Hengistbury Head Outdoors (HHO), the Community Benefit Society set up in late 2023 (www.hengistbury.org) to take over the closed Outdoor Activity Centre at Hengistbury Head, located in Christchurch Harbour has today announced the signing of a 99-year lease for the ownership of the centre from BCP Council.
This lease effectively transfers the ownership of the centre into community ownership, via a formal Community Asset Transfer from BCP Council. It is believed that this may be the first formal Community Asset Transfer, of an activity centre, to a Community Benefit Society completed by BCP Council.
HHO also have agreed in principle a grant from the Community Ownership fund of £680,000 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (DCLG) for the immediate refurbishment and repair of the centre, this grant is subject to certain conditions being met and around £150,000 being raised in matching funds by the society. HHO is actively seeking donations from the community, local businesses and grant providers to raise these funds.
HHO as a community group stated mission is to take over and to sympathetically rejuvenate the site at the former HHOEC, creating a sustainable, innovative yet tranquil space for all to participate in all forms of outdoor activity, provided by our volunteers and in partnership with professional bodies and organisations.
The centre has a long history, In 1964, the Marine Training Centre (MTC) was opened at Hengistbury Head. In the 1980s the name was changed to Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre (HHOEC).
In its last full year of operation, 2019, around 75 schools used HHOEC which handled over 10,000 school sessions and more than 5,000 public sessions (adults and young people).
In 2021 (post-COVID) BCP took back direct ownership of the Centre and following a survey, the main building was deemed unsafe for public use and now has not been open since March 2020.
The HHO team, its volunteers and hopefully with the assistance of the wider community now aim to start the refurbishment works as soon as practicable, and much work has already been achieved on phased plans covering the waterfront, the grounds and the key facilities required for the safe reopening of the centre to the local community.
The Outdoor Activity Centre is already utilised by a number of wonderful community groups, who will now have a long-term use of the centre, and the aim is to widen the use of the centre to involved as many aspects of the local community as possible.
To join the society, to make a donation or to find out more, HHO has a very informative website – www.hengistbury.org
