Woodlands Outdoor Centre

Low cost, self catering accommodation in Betws-y-Coed

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About us

0870 787 3326

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The Barn Outdoor Pursuits Association is a non-profit making organisation

The centre is run by a group called 'The Barn Outdoor Pursuits Association' which is a registered charity. The purchase and refurbishment has been supported by the National Lottery Charities Board with additional support by Staffordshire County Council to provide facilities enabling programmes for personal and social development of young people in Wild Country.

The Association is founded upon the principle of equality of opportunity. Programmes based on physical, mental and group work challenges in the outdoors can develop the individual's inter-personal skills, self- discipline and self-confidence. The resulting increase in self-esteem and sense of self-worth can underpin a positive contribution to society.

It has always been our policy that fees charged to young people should be kept to the lowest level possible to break even. Over the years we have subsidised these fees by holding dances, jumble sales, etc. and have received a small annual grant of £300 from Staffordshire County Council. This grant was substantially increased of late.

It has also always been our policy that all groups of young people must be accompanied by leaders suitably qualified and more recently covered under the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority for the activity they are going to undertake.

The committee

The nucleus of our committee is made up of many longstanding members who in the main hold positions of responsibility in their own particular field. For example, we have the manager of a business section of a University, a Health and Safety Advisor who is also a local County Councillor, a school secretary of a large school, a number of housewives, a full time Senior Area Youth worker, a development engineer, a prison warder, a web developer, the warden in charge of a well known Country Park and, a retired manager with a Nationalised Industry. Some of us are fully qualified leaders in mountaineering, rock climbing, canoeing and mountain biking.

Our history

In 1959 a group of enthusiasts got together and rented a small barn at Capel Curig, North Wales, calling themselves The Barn Committee. The building provided the most basic accommodation which, at that time, was acceptable. Due to the death of the farmer in 1981, the lease was foreclosed and the building reverted back to farming use.

We continued to raise funds and seek suitable accommodation. In May 1984 we leased a derelict slabbed floor cottage from a farmer near Llanberis, North Wales. The committee of unpaid volunteers worked very hard to renovate the building and completely modernised the interior to form two kitchens, washing, showering and toilet facilities, a lounge and two dormitories.

Section 2 (Objectives) of our constitution states the following: The objectives of the Association are, by associating together the inhabitants of Staffordshire and other surrounding areas local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort, to

1. provide, in the interests of social welfare and the advancement of education, facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupations for all young people, being facilities
   1. Of which those persons have need by reason of their youth, disablement, or social and economic circumstances and
   2. Which will improve the conditions of life to such persons by promoting their physical, mental, social and interpersonal well-being and, in any manner which is or hereafter may be deemed by law to be charitable;
2. establish, or secure the establishment of, a centre to provide basic low cost short stay accommodation in Snowdonia to enable and encourage young people of all denominations, creed or colour to take an active part in outdoor activities and the Associations conventions and responsibilities of communal living and
3. maintain and manage the centre (whether alone or in co-operation with any local authority or other person or body) in furtherance of these objectives;
4. promote such other charitable purposes as from time to time be determined.

Over the years we have become increasingly aware, not only for the need of a permanent establishment maybe in the form of ownership or partnership to ensure that future generations of young people will have access to a facility such as ours, also that young peoples expectations with regard to the standards of accommodation has progressively become greater.

We therefore applied to the National Lotteries Charities Board and were successful in being awarded funding to bring our dream to reality. As we have been so highly successful in the North Wales area we did not consider elsewhere. We have now overcome many obstacles and purchased The Woodlands at Betws-y-Coed, North Wales, which is ready made to suit our requirements, we are operating with a resident Warden, and thus ensuring full and proper control at all times.