Our History

A (Brief) History of Our Community Association and Community Centre

1. On the 25th April 1967 a committee was set up through a public meeting held on that date.  Its purpose was the sorting out of suggestions, proposals, and plans for a community centre for Monk Fryston and Hillam.

2. The new committee officials were L Kelsey - chairman, K Randall - vice chairman, Mrs P Roebuck - secretary and A Hudson - Treasurer.

3. Representatives from the Monk Fryston General Purposes Welfare Fund were co-opted on the committee and letters were sent to Miss Sunley asking her if the committee could hire the Institute on Monk Fryston Common Lane for fundraising purposes, and to all local organisations asking them to send a representative to serve on the committee. The Welfare Fund was set up in the 1940s to raise money to build a village hall.

4. The Committee obtained the sole use of the Institute for fund raising purposes in mid 1967.

5. In July 1967 a building committee was set up under the chairmanship of Alan Woodhead, architect, with the objective of producing plans for a community centre.

6. On November the 9th 1967, it was agreed that planning permission obtained by the Monk Fryston and Hillam Youth Committee (In conjunction with the Welfare Fund committee) for development of the Cherry Orchard, Old Vicarage Lane be transferred to the Community Association.

7. An updated planning permission was granted to the committee on the 21st July 1969.

8. The Youth Club was allowed to use the Institute for its meetings in July 1969.

9. In 1970 a formal constitution was adopted for the Association and also gained charitable status.

10. 12th November 1972.  The Cherry Orchard finally becomes the responsibility of the Community Association.

11. The Youth Club, having been barred from the Institute due to lack of supervision in 1970, is reopened by PC Blythman early 1973.

12. Plans for the community centre were submitted to Osgoldcross RDC on the 18th January 1973.

13. Planning permission received for the community centre in June 1973. Work onsite starting soon after.

14. May 1977. Work on the centre having ground to a halt in 1975, it was decided to board it up until such time as funds permitted completion.

15. The Queens Jubilee in 1977 generated new impetus for completing the centre and work recommenced.

16. Building completed in May 1982!

17. During the period of 1995 – 2003 the committee under the chairmanship of Geoff Hall made improvements to the Community Centre facilities by tarmacing the car park, providing additional play equipment and installing equipment safety surfacing in the playground and an adventure trail and establishing a village drop–off Recycling Facility.

18. During the period 2007-11 the committee under the chairmanship of Ray Newton oversaw a further programme of facility improvements including Fencing the Playground to make it safer for children to use and prevent access for dogs, making the Community Centre more welcoming and attractive to potential uses by enhancing the entrance area, windows, providing a disabled toilet, creating a children’s secure patio area and extending the recreation area by transforming areas of unused scrubland into useable grassed areas. The committee initiated and led several socially inclusive groups and events to encourage more residents to become familiar with the Community Centre and use the facilities.

19. An Extension to Community Centre and further enhancements to the play area opened by Nigel Adams MP on the 10th September 2011.  

20. The Youth Provision and Community Centre re development project was launched in Spring 2013. The Conservatory was opened by chair of SDC Western Community Engagement Forum, Andy Pound, in September 2013 at the start of the first village Beer Fest.

21. The Community Centre was redeveloped by local builder Nigel Spofforth and doubled in size in Summer 2014 and officially opened at a ceremony on 16th February 2015 by the Mary Weastell CEO of Selby District Council.

22. Under the Chairmanship of Robin Parkin at the 2018 AGM the members unanimously supported a proposal by the Trustees to update the legal status of the Community Association and to apply to the Charity Commissioners to become a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).

23 The Charity Commissioners approve the application to convert to a CIO and register the new charity, with exactly the same aims, on March 2019.

24. The CIO commences operations of the Community Association activities in April 2019 whilst the process of closing the original charity takes place.

25. In the Winter 2019-20, Chair Robin Parkin oversaw the Community Association play a key role in founding and launching the Monk Fryston and Hillam Community Sustainability Project, with the School, St Wilfrids Church, Hillam and Monk Fryston Cricket Club and Monk Fryston Junior Foottball Club.

26. On 16th June 2020 the Charity Commission closed the original charity formed in 1970.

27. March 5th 2021 Solar PV panels installed at the Community Centre and start generating electricity.

28. July 2023 An Air Source Heat Pump is installed to replace the Gas boiler and the Community Centre stops emitting carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

29. Spring – Summer 2024 The Community Association commences purchasing electricity from a supplier who will ensures it only comes from renewable sources and for 4 months is energy self- sufficient. Therefore, the Community Centre becomes a Carbon Neutral building.