Craven Open Door

05/05/2026

** Looking to volunteer in Skipton? **

✨ Are you friendly, patient & enthusiastic?
✨ Able to attend for an hour or two on Tuesdays, 3:45pm - 6:30pm
✨Christ Church Hall, Skipton, BD23 2NB
✨ No prior experience required (applicants 15years+)

Craven Open Door is a registered charity providing a weekly social club for people 16 years+ with learning difficulties. We enjoy activities such as arts & crafts with a local artist, baking & cooking, games & activities or simply just chatting over a coffee.

Some of our recent day trips include:
🐮 Hesketh Farm
🚂 KWVR
🦈 Sea Life Centre
🎳 Ten pin bowling

https://www.cravenopendoor.org.uk

👤Gordon Fothergill
✉️ [email protected]
📞 07931 321676

Anyone can get involved in Craven Open Door by becoming a member, sponsoring an activity or just helping to spread the word.

08/02/2026

Craven Open Door provides weekly activities and social meetups for local people aged 16+ with learning difficulties.

Even when there aren’t trips taking place, our regular sessions continue each week 3:45 to 6:30 on a Tuesday, giving members a place to socialise, relax and feel part of a community.

If you’d like to find out more, visit our website or get in touch.
https://www.cravenopendoor.org.uk/
[email protected]
07 931 321 676

05/01/2026

Christmas Celebrations at the Bay Horse at Snaygill

Thanks to the generosity of Skipton Rotary members of Craven Open Door were able to enjoy a splendid Christmas meal at the Bay Horse, Snaygill.

The celebrations took place on Tuesday 16 December when we were all in full swing with the Christmas spirit! The 20 members who attended tucked into a delicious turkey dinner followed by sticky toffee pudding or profiteroles.

‘The staff at the Bay Horse were extremely kind and attentive,’ said Graham Hamilton, Chair of Trustees at Craven Open Door. ‘And I’d like to thank them for looking after us so well.’

And a special thanks to members of Skipton Rotary, without whose support the evening couldn’t have gone ahead.


https://www.facebook.com/Bayhorseskipton/?locale=en_GB

Thanks to the generosity of Skipton Rotary members of Craven Open Door wereable to enjoy a splendid Christmas meal at the Bay Horse, Snaygill. The celebrations took place on Tuesday 16 December when we were all in full swing with theChristmas spirit! The 20 members who attended tucked into a delicio...

05/01/2026

Volunteers, trustees and members of Craven Open Door are celebrating the end of 2025 with some excellent news. The group’s recent application to the National Lottery for funding to help continue its work has been successful with the award of £10,000 which will be received early in 2026.

‘The funding means we can continue to organise trips and events and we already have some ideas for some great days out in the summer. Our crafting and cookery sessions can be developed too as well as games and film nights. We hope to beable to provide some sedentary fitness sessions too,’ said Graham Hamilton, Chair
of Trustees.

Almost all the staff and trustees involved in running the group are volunteers and sothe funding can go directly to resources and experiences which directly benefit ourmembers.

A huge ‘thank you’ to the National Lottery for its funding as well as all the other organisations such as Skipton Rotary, the Skipton Ukulele Club, Skipton Building Society and members of North Yorkshire County Council who continue their generous support.

Volunteers, trustees and members of Craven Open Door are celebrating the end of2025 with some excellent news. The group’s recent application to the NationalLottery for funding to help continue its work has been successful with the award of£10,000 which will be received early in 2026.‘The fundin...

02/12/2025

𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀!!!

Members of 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗿 certainly got into the 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 with a trip aboard the 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀.

We caught the train from Bolton Abbey and travelled to the North Pole (Embsay) all the time being entertained by the train staff, conductor and a magician.

We were served hot chocolate and chocolate cookies, which were very welcome given the cold and wet weather outside the carriage windows. And once at the North Pole (Embsay) – a very special guest boarded the train … a visit from Santa!

He had a word for everyone and spent time with each and every member chatting and distributing silver bells to help get us in the mood.

As part of the experience all guests were given a Polar Express commemorative ceramic mug – a lovely reminder of an excellent evening on board.

May we take this opportunity to thank members of the Skipton Temperance Hall Fund who kindly supported our visit by a generous donation towards the cost of the experience. All our staff and members are particularly grateful for your support.

02/12/2025

𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸’𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺

We’ve certainly had a 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 with visits to the Lake District, the East Lancs Railway – and in October we went to 𝗬𝗼𝗿𝗸’𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺.

Our 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 took just over 90 minutes and we were 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗩𝗜𝗣𝘀!

Once inside we could see some of the 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 and realised how enormous they are. They 𝗱𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝘀 as you can see in the photographs. We got an opportunity to experience sitting in one of the 𝗝𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 (albeit stationery) and roamed over the exhibits which allowed us to clamber aboard.

The staff at the museum found us a room where we could 𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 and then once refreshed it was back to it for a second good look round. A couple of people wanted 𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀, others wanted 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗿𝘀 — and thankfully we could accommodate what everyone wanted.

Back on the coach for the return trip and we arrived in Skipton just after 4:00pm having had 𝗮 ‘𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝘁’!

02/12/2025

Good morning! Thank you to everyone who came to see us and sing along 🎤 yesterday. We do have another Christmas event: 14th December, 2pm at Holy Trinity Church. We'd love to see you there 😄

25/11/2025

JOIN US:
What: Craven Open Door, Open Evening!

When: Join us this evening, Tuesday 25th November

Where: Christ Church Hall, Church Street, Keighley Road, Skipton, BD23 2AH

Time: 4pm - 6pm

Who: New members, family & carers, all welcome

** Craven Open Door is registered charity providing a social club for people 16 years+ with learning difficulties **

Call down and join in with arts & crafts, games and meeting new people! We’d love to see you there!

01/11/2025

🌟 Craven Open Door – Highlights from the Year So Far 🌟

It’s been such a wonderful year so far for everyone at Craven Open Door! 💛

From cosy winter evenings of crafting, cooking and dominoes, to fun-filled Games Nights, and our summer trips to the Aquarium at Lakeside and the East Lancashire Railway, there’s been plenty of laughter, friendship and memorable moments along the way.

🎥 We’ve put together a short video showcasing some of our favourite highlights — take a look below and see if you can spot yourself!

A huge thank you to our fantastic supporters and sponsors who help make everything we do possible:
🙏 Skipton Rotary
🏦 Skipton Building Society
🏛 North Yorkshire County Council
🎟 Big Lottery Fund
🎶 Skipton Ukulele Club

Your continued support means the world to us. 💛

30/09/2025

EAST LANCASHIRE RAILWAY TRIP

Our second summer trip was to the East Lancashire Railway. This took place on Wednesday 13 August, on what felt like one of the hottest days of the summer!

We boarded the coach in Skipton and enjoyed the 90 minute drive to Rawtenstall where we joined the heritage railway. The journey took us to Heywood Greater Manchester, and we passed some wonderful views (albeit they were of Lancashire!)

We picnicked in Bury station, we got to see the diesel and steam engines up close and then it was time to re-board and journey back to our starting point.

So, two wonderful trips, lots of chatter and laughter and happy memories made!