JHA developed an Activity Plan for The Hold – a proposed world-class heritage destination on Ipswich’s Waterfront.  A landmark building, The Hold will have state-of-the-art storage facilities for Suffolk’s rich and important archive collection, an accessible searchroom for researchers, a learning space for schools, a lecture hall and seminar rooms for use by the University and The Hold for talks and conferences, a special exhibitions space that will showcase the best of the collection, large airy public spaces that can be used as events and meetings spaces and a café to tempt people in who would not normally think to visit.

The existing extraordinary partnership with the University of Suffolk – a University that was founded by and for the community – will engage with young people from across the county with the archives and will bring skills, expertise and ideas that will place the collections and its programmes on a regional, national and international stage. The project is the engine that will transform the whole of Suffolk Record Office into an archive service for the 21st century, driving change, innovative ways of working, new activities, new collections and engagement with new audiences across the county.