JCA officially launches new flagship activity centre, Condover Hall

Friday 13th May was the official launch of JCA’s flagship activity centre, Condover Hall, with celebrity attendees Dame Kelly Holmes, Ben Fogle and Lembit Opik. To view images from the launch event please visit our gallery.

The world’s tallest town crier, Shropshire’s Martin Wood, schools, teachers and local residents were all invited to tour the multi-million pound refurbishment. The revamp has transformed the site to provide up to 500 school children each week a unique country manor meets activity centre experience. A purpose built high ropes course and a climbing tower offers opportunities for team building and hands-on learning, whilst inside the hall new and exciting themed rooms include the ‘the Caving Room’, ‘the Laser Room’ and ‘Dance Studios’.

TV presenter Ben Fogle and political figure Lembit Opik met a round of applause from onlookers as they went head to head on a high ropes challenge to reach the top of the purpose built high ropes course.  Sportingly, defeated Lembit Opik took to the stocks where Janie Burt, Managing Director, JCA and Ben Fogle opportunely threw a bucket of icy cold water on him.

Having been selected as winners of JCA’s Junior Reporter and Director’s competition, 2 primary school pupil Junior Reporters, Katie and George interviewed the celebrities on the day. The four Junior Directors, Matthew, Holly, Robert and James, will work with JCA’s board of Directors over the next year to develop plans to transform a hidden floor in the main house for phase two of the hall’s development. Each of the children were presented certificates and a prize of a residential trip to the centre for their class as part of the launch event by Dame Kelly Holmes and Ben Fogle.

Janie Burt, Managing Director, JCA, commented: “What a day to remember! Our Condover Hall launch was enjoyed by children and big children alike. Our intent has always been to give this historical site a meaningful purpose, to give children the opportunity to learn and have fun so that they leave with great memories and the confidence to continue trying new things in the future! All the usual hallmarks of JCA are included: high safety standards, quality courses, Adventuremark qualified staff, so it was great to see so many young happy smiling faces after the last few months of hard work”.