A CHARITY is preparing to relocate to a new headquarters in a bid to cut costs, it emerged today.

A CHARITY is preparing to relocate to a new headquarters in a bid to cut costs, it emerged today.

Suffolk Deaf Association's current base is at 49 Fonnereau Road but the financial implications involved with running the building have mounted up.

As such, the board of trustees has agreed to put the building up for sale and relocate to new premises.

Ian Finch, trustees chairman, said: “Suffolk Deaf Association owns a huge property in Fonnereau Road. We have owned this property for many years.

“The cost of running this centre is huge as it occupies nearly a quarter of an acre of land in the middle of Ipswich.

“The board has decided the Suffolk Deaf Association's head office is going to move to a different location as soon as possible. We are about to instruct the agents to sell this site.

“We have identified a property we may well go to that will extend the services we are operating.”

There was a board meeting last week to discuss the costs involved in running the current building.

Mr Finch said that the new site would be in Ipswich but would not be drawn on giving the exact location before a deal has been agreed.

The association aims to spread knowledge and awareness about deaf people, and also encourages the inclusion of deaf people in social and educational activities.

There are three branches across Suffolk - Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft - from where they run social clubs, lip reading classes, sign language classes, and deaf awareness training for outside organisations. There will be an increase in services once the move to the new premises is completed.

The centre at Fonnereau Road was bought in 1944 after a fundraising appeal. It was known then as the Central Institute.

Do you benefit from the work of a charity in Ipswich? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.