Meet the former Workbridge employee leading the charge for its relaunch to continue vital service across Northants
Meet the former Workbridge employee who is leading the charge in its relaunch to continue offering the vital service across Northamptonshire.
Workbridge was formerly based in Bedford Road and was established more than 40 years ago to provide vocational opportunities for people with mental illness, learning disabilities, autism or brain injury.
However, the St Andrew’s Healthcare-owned service closed down in December 2025 not long after St Andrew’s Healthcare was rated ‘inadequate’ by the Care Quality Commission.
The difficult decision was taken to close Workbridge, which continued to make a financial loss, and one of the team members who were let go as a result was education manager Jenny Lane.
She was gifted the Workbridge name, domain and social media channels by St Andrew’s Healthcare to set up her own service, which is running as a limited company and group while working towards charity status.
“Workbridge sits a little bit outside of where traditional day centres sit,” Jenny told the Chronicle & Echo. “People coming to us are really learning skills to live independently and don’t need a traditional daycare centre. We bridge into employment and are very much a grown up service to gain independence, make choices for themselves and have agency.”
Jenny has recently teamed up with The Lewis Foundation, which has given them space to operate at Spencer Dallington Community Centre. Workbridge also runs sessions at Duston Village Bakery, Bellinge Community House and Fernie Fields with Sport4Fitness CIC.
An innovative way that Jenny is looking to raise funds to keep Workbridge going strong is Bridge Boutique, which gives fashion a second chance while changing lives in the county.
The premium pre-loved fashion boutique specialises in designer labels and quality high street fashion, offering everything from prom dresses and wedding guest outfits to businesswear and luxury accessories.
It is being run as a pilot for 12 months with three pop-ups planned across the year, to see if it is feasible for Bridge Boutique to have a permanent shop of its own. The long-term aim is to have one place for different retail options, to support and fund the organisation in the same way the former Workbridge did.
Bridge Boutique has been created to support Workbridge, the new community organisation helping adults with mental health challenges, autism, learning disabilities and acquired brain injuries to develop confidence, independence and employability skills.
People across the county are invited to donate or sell quality clothing they no longer wear. For anyone who opts to sell their items through Bridge Boutique, you will receive 60 percent of the sale price and the remaining 40 percent will support Workbridge.
The first Bridge Boutique pop-up will take place at the Castle Ashby Estate, with a date yet to be confirmed, and visitors can expect a welcoming shopping experience and other stallholders to visit.
The hope is that anyone going to a prom, wedding or special occasion can not only find their outfit at the pop-up, but could arrange to get their hair, nails and makeup done and be styled with the vendors who will be in attendance.
Jenny asks that anyone interested in selling their items through Bridge Boutique ensures they meet the criteria first, before the smooth process of getting in touch, filling out the form and completing a short contract. Drop off slots will then be arranged to the office of Orchard Home Cleaning on Collingwood Road.
Jenny wanted to give her thanks in particular to Ann Brebner from the JAM – Helping Out group, who has kindly provided space for the items to be stored in advance of the first Bridge Boutique pop-up.