Set on the river Orwell, Ipswich is an old and pretty town. It is the county town of Suffolk. L’Arche in Ipswich was founded in 2006, with the opening of a large house in a quiet part of Ipswich, near the town centre. Today, our community welcomes 16 people with learning disabilities in three houses: the Cornerstone (our first house), the Lantern, and the Ark. All our houses are close to the town centre which offers all the facilities of a medium-sized town. Parks, gyms, pools, cinemas, theatre, and shops are within easy walking distance.

We are a lively community where people with and without learning disabilities share daily life together; where everyone is valued, differences are accepted and talents are recognised and celebrated. We are committed to developing personal responsibility and growth in a community setting.

What makes L’Arche different is the attention we pay to building relationships and a sense of belonging, which goes beyond work and the provision of a service. We aim to celebrate people with learning disabilities and build circles of support around them. We go beyond basic needs to attend to people’s emotional and spiritual lives.

Take a look at our stories to meet some of the people in our Community.

Our stories

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