27/11/2025
Having waved off our final residential group of 2025 , we are now preparing for our influx of self-catering groups over December and the New Year. Low Mill Outdoor Centre is a charity that genuinely impacts on the lives of the young people that visit, however there are numerous local community-based groups, individuals and businesses that support quietly in the background that deserve our upmost gratitude.
So, here goes...
WA Tunstall & Son
In 2024, Low Mill’s footbridge which provides access for children to safely cross the gill, needed replacing. Bruce stepped up to help and provided materials and the lads to work on it for three days solid – completely free of charge. We were humbled by both his generosity and workmanship.
So, thank you, Bruce and all the lads at WA Tunstall and Son, bridge builders, fence panel trimmers, friends and overall saving graces – your support of our little charity in the National Park is noted and so appreciated.
Hammonds Butchers, Campbells of Leyburn & Sykes House Village Shop
Feeding over 2000 children and young adults per year, for breakfast, lunch and dinner certainly takes some doing! But none of it would be possible without the continued support from our local suppliers. A huge thank you for all that you do for us here at Low Mill – your emergency deliveries and charitable discounts are fundamental in us providing our groups with fresh locally sourced ingredients to give them a real taste of the Yorkshire Dales.
Clarkson’s Accountants
Since our relaunch, we decided to change our accountants and went out to tender. There was only one winner (us). Clarkson’s, based in Thornborough Hall in Leyburn have gone above and beyond, reducing our annual costs and saving us valuable time whilst providing a fantastic service. A huge thank you to everyone associated with Clarkson’s, especially those we work closest with in Dawn, Elaine and Natalie.
Newcastle Building Society & donations from local Askrigg-based community group TAPASS and the Upper Wensleydale Newsletter
Since reopening in 2023, Low Mill has been fortunate enough to receive two grants. The first from the government levelling up fund which was used to convert an office space into an extra en-suite bunk room and the second from the Newcastle Building Society Community Fund, which when combined with generous donations from local Askrigg-based community group TAPASS and the Upper Wensleydale Newsletter, helped convert what was previously
known as the ‘Quiet Room’ into a new nature room with 5 iPad stations.
Visitors will soon be able to engage in learning mapped to Key Stages 2 & 3 in Ornithology, Entomology, Geology, Dendrology, Ecosystems & Biodiversity! Basically, the environment, birds, bugs, rocks and trees… all the outside stuff that the new curriculum review and children and young people are hungry to engage with! A huge thank you to Newcastle Building Society local Hawes branch, TAPASS and the Upper Wensleydale Newsletter for your support!
Upper Wensleydale Property Services & Teasdale Electrical
Malc and Steve have been true assets for us here at Low Mill, providing us with all the support needed for an ageing mill… which is often considerable as you might imagine! Thanks to you both and your staff for your time, expertise, friendship and willingness to respond to all our needs – especially the odd emergency! (Malc, if you’re reading this that radiator in Thistle & Runscar is playing up again.)
Low Mill Souvenir Shop and Fundraising Group
There’s too many names to list but we’d like you all to know how grateful we are for turning up on a rota basis twice weekly to keep the visiting hordes content or giving up your valuable time in raising funds to support the charity. Having this kind of local community voluntary support is simply amazing.
Thanks so much everybody.
Best wishes,
Alf, Karen, Nick and trustees of Low Mill
