Rock UK

Rock UK (formerly Barnabas Adventure Centres) is a national UK Christian charity^[1] that is passionate about developing young people, bringing adventure into learning in the outdoors, to transform young lives. Rock UK welcome 60,000 visitors to their 4 centres each year. They provide outdoor residential stays and day visit for groups including primary and secondary schools, colleges, youth groups, uniformed groups, Christian retreats as well as families, individuals and corporate team building.

A wide range of over 40 outdoor education activities are offered including climbing, abseiling, archery, fencing, gorge walking, high ropes, mountain biking, night walk, orienteering, kayaking, open canoeing, raft building, team development, go-karting and swimming.

Since they began nearly 100 years ago the essence of what they do hasn’t really changed. They give young people and those who are young at heart, a chance to experience exhilarating adventure in a safe and affirming environment. Rock UK helps young people to push boundaries, widen their horizon, grow in confidence, build resilience and develop many other skills for life.

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 campsite. 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 ^[2] Rock UK opened Summit Centre is South Wales.

Summit Centre has had a £4m investment, completed in Spring 2018 to redevelop the activity centre. The former coal mine has been turned into a unique destination which offers fully catered, en-suite accommodation with 104 beds, meeting rooms, an indoor climbing centre, café and fun outdoor children’s play area. The adventure centre offers over 20 instructed activities. The centre was officially opened in February 2019 with a visit from HRH the Prince of Wales. ^[3]

In 2019, with funding from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), as well as generous donations from Northamptonshire Community Foundation and Peter Harrison Foundation, Frontier Centre built a brand new High Ropes experience. The new adrenalin-filled Aerial Adventure course includes high ropes, abseil tower, abseil slope, climbing wall, twin zip wire and several thrilling team building challenges. It opened in February 2020.

Affiliations and links[]

Each of the activity centres are licensed by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) and hold the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge

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 a member of Christian Camping International (CCI).

References[]

External links[]

• Rock UK official website