Now that the refurbishment of our lovely building is complete it’s time to turn our attention to our outdoor space. The residents have worked alongside staff from Arup to develop a design that incorporates three individual areas, creating opportunities for a variety of activities. Each area will feature a unique shelter so that the garden…
‘Life and Leisure, Changing West Cumbria for Good’ was a Heritage Lottery Funded Oral History Project administered by Howgill Family Centre, one of our founders. The project traced the recent history of the ‘YMCA Building’ in Whitehaven, Cumbria, its activities and the people who used its premises. Young people were trained in capturing those special…
During the initial stages of the Heritage Project, young people interviewed and recorded oral histories from those who attended the Young Men’s Christian Association. They gained an insight into the recent past and looked at ways that this can help shape the future, and this became the inspiration for the final stage of the project….
Exhibition At the start of 2017, an exhibition of the project achievements was received to great acclaim. It featured photographs, memorabilia, oral histories, film and music from life in the YMCA from 1940s to the 1980s.
The heritage of our superb building is an important aspect of keeping alive the history of both our building and town of Whitehaven. Photographs and donated mementoes are on display as a permanent reminder of times gone by.
On Monday 10th April 2017, The Whitehaven Foyer welcomed His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, to officially open the newly refurbished building, formerly the home of the YMCA in Whitehaven. First built as a home around 1713, the property has served the market place area of central Whitehaven for over 300 years. Owned and…
