Thousands of children and residents across Hampshire stand to benefit from a new three-year plan aimed at securing the future of the county’s six Outdoor and Study Centres.

Each year, over 25,000 children take part in outdoor educational programmes at the Centres, delivered in scenic locations by expert staff. These experiences help young people build resilience, connect with nature, and learn in ways that are often transformative – creating memories that last a lifetime. A further 80,000 people of all ages enjoy recreational activities across the sites, making the Centres a vital part of Hampshire’s outdoor offer. Hampshire County Council is now set to consider proposals to help the Centres become more financially resilient and ensure their long-term sustainability.

To support the continued safe and high-quality operation of the Centres, the plan proposes that the County Council earmarks £2 million from its reserves, ringfenced for essential maintenance through to 2028.

The County Council’s Cabinet will review the proposal later this month.

Councillor Kirsty North, Cabinet Lead for Universal Services, said:

“Generations of Hampshire children have experienced the benefits of outdoor learning at a County Council-run centre. Each year, thousands of young people have the chance to strengthen their resilience, immerse themselves in nature, and engage in learning experiences that are truly life-changing.  The Centres are more than just places to visit; they’re places where confidence grows, friendships form, and lifelong memories are made. But at a time when the County Council’s finances are under immense pressure, it is important that these Centres are in the best possible shape – especially as we prepare for changes in local government. The financial outlook of the Centres has strengthened in recent years, and Cabinet has now requested a proposal that explores options to put the Centres on the best possible footing for the future.”

Thanks to a transformation programme, the Centres have boosted their finances by around £480,000 over the past three years (2022/23–2024/25). This is part of wider steps by the Council to transform how it works.

The proposal sets out a new commercial strategy to further drive growth, including identifying new partnerships and encouraging more people to stay at the sites for longer periods. While all six Centres offer educational programmes, several also provide non-educational recreational opportunities for families, individuals, and community groups including at Calshot, Tile Barn in the New Forest, and Runway’s End near Basingstoke, which offer accommodation, camping, and a wide range of adventure and leisure activities.

After 2028, the expectation is that the County Council will not exist in its current form due to anticipated changes in the structure of local councils, as part of central Government requirements, meaning that the Outdoor Centres would potentially transfer to successor organisations.

The six Centres include:

• Calshot Activities Centre – One of Britain’s largest activity centres, located on the Solent, offering water and land-based activities from historic hangars.

• Minstead Study Centre – An environmental centre in the New Forest, focused on sustainability and school visits.

• Runway’s End Outdoor Centre – Set in woodland beside the Basingstoke Canal, offering adventure and environmental activities.

• Stubbington Study Centre – A coastal centre providing residential school visits and outdoor education linked to wildlife habitats.

• Tile Barn Outdoor Centre – A 14-acre New Forest site with bunkhouse accommodation, camping, and adventure activities.

• Argoed Lwyd Outdoor Education Centre – A traditional Welsh farmhouse in the mountains, offering challenging countryside activities, run in successful partnership with the Portal Trust whose focus is supporting disadvantaged young people to access educational opportunities.