SKIPTON'S new community sports hub has opened its doors - and it is looking for willing volunteers able to give up a few hours each month to help run it.

The new £1million facility at Sandylands will serve as home for Skipton Cricket Club, Skipton Juniors FC and Skipton Ladies AFC - and it is also open for community use – both as a bar and for venue hire. It recently played host to a sponsored walk of Skipton peaks by Dementia Forward. 

Malcolm Birks, chair of the Skipton Community Sports Hub, said: “It’s with a huge amount of pride that we’ve opened the doors of The Hub and the reaction to date has been a hundred per cent positive.

"The cricketers and umpires who used it for the last couple of weeks of the season loved it; it’s now busy on weekend mornings with the junior football season well underway; and is proving to be a popular watering hole for club members and the local community during its limited Friday night opening hours.”

The 3,500 sq ft building, which replaced the dilapidated cricket pavilion that was demolished in February last year, has been funded through grants from the Premier League, FA and Government via the Football Foundation; the England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) and S106 anchor funding from Yorkshire Housing via Craven District Council.

“There were many challenges including inflationary pressures to overcome in pushing towards completion, and a big thank you has to go the Tarn Moor Trust for its much-needed support in recent months,” added Malcolm.

“And while there are still some finishing touches being made ahead of a full opening to the public, we are now inviting expressions of interest to hire the facilities. A handful of test events have been staged already with a fund raising walk in support of Dementia Forward starting and finishing at the hub, as well as a fun activity team building day for a local business.

“So, whether you are planning a family celebration, a business event or you are a local community group, please get in touch.”

The Skipton Community Sports Hub is volunteer led and the charity trustees are keen to bolster their ranks of enthusiastic volunteers.

There are a number of roles available in the bar and kitchen, along with housekeeping, finance, marketing and social media. Roles are suitable for all ages. Anyone interested, who can spare a few hours each month to carry out charitable work, find out more by emailing: skiptoncommunitysportshub@gmail.com