Community Ownership! Taking the Shadow Environment Secretary to Hengistbury Head Outdoors

Tom and Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed MP meet with the Directors of Hengistbury Head Outdoors.

Labour's candidate in Bournemouth East Tom Hayes and Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed MP were at Hengistbury Head Outdoors to meet with the local people who set up and run the centre and are moving forward with its ownership by the community.

As a Community Benefit Society, the centre offers lifetime member shares. Shares enable members to become actively involved with the running of the society during an exciting period in its development. As a co-operator who believes in community ownership, Tom is a lifetime member of Hengistbury Head Outdoors. Should you wish to become a lifetime member, you can do so by clicking the link here.

The Centre is a wonderful and much loved facility based alongside Christchurch Harbour, a beautiful natural harbour. During the meeting Tom and Steve heard about local people’s ambitions for the site, including the rebuilding and reopening of the centre. The centre could support land and water activities, which can benefit people’s mental and physical health.

Hengistbury Head Outdoor Centre was closed in 2020 after Brockenhurst College was unable to continue activities. Since then, the building has remained derelict and found too unsafe to allow people inside.

Hengistbury Head Outdoors (HHO) is ready to begin its £4m plans to rejuvenate the centre. 

Tom Hayes, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bournemouth East, said: “We need Hengistbury Head Outdoors to reopen and support our community. At its peak in 2019 10,000 school children and 5,000 adults were using the centre. There's a lot of love for the centre because so many people have used it. It’s time for change and to bring the centre back into use. As Bournemouth East’s MP I would do everything in my power to put the keys in the hands of the community.”