L’Arche Ipswich was founded in 2006, with the opening of a large house in a quiet part  of Ipswich, near the town centre. Today, the Community welcomes 16 people with learning disabilities in four houses: The Cornerstone (the first house), The Lantern, The Ark and The Anchor - soon to be developed as a ‘courtyard community’ model, providing independent living with communal living areas and space for community gatherings.

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

Our structure includes people with learning disabilities and assistants, volunteers and friends supporting the community, a local board of committee members, and a management and office team.

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.