350-Year-Old Charity Center Forced to Close Due to Costly Renovations

In a regrettable move, the charity Brainkind has announced it will be closing its service in Ipswich, Suffolk on April 30, 2026. The decision comes as the organization's 350-year-old, Grade II listed building is deemed "no longer fit for purpose" and would require a multi-million pound investment to bring it up to modern healthcare standards.

Brainkind, which supports people with brain injuries, took over the Chantry Park center from the Sue Ryder charity in 2023. However, the charity's executive director of service delivery, Ayesha Trott, stated that the building's design and setting within a public park are now limiting the experience of the 18 people currently in Brainkind's care.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) had previously rated the service as "requires improvement" earlier this year, citing regulation breaches related to medicine, premises, and equipment and governance. With the building proving too costly and difficult to maintain, Brainkind has been unable to find a suitable alternative local site, leading to the difficult decision to close the center.

The charity has assured that the wellbeing of its patients is the "number one priority" and that they will be safely relocated to appropriate settings. Additionally, Brainkind is working to redeploy the 90 members of staff whose jobs are now at risk due to the closure.