Have you heard about The Birk Crag Centre? Did you ever go and stay in the former building as a child?
The Birk Crag Centre is located on Cornwall Road on the edge of Harrogate and is a training, activity and residential Centre for Girlguiding North Yorkshire West County and the local community.
Once complete, the Centre will provide a modern, multi-purpose and environmentally friendly base for our Girlguiding community as well as residential facilities for unit holidays, sleepovers, weekend and day events including training courses.
In addition to representing the heart of Girlguiding for the North Yorkshire West County’s over 2000 members, we want to open the doors to a fully accessible, finished building and provide the Harrogate community with a hub for everyone. A space where people can come together again in a safe and welcoming way.
The former centre was a popular favourite not only with our local units but also those from across the UK and international visitors who would travel to the semi-rural setting of Birk Crag for a weekend away from the pressures of day-to-day life, getting to know peers and friends, developing practical new skills and growing in confidence, self-esteem and resilience.
Lockdown has negatively affected the mental health of girls and young women. The new Birk Crag Centre is needed now more than ever before.
It comes as no surprise that many local children and young people experienced loneliness during lockdown. In particular, they have been affected by a lack of physical contact with friends and peers, and the frustration associated with a loss of all the activities that formed a part of daily life prior to lockdown.
We want to represent a new beginning. A new, post lockdown phase, where our local young people see the opportunities they need.
Once complete, the new Centre will provide a Hall seating up to 120 people, activity and meeting rooms, a dining room, small lounge, kitchen and a County office to support our members, together with residential accommodation for 40. With financial support we will provide a platform lift from the Ground Floor to the Basement and from the Ground Floor to the 1st Floor bedrooms making the Centre accessible to all. Outside there will be grass and campfire areas, a woodland trail and parking spaces.
The outside of the building is now complete and watertight but is a shell with the inside currently unfinished. We need help to finish the space. Covid 19 and the year long phase of lockdowns has negatively affected our fundraising efforts.
We are very grateful to everyone who has contributed and continue to fundraise to achieve the dream of so many, but we still need help to complete the final fit out and to enable us to welcome our members, children and adults, Scouting and local community groups to the Centre. Join them this Saturday 1st May 2021 for a Bake Sale!
Anything helps, big or small. Here are just some of the ways you can help us bring The Birk Crag Centre to life.
Like and share our posts on Facebook and Instagram
Become a Friend of Birk Crag
Donate using our JustGiving page
Partner and provide all important building supplies and materials Sponsor and your business joins the many that have supported us so far
Donate. Partner. Sponsor.