Secure Waddow Hall for future generations

Aim

We need to raise £5m to purchase Waddow Hall and re-open it as a heritage, conference and outdoor activity centre for everyone.

Help us secure Waddow Hall for future generations in the world-wide community!

Join us in our mission

In May 2023 Girlguiding announced it’s intention to close and sell it’s 5 training and activity centres including Waddow Hall in Clitheroe. 

This will be a great loss to the many 1000s of people across the country and beyond who use the centre each year for meetings, activity days, residential events, themed activities, children’s parties, family breaks and large community events.

We have set up a new charity Waddow Hall Trust to try and raise the funds to purchase Waddow Hall from Girlguiding and to re-open it as a conference and outdoor activity centre with a greater emphasis on it’s heritage and importance to the Clitheroe area.

 Who are we ? 

Waddow Hall Trust comprises supporters from across the groups that have traditionally visited Waddow such as uniformed youth groups and adult social groups, members of the current management team, members of Friends of Waddow and members of the local community.

We have all been supporting Waddow Hall as volunteers for many many years and contributed ideas, time  and funds to keep it in an excellent condition, improve activities on site, research the heritage of the hall and open up access from purely uniformed youth groups to many more local people / groups / schools.

We are all passionate about the great benefits that Waddow brings to the people who use it and desperate to preserve this wonderful asset.

Why we need your help

Waddow is so much more than an activity centre – it is a home from home and always a hive of activity – whether that is local Cadets using Ribble Lodge for weekly meetings, a Community funday with lots of activities, a school group in the Adventure House, Guides, Scouts, DofE and uniformed groups camping in the grounds, a group of friends in the Ranger Cottage or Stables, an Adult Social Group, religious retreat event, course attendees staying in the house and utilising the training rooms or a family group in one of the Cottages!

We need to preserve access to this amazing place for future generations. We want it to be open to anyone who wishes to visit and take part in our wonderful activities not to be turned into an exclusive hotel venue or allowed to fall into disrepair.

Please help us by donating today – every donation will help us achieve our target!

How much do we need to raise?

We need to raise around £5 million to purchase the Estate from Girlguiding, cover 12 months running costs and expand the activities that we currently offer. 

Crowdfunding is only the start of our fundraising campaign and we are also looking at other options such as Grants, a patron’s scheme and other community fundraising. Please visit our facebook group to find out more - https://www.facebook.com/groups/251544230986808/

History of Waddow

Waddow Hall is a Grade II listed 17th Century Manor House with history dating back to the 13th Century when it was built as a Dower House for the Tempest family of Waddington Old Hall. In 1879 it was acquired by the Garnett family, a large respectable family known for industrial philanthropy, their textile manufacturing business and the expansion of Low Moor village to house their textile workers. In 1927 it was purchased by Girlguiding and has nearly 100 years of Guiding History. There is a large archive museum of Girlguiding/Garnett Family information and artifacts. The Estate is significantly important to the area of Clitheroe and globally to current and past Girlguiding members.

We are devastated that Girlguiding has decided to close Waddow Hall and sell and we are desperate to raise the funds to purchase it and run it as an asset of community value. We have been taking pledges of support from current guiding members and supporters but need the help of the Waddow community to reach our target.

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Our Plans for the Future

Once we manage to save Waddow we want to continue to offer residential and day use to schools, youth groups, adult social groups and family groups but also expand access to businesses and the general public with a greater range of experiences for all ages. We can offer family camping / indoor accommodation, conferences, heritage tours, adventurous activities and even Escape Rooms!

Access to the outdoors is so important for general wellbeing and helps to build confidence, self esteem and better mental health. Our facilities and activities are accessible to everyone, no matter your age or abilities. We have accessible accommodation and activities can be adapted to allow everyone to participate.  

Please donate today to help us purchase Waddow Hall and continue to run it as a Conference / Residential / Outdoor Activity Centre for the benefit of all ages in the local, national and international community. Every donation will help.

In the event that we do not raise sufficient funds from our various fundraising avenues to purchase Waddow Hall then any funds raised from this crowdfunding campaign will be held by Waddow Hall Trust and distributed by way of grants to youth groups, schools and adult social groups to allow then to undertake the kind of residential / activity day at another venue that they would have enjoyed at Waddow Hall in the past. In the event that the Trust is wound up , any remaining funds will be transferred to a charity (charities) with similar aims and objectives.

This project successfully funded on 29th November 2023