About

Our History

‘Dalesdown Christian Conference  Centre‘  is set in the heart of the Sussex countryside, with beautiful views over the South Downs National Park.   But it hasn’t always been the building you see now!   The building had fallen into a state of disrepair and became the ideal candidate for David Iliffe’s vision for a green field site that could be turned into a residential centre with a wide variety of uses.  A charity donated the purchase price in full and in the early 1990′s David and Family Foundations Trust (the owning charity) took possession of the building. From that moment on there has been a lot of hard work, time and prayer gone into the centre which has all helped it to be the centre it is today.

David was determined to get camps started as soon as possible at Dalesdown. This was done through the use of tents and borrowed equipment and the activities provided made creative use of the space and materials available. Dalesdown Camps were taken on by Roger and Peggy-Anne Flaherty and through them, and their team, many children were able to experience the unique place that is Dalesdown. It was during Roger and Peggy-Anne’s time that the camps were extended to provide a Teens week for those children who had become teenagers.

After Roger and Peggy-Anne retired from Dalesdown Camps they were, once again, incorporated into the Children Worldwide family and were led by various members of the Children Worldwide team. During this time, it was once again felt that it was time for the camps to grow and so they were extended to include a Teens Plus week to provide something for all the young people who were growing with us!

Children Worldwide camps are being relaunched with new names and new logos for 2011. Teens Plus is becoming Extreme Days, Teens is becoming History Makers and Children’s is becoming One Way. Many of the team will stay the same, many of the same children and young people will join us again and there will be the same mix of fun and creative activities alongside Christian teaching presented in a biblical and relevant way.

And so begins the next chapter in the life of Children Worldwide Camps at Dalesdown.