Hengistbury Head Outdoors secures £680000 grant & lease to transform the former Marine Training Centre into a community asset.
The group is called Hengistbury Head Outdoors (HHO). They formed in 2023 and aim to fix up the old Marine Training Centre.
The lease gives them control as a community asset. HHO thinks this is a first for the BCP Council, as it might be the first transfer of its kind involving an activity center to a group like HHO.
They will also get a grant of £680,000 from the government. This money will fix up the center right away. However, they must meet some rules.
HHO needs to raise £150,000 too, and they want donations to reach this goal. Locals and businesses can donate to help them achieve this.
Because they got the money and lease, HHO is excited. They want to start fixing things up “as soon as practicable.” They want to revive the old education center and will make a space for outdoor activities.
Volunteers and experts will provide the activities.
The Marine Training Centre was built in 1964. It became the outdoor education center in the 1980s.
In 2019, that location was very active. Roughly 75 schools used the center, holding over 10,000 school sessions. Public sessions numbered over 5,000.
BCP Council regained control in 2021. After a check, they closed the building because it was considered unsafe.