Chantry Youth Development
Initiative is a sub committee of Chantry Residents Association and
was set up in 1997 with the aim of providing freely accessible
leisure resources for the children and young people of Chantry.
There were no free facilities in the immediate area and the
majority of children are from low-income families or families on
means tested benefits who cannot afford the prices of the local
sports centre.
It took over four years to
raise the £20.000+ needed to build the court but in August 2001 the
new sports area on the Chantry Estate was opened by the Deputy
Mayor of Ipswich Don Edwards and international basketball stars
Steve Nelson and Peter Scantlebury.
Chantry Residents
Association leases the land from Suffolk County Council at an
agreed ‘peppercorn’ rent and it is free for anyone to use. Although
basketball is the main function, the court was designed to be multi
purpose; football, roller hockey and tennis can all be played on
there. Ipswich Borough Homes recently held a very successful
community fun day on and around the court.
Anyone can book the court
for sporting events, fete’s, table top sales, etc by telephoning
The Community Shop on 01473 683680
As with any new project
there were a few sceptical people at the beginning who thought that
it would never happen or even doubted that it would be used, but
the children use the court all the time; during their school
lunchtime, after school and now thanks to Suffolk ACRE
(Local Network Fund) and
Councillor Sue Thomas we have purchased 4 floodlights which has
enabled the children to stay and play in the darker winter
evenings.
Thanks to Suffolk ACRE (Local Network Fund), South West Safer
Neighbourhoods Team, and the South West Area Housing Panel we have
been able to keep running out training sessions click
here to find out when and where!
We are depended on donations
to maintain the court and provide sporting activities for the
children if you would like to make a donatation cheques can be made
out to 'Chantry Residents Association (Youth Section)' and send
to:
Chantry Residents
Association
F.A.O The CYDI
Committee
The Community
Shop
26 Lavender Hill
IPSWICH
IP2 0ND
Alternatively cash donations
can also be made in person at this address in an envelope addressed
to The CYDI Committee.
Any donation small or large
would be greatly received and ensure our project keeps
running.