Bendrigg Trust fundraising for new centre

An activity centre near Kendal has drawn up plans for a £1.5m improvement programme to enhance provision for disabled and disadvantaged people.

Harrison Pitt Architects has developed plans on behalf of the Bendrigg Trust for a project to create new facilities at Bendrigg Lodge, Old Hutton.

The 6,000 sq ft scheme would see a new fully wheelchair-accessible residential unit built, named Acorn House, to replace an outdated facility at the site, in addition to an extension of the existing resource centre.

There are also plans to create a new outdoor activities space featuring a fully wheelchair-accessible activities tower complete with a tree house, tree-top walkway, climbing wall and zip wire.

The walkway structure will link the activities space with the residential areas of the site, removing the need for wheelchair users and carers to navigate the steep undulating ground. This will also free up space to create additional car parking areas, improved access and better landscaping at the entrance to the site.

Bendrigg Trust is now embarking on a major fundraising drive to secure the money needed to make the project a reality.

Trevor Clarke, principal of the Bendrigg Trust, said: "The centre has a long history of providing memorable outdoor experiences for a variety of users. Over the last few years, the majority of our funding is for provision for disabled and disadvantaged groups and some of our existing accommodation is no longer fit for purpose.

"These new designs will transform the space. The proposed Acorn House residential centre will give us the specialist accommodation we need and the project as a whole allows us to significantly improve the activities on offer."

Harrison Pitt Architects has completed a number of previous projects for the Bendrigg Trust, including the Kinross Building, which provides a range of indoor experiences such as indoor climbing and abseiling facilities for disabled people in the UK.