Our History
Kirklees Summer Camp began in the 1970’s and since then tens of thousands of children have spent their summer with us. Jane and Duncan Haywood began volunteering in 1976 and became the leaders of Camp in 1988; they are still actively involved with organising Camp today. It began as a way to improve community relations in Kirklees but continued as a playscheme focusing on outdoor activities at its site at Bretton Country Park (until 1987), and then in the grounds of Northern College and Wentworth Castle.
2005 - A New Home
In 2005, Camp relocated to its current site near Woolley Edge where it was able to take advantage of the better kitchen facilities by offering a more complex and healthier menu, as well as expanding the range of activities to include archery, bouldering and orienteering. 2005 also saw Jane and Duncan being awarded their MBEs, for services to charity and the children of Kirklees, by the then Queen.
2018 - Officially a Charity
In 2018, Camp became an independent charity following the cuts to local authority funding, which created a greater sense of financial insecurity, although it also allowed for enhanced independence and autonomy. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Camp continued to work closely with the local authority who commission spaces for children through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) scheme, although this funding is allocated yearly and is not guaranteed.
2021 - Camp's Future
In 2021, Jane and Duncan took a step back from some of their duties at Camp, with their daughter Fran Whitehead assuming the overall leadership. Camp’s ethos remains largely unchanged from when it started in the 1970s and whilst we are always looking for ways to develop our organisation’s effectiveness and efficiency, we do not wish to expand too far beyond our current remit and lose some of the authenticity and individuality afforded to us by virtue of being a small charity.