Cooperatives Yorkshire and Humber

While luxury cruises may only be an option for the affluent, everybody regardless of financial income is entitled to a holiday. It’s this simple core belief that led to the establishment of the Women’s Holiday Centre in Yorkshire which opened its doors to its first guests in 1980. Over 25 years later, the centre is still providing low cost, friendly and accessible holiday accommodation in the countryside to women and children.

The centre, located in a former vicarage situated in Horton-in-Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire, is a charitable co-operative owned and run by its members who are mainly drawn from women that have previously worked at the centre or been involved
in supporting it in another capacity.

Currently membership stands at 49 and it has two live-in staff, Sue Walmsley and Catriona Yule. Catriona says: "We became a co-op out of a deeply held desire to give everyone an equal say and therefore equal commitment to the ethos and running of the centre. We feel that working collectively also gives a level of freedom and creativity which would not otherwise exist if everyone had strictly defined
hierarchical roles".

Although originally established for women of moderate or limited means, the centre now welcomes all women, girls and boys up to the age of ten. Catriona says: “The centre provides a safe haven free from the day-to-day hassles of work and home. The fact that the centre is for women and children only, means that women can
come with friends or holiday alone, in a relaxed and unthreatening environment. Boys can come until their tenth birthday, and are welcome up to the age of 16 during three ‘older boys weeks’ each year. Boy's access is restricted as the centre recognises that girls also benefit from the option of a female-only holiday environment, especially as they get older".

The centre offers a safe and friendly environment for its guests, and two resident workers are present at the centre to help visitors make the most of their stay. Part of their job is making sure the large kitchen is kept well stocked with a range of vegetarian and vegan ingredients, which the guests then use to cook their own food; this is included in the cost of their stay. The house can sleep up to 20 people and
has over one and a half acres of garden and a playroom for children.

As it’s located on the Pennine Way the centre is surrounded by wellmarked
footpaths for walking and hillclimbing however it also holds events throughout the year - such as theme weekends and garden parties - for those who'd rather not don a pair of hiking boots.

Apart from being a completely meatfree and men-free house, one of the most unusual aspects of the centre is its sliding scale accommodation fees. Women with an annual gross income of less that £7,000 are asked to pay just £7 per night, while those earning over £21,000 per year are expected to pay proportionally more. The low rates mean that the centre is under-funded and so it’s extremely grateful of any
donations. It has a ‘wish list’ of items that it requires featured on its website.

Catriona says: “The centre is, we believe unique in offering such a supportive, child welcoming environment, that is truly affordable to those on low incomes/unwaged. We now have three generations staying here at times; women who brought their children, who have now got their own kids to bring! The women staying here are encouraged to have a sense of ownership of the place, and often refer to it as their 'second home'. This has meant that when in the past the house has been in difficulties, financial or otherwise, previous visitors have rallied around, offering us the kind of support that has kept us going all these years. Not what you would expect from guests in a 'regular' hotel!”

Contact Women’s Holiday Centre
01729 860207, www.hortonwhc.org.uk

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