and The Befriending Scheme have unveiled ambitious new plans for a new inclusive community campus on the former Castle Hill Middle School site.
Centred around a care farm operated in partnership with The Befriending Scheme. The care farm will offer opportunities for people with learning disabilities, or struggling with their mental health to engage with animals, horticulture and the natural environment.
Alongside this, the Council’s plans include a large youth hub including music studio, youth club, work barn for construction skills, and an alternative education provision. For the community there is a new community centre to serve West Haverhill, plus a café and soft play centre, relocated from its current location at The Zone in Sturmer Road. Whilst the care farm will be used for therapeutic purposes during the week, at weekends families will be able to bring their children to see the animals as part of the overall site experience.
Colin Poole, Haverhill Town Clerk, explained that this is the council’s ambition, that has been developing over the last 12 months. He said: “There is still a long way to go to make this a reality, but it is time to engage the public as this facility will ultimately belong to them.”
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The consultation is taking place at St Felix School, School Lane, Haverhill, from 5pm until 7pm. There will be a chance to see the draft plans and speak to the architects and councillors, as well as service providers who would be delivering services within the site.