HopScotch Children’s Charity opens new activity centre on Ardgour
HopScotch Children’s Charity is celebrating the long-awaited completion of its brand new activity centre at Ardvullin in Ardgour.
The charity has been offering respite breaks to Scotland’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children at its converted ghillie’s lodge Ardvullin House since 1998.
In 2017, the charity had the dream to expand what it could offer children by developing a new activity centre in the grounds of Ardvullin.
After years of planning, fundraising, and building works which had to navigate the challenges brought by Covid-19, the activity centre was finally completed at the end of November this year – an early Christmas gift for the charity.
The new activity centre was architect-designed to fit the charity’s needs, with a child-centred focus at the heart of the project.
It includes a customised mixed-ability climbing wall, sports gear, with basketball, badminton, indoor football, volleyball and yoga equipment.
Children are also able to come together to chat and relax in the centre on the many colourful beanbags.
The charity’s Roberta McKay said: ‘We’re delighted that our fantastic purpose-built activity centre is ready to use.
It will be a tremendous asset to our facility at Ardvullin.
‘It will enable us to increase our centre-based activities for children, extend our annual programme and the age range of our participants. We are so grateful to all the supporters of this project who have made this dream a reality.’
The centre cost £273,000 to build and HopScotch says it is grateful for the support of major funders The Robertson Trust; The Edward Gostling Foundation, Walter Scott Giving Group, The Cotton Trust, Barratt Homes East Scotland, Chance to Connect and Douglas Brown.
Other funds came from Persimmon Homes, Walker Family Foundation, The Mickel Fund and in memory of Agnes and Robert Strickland.
The climbing wall, sports equipment and furnishings were funded by Spifox. The building work was undertaken by local business Corrigan Contractors.
The new activity centre was completed just in time for the last group of the 2021 respite break programme to trial.
Children from Church House in Glasgow arrived for their holiday to be told they would be the first children to use the centre.
Graham Hyndman, of Church House, said the new activity centre was a truly amazing space and a fantastic addition to the already brilliant experience that HopScotch offers young people.
He added: ‘The centre ties in with the sense of adventure and fun of the whole trip by giving young people a space to climb, play games and chill among many other options the centre provides.
‘One young person from our group was so excited when they saw the centre that they felt the need to sprint over to the door and do their best King Kong impression in excitement to get in.
‘The young people loved using the space and the climbing wall in particular allowed the young people to challenge themselves and each other.
‘We can’t wait to return with another group for them to experience the activity centre and the excitement of a HopScotch adventure.’
HopScotch’s respite break programme for 2022 will begin in the spring, and there will also be a formal launch of the new activity centre for the charity’s supporters next year.