Hundreds enjoy Easter fun at Nell Bank in Ilkley

During the Easter holidays, over 400 people enjoyed a visit to Nell Bank Outdoor Education Centre in Ilkley.

A group from Ilkley Soroptimists joined staff at Nell Bank and other volunteers from the district to give families a fun day out.

The event was funded through the Government Holiday Activities & Food Programme, which aims to provide holiday activities for eligible children to benefit their health, wellbeing and learning.

Transported to and from the centre by bus, each guest was provided with lunch and the Soroptimists supplied chocolate eggs for the Egg Hunt. 

“We volunteers were shown how to help the families enjoy a series of games laid out on the grass and from where to keep a careful eye on the climbs and slides,”

says Jenny, a Soroptimist who traveled from Airton to help,

“It was a joyful and memorable experience despite the early start.”

As well as many individual volunteers, helpers for the day came from the John Lewis Partnership, Skipton Building Society, Bracken Ghyll Golf Club and HSBC. The day ended with the departure of the  double decker buses for Bradford, taking the 400 plus visitors home.

Dan Goodey, CEO of the Nell Bank Charitable Trust, thanked the 40 volunteers and 8 staff:

"We simply couldn't run these events without the help of the amazing volunteers!  Our team today have brought smiles to the faces of all of our visitors, and they couldn't have been more enthusiastic and engaging.  I am enormously grateful for the support!"