About Yorebridge Sport & Leisure
Yorebridge Sport and Leisure is owned, managed and operated by Yorebridge Sports Development Association Ltd., company number 5493687 registered in England and Wales. We are also a registered charity, number 1126795.
Based at the Wensleydale Centre, Askrigg in the Yorkshire Dales, the sport and leisure centre was conceived in 1998 and is built on land leased from the Yorebridge Educational Foundation. The Yorebridge Sports Development Association (YSDA), a local community group, led the fundraising drive and raised £200,000.
The development was part-funded by Sport England and the Big Lottery Fund, working in partnership on the £108.5 million Active England programme, which will drive forward grassroots participation in sport and physical activity.
The Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) opened in October 2005 and offers a versatile floodlit outdoor area for tennis, football, basketball and much more providing:
- Two five-aside football pitches with dividing net
- An eight- a-side football pitch
- Two tennis courts, with dividing net
- Netball
- Two recreational basketball baskets for shooting practice
- Two recreational basketball baskets for shooting practice
We have quality indoor gym and fitness facilities which were subsequently developed and opened in November 2006.
The Gym Suite hosts a range of specialist equipment designed to give a full body work out, specifically aimed at increasing fitness levels and toning the body. Cardio-vascular equipment includes treadmills, cross trainers, cycling and rowing machines. We also have a multi gym and selection of weight stations, resistance equipment, free weights, gym balls, steps, boxing bags, resistance tubes, skipping ropes, and an ever increasing choice of items to keep your workouts varied. The gym is open for members from 7am to 10pm seven days a week and parking is available.
The Fitness Studio comes complete with sprung floor, full length mirrors, dance bars and sound system. A programme of Fitness and Dance classes such as gentle exercise, bootcamp, children’s tap and ballet and ‘keep fit for walking’ take place during the year and cater for all ages. Running sessions also take place from the Centre. Details of our current fitness classes can be found on our Fitness Classes page.
You can also change in our individual shower rooms and unwind with a relaxing drink from our cafe area.
Our qualified instructors will carry out your induction as a new member, and set you on the way to your fitness goal with a bespoke training plan.
As well as gym and fitness facilities we also run our Learning Curve project. This was set up in 2016 to provide adult learning activities for the local community. We were fortunate to receive funding from Richmondshire District Council; the Millennium Trust ‘Roger Stott Community Grant’; and North Yorkshire County Council ‘Stronger Communities Fund’ and ‘Locality Budget Fund’. We are also grateful to Milners of Leyburn who kindly donated the blinds for the classroom.
We have been running sessions since 2016 and have provided a huge variety of classes including computer and ipad; watercolour and art; languages; photography; family history; pottery; wildflower walk and talk; mental health and well being; local history; red cross; map reading; card making; social media; Christmas crafts; jewellery making and other craft workshops; and even sheepdog training! We have also held talks on such diverse subject areas as Brexit; Local Transport; the NHS; and Plastic Pollution.
We also offer rooms for hire to individuals and groups for meetings and/or activities. For more details please look at our Room Hire section.
There are a number of people involved in running Yorebridge Sport and Leisure. Jan Hale is the part time manager/administrator and Kirsten Civil is the fitness instructor and coach. We have a dedicated group of volunteers who do everything from delivering publicity to fixing plumbing to helping run the Learning Curve project! We couldn’t do without them! Some of our volunteers are also members of the YSDA Board of Trustees including our Chair, Vanda Hurn. The Trustees meet several times per year and oversee the delivery, management and operation of the Centre.
This website has been funded by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund. This fund is open to individuals, businesses, community groups or voluntary sector bodies. It provides an accessible source of money for a range of projects that result in positive benefits for the National Park’s environment, economy and communities, while enhancing and conserving local culture, wildlife and landscape.