Disabled children set to try out Ilkley centre’s new facilities

Celebrations will mark the arrival of the first official guests at its £460,000 new block on Saturday, and youngsters who have been invited to the event will be treated to fun activities and a guided tour.

Nell Bank’s manager says the new facilities make the centre ‘the most inclusive education centre in Britain’.

The Denton Road centre is managed by Bradford Council, surrounded by 100 acres of woodland on the north side of the River Wharfe, with views across the valley to Ilkley Moor.

The new unit has been funded by the Government’s Aiming High initiative to support facilities and activities for children and young people.

This state-of-the-art new accommodation, which can sleep up to 20 people or a group of 12 with disabilities and their carers, features electronically-operated beds, under-floor heating, solar panels, a hoist to help people in and out of hydrotherapy baths in the hygiene suite, and the kitchen is also equipped with movable worktops and sinks.

Children with disabilities who have been invited to the event will be given a tour of the new unit and will take part in a habitat trail in the 'Nellmobile', a vehicle specially designed to carry wheelchairs.

Councillor Michael Kelly (Con, Craven), the council’'s Executive Member for Services to Children and Young People, said: “The new residential block further enhances the brilliant outdoor education centre that is Nell Bank and it means that even more groups can enjoy the facility as overnight residents.”

Manager Bruce Fowler said staff were delighted with the new unit and can not wait for the first group of children to try it out.

Visited by around 20,000 pupils every year, Nell Bank won the National Lottery Awards Best Environmental Project in Britain title in 2008, gaining £2,000 towards its residential block which is an impressive new addition to the popular centre.