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Ilkley’s Outside the Box joins neighbouring Otley community

Thursday, 12 February 2026 at 19:20

Mark, Mason and James ready for service

Outside the Box is getting set to expand some of its activities to Otley through a new partnership with society Otley Common.

The Community Benefit Society is transforming Otley Methodist Church into a vibrant social, cultural and entrepreneurial hub. The partnership will see Outside the Box providing services from the substantially refurbished Otley Common premises.

Louise Hale, CEO of the Ilkley charity that runs Outside the Box said:

“We are very excited to be working with Otley Common to be able to offer a wide range of new opportunities for young people and adults with learning disabilities in the local community.

“Under our Outside the Box Choices programme in Ilkley, we provide an extensive portfolio of courses and workshops, ranging from arts, dance, photography and printmaking to cooking, baking, digital skills and more, all tailored to the needs and goals of people with learning disabilities and other support needs. Being able to offer our Choices opportunities at Otley Common will mean we can improve and enrich the lives of many more people from our client community.”

As part of the collaboration, staff and members from Outside the Box recently attended a community networking lunch, the event brought together local people from many different organisations, groups and parts of the local community.

Mason, one of the members taking part, said:

“I really enjoyed it. It was great to visit Otley and help out at the lunch.”

Lousie added:

“We very much appreciated the opportunity to be part of this event, not only did we get to introduce the full range of activities we offer through Outside the Box but it provided a group of our members with experience of being part of a community event and helped promote the abilities and skills of people who have learning disabilities, autism and other conditions.”

Reflecting and supporting the synergy between the two community organisations, Andrew Howarth, Development Manager at Otley Common, has recently joined the Trustee Board of Ilkley Community Enterprise, the charity that runs Outside the Box, Andrew said:

“We are delighted to have Outside the Box as our first new tenants since taking over the building. Their vision and values very much align with what we are trying to achieve in and with our local community here in Otley and the services they can deliver will bring lots of new opportunities for local people, including those with learning disabilities.”

Graham Smith, Trustee Chair at Ilkley Community Enterprise, said:

“The Board very much welcomes Andrew as a new Trustee. He brings a wealth of experience in community development, education and volunteering and lots of local knowledge. We are looking forward to having his support for our charity and working with him and his colleagues at Otley Common to expand the valuable work and proven impact of Outside the Box”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the opportunities that will be available at Outside the Box, Otley please call 01943 431173 or email cafe@outsidetheboxcafe.com

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