Rock UK
Rock UK (formerly Barnabas Adventure Centres) is a national UK Christian charity which supports and encourages 50,000 young people every year. Rock UK achieves its aim ‘to provide an opportunity for young people to develop physically, socially and spiritually’ through the provision of residential and day visit opportunities for groups including schools, colleges and youth groups. A wide range of activities are offered including climbing, abseiling, archery, fencing, gorge walking, high ropes, mountain biking, night walk and bivi, orienteering, kayaking, open canoeing, raft building, team development, go-karting, swimming, football and volleyball.
Locations
Rock UK runs four Outdoor Activity Centres around the country, including:
- Carroty Wood - A 58-acre (230,000 m2) site set in mature woodlands (Tonbridge, Kent)
- Frontier Centre - A 120-acre (0.49 km2) site in the heart of England (Irthlingborough, Northants)
- Whithaugh Park - Set in 110 acres (0.45 km2) among the hills of Scotland's Border Country (Newcastleton, Scottish Borders)
- Summit Centre - formerly known as the Welsh International Climbing Centre (Treharris, South Wales)
History
Rock UK began its life in 1922 when a group of Sunday school teachers from London decided to take their groups on an adventure holiday. The groups purchased Belgrave House in Littlehampton so that they could return regularly and in 1924 also decided to rent a field at Climping which was used as a canvas camp site. Camps continued to be run at both of these locations for 50 years under the name of the 'Belgrave Trust'. In 1977, Belgrave House was sold in order to expand the work, with the proceeds being used to buy Carroty Wood in Tonbridge which was turned into an outdoor pursuits centre. In the following years, Halls Green (now closed), Whithaugh Park and the Frontier Centre were also purchased. The Belgrave Trust underwent a number of name changes before finally becoming known as Barnabas Adventure Centres. In 2009, the organisation was renamed "Rock UK". In October 2010 Rock UK opened Summit Centre is South Wales.
Affiliations and links
Each of the activity centres is registered with the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (AALS) the body that licences outdoor activities. Rock UK also has strong links with the Northamptonshire Association of Youth Groups (NAYC) having taken over the running of the Frontier Centre from NAYC in 2004. Rock UK is also members of Christian Camping International (CCI).