History of the Partnership
The Wickham Market Partnership was formed as a company limited by guarantee from a working party of the Wickham Market Parish Council in October 2002. In February 2003 the Partnership attained charitable status. Its principal purpose is to obtain funding and work with various organisations to improve the facilities in Wickham Market and the surrounding communities, which were identified in a “Healthcheck” carried out in 2001 followed by a feasibility study focusing on sport and leisure activities in 2005.
The development of the centre of Wickham Market by Suffolk Coastal District Council with funds from the East of England Development Agency, Suffolk County Council and the Parish Council was completed in 2002. An early project was the development of this community website, which continues to inform visitors of Wickham Market’s wide range of services and facilities. The Partnership was a key partner in designing and seeking funding for a skate park and supporting the Village Hall to install a new play area in 2004. Built in conjunction with Suffolk County Council, the Resource Centre, incorporating the Library & Community Rooms, also opened in 2004. This was followed by tennis courts developed in 2008 with Lottery funding, the completion of a full-sized basketball court in 2009, and facilities signage for Wickham Market off the A12. A promotional leaflet for Wickham Market, celebrating its history, environment and businesses, was also designed and published in 2010. Local businesses have been supported with the installation of Christmas tree/flagpole brackets on the Hill in 2011.
Over the years the Partnership has also given matched funding to a number of other organisations in the area. Last but not least the Partnership responded to the threat of the possible library closure in 2011 by liaising with the County Council to form a Library Management Committee to support the day-to-day running of the library to supplement the staff with volunteer help to increase opening hours, and becoming one of the first pilot schemes in the County.
The Resource Centre was originally two separate bungalows which were linked together by a reception area (the Atrium) to create the Resource Centre, now known as the Library & Community Rooms. With excellent disabled access, this was completed in 2004. The Library transferred from its previous location to this building the same year and is now open five days a week.
Within the Resource Centre, there are Community Rooms for hire. Click here for further information
The Library. The partnership was a founding board member of Suffolk Libraries IPS when it was established in 2012, representing Wickham Market library on the board. In 2025, library service provision was transferred back to Suffolk County Council and the transfer was largely seamless from the point of view of library users. A Library Friends Group has also now been formed to lead on fundraising, promoting the library within the community, etc.
The Partnership continues to support and work closely with the library management team and the ‘Friends’ group. The library continues to be a key benefit for Wickham Market and the surrounding villages. The library is open 5 days a week and relies significantly on volunteers to complement the library staff so that the library can be fully open each day.
Wickham Market Area Archive Centre was successfully moved into its new premises in the rear garden of the Resource Centre. A new lease was negotiated by the Partnership with Suffolk County Council for the Archive Centre to occupy a large, insulated log cabin unit. The cabin was purchased by the Partnership with the help of grants from East Suffolk Council, Wickham Market Parish Council, Wickham Market Partnership and local charitable trusts together with a legacy from a former trustee and was built by a group of volunteers, including the Chair of the Archive Centre, Partnership trustees and Shed members.