Charity bosses today spoke of their plans to turn the former Holywells High School building into a facility for the whole community.

Part of the premises in Lindbergh Road, Ipswich, has been taken over by the charity Inspire Suffolk, formerly the Ipswich Town FC Charitable Trust.

The charity aims to improve the lives of young people living in the community, something it has been doing for more than a decade.

The organisation’s chief executive, Terry Baxter, said: “We’re using it for education and promoting health and helping young people wanting to get into work.

“It’s a huge benefit. I’m extremely grateful to everyone who’s helped us to get into the position we’re in now.

“After the charity moved away from the football club it gave us even more opportunities to engage with the community.”

The new home for the group, full name Inspire Suffolk Education and Sports Charity, is being looked at very much as a long-term home. Mr Baxter added: “I very much hope it’ll see me out.

“It’s our home for a considerable time.

“It’s got the ability for us to expand our programme. It’s a significant step and gives us an opportunity to expand, particularly with the Raising the Bar initiative.

“We’ll help young people in our county achieve greater things.

“We have the opportunity to hire out some of these facilities to the wider community when we’re not using them.

“We’re not a sports centre but we are a facility for other sporting clubs.

“We have already had a significant number of sporting groups taking advantage of using the facilities.

Suffolk county councillor Colin Noble, cabinet member for finance and property, said: “The community facilities Terry Baxter and his team at Inspire Suffolk are making available are fantastic and are a perfect example of partnership working and sharing resources.

“Opportunities for people to take part in sport, improving health and wellbeing and engaging young people are all key for the county council so we’re very happy to support this initiative.

“I wholeheartedly welcome the re-use of the old Ipswich Academy site in the heart of this local community. I’m glad to welcome Inspire Suffolk into the facilities and wish them all the best for the future.”

More details about Inspire Suffolk can be found at www.inspiresuffolk.org.uk.