Newsfeed
October 2024 News Letter
Hengistbury Head Outdoors October/November Newsletter
Members meeting
Many thanks to those of you who attended our members’ meeting last month. A copy of the minutes can be seen on our website along with the presentation slides.
We had loads of ideas put forward from those present to be considered for the future directions of HHO which we are currently collating and will share with you in our next newsletter.
Click here for Members Meeting Minutes
Click here for the Members Meeting Presentation
Christchurch Carnival
We recently attended a meeting of the Carnival committee at which we were presented with a cheque for £1890 for which we were extremely grateful. The following link is the press release from the Carnival committee.
Click here to see the Press release
Easyfundraising.org.uk
Many of you will be buying online in the Black Friday sales and the run up to Christmas. Over 7,500 brands will donate to us when you use easyfundraising to shop with them – at no extra cost to yourself! These donations really mount up and make a BIG difference to us, so we’d really appreciate it if you could take a moment to sign up and support us. It’s completely FREE and only takes a moment. You can find our easyfundraising page at:
Click here for HHO easyfundraising
Members Meeting
September 18th 2024
We held our second members' meeting during the evening of 18th September at St. Nicholas Church at Hengistbury Head.
With a good turnout of members, the HHO team shared the latest news on the society, fundraising, planning and finance and the latest business transition discussions with BCP.
We will share the minutes of the meeting with all members in due course, and of course will always keep you informed by newsletter too.
We look forward to welcoming you all to the next meeting, likely to be in early 2025 which will be a great opportunity for members to help us shape the future of the society.
Pier Magazine
July 20th 2024
Pier magazine, now in it's 8th edition and created for residents of BCP and Dorset, has published a lovely article on HHO and our aims and ambitions. The Pier magazine is a free quality book style published across the year and it curated to showcase all that is great about this beautiful part of the world.
We are delighted to have been included in the Summer 2024 edition
Community Asset Transfer - Update
June 20th 2024
We have now formally submitted the detailed business plan, which form the second part of our CAT application to BCP council for the transfer of the centre into the ownership of the society. We are also working with BCP on agreeing the heads of terms which will form the lease contract between us.
This is another key milestone in our ambitions for the society and for the centre. We are now encouraging BCP to act as swiftly as they can in coming to a formal decision, and the successful handover of the centre. We have set an aggressive deadline of September to achieve this.
Local Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Visit
May 28th 2024
We welcomed the Liberal prospective parliamentary candidate for Bournemouth East, Jon Nicholas to the centre. We toured the centre and three of HHO's directors (Pictured Jon, and HHO's Mark Merritt & Becs Vince) were on hand to discuss the plans for the society and Jon shared our view on the importance of the centre to the wider community and also the vital role of community run projects.
In recent weeks we have had visits from the three main parliamentary parties, who had all asked to visit the centre.
We wish all the candidates standing locally the best of luck.
Christchurch Carnival - Charity Partner 2024
May 20th 2024
We're totally thrilled to announce that we are one of the 3 local Charity Partners who will benefit from all of your donations and fundraising between now and this year's Christchurch Carnival
The other amazing charities are our good friends Pink Champagne Breast Cancer Dragon Boat and The Listening Ear. We couldn't be prouder to have be chosen alongside them!!
Thank you so much for CHRISTCHURCH CARNIVAL for choosing us!
Local MP visit
May 16th 2024
We had lovely weather for the visit of Rt. Hon. Tobias Ellwood MP, Bournemouth East to the centre. Tobias and his family have fond memories of using the centre. We toured the centre, and watched some of the user groups launch for their evening activities. Three of HHO's directors (L to R - Bill Howlett, Simon Pitman, Mark Merritt) were on hand to ensure the plans for the society were firmly understood and importance of the centre to the wider community and also the vital role of community run projects.
Tobias stated; 'I will continue to do everything I can to ensure it (the centre) receives the necessary funding for renovation'
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BCP's Written Commitment
April 22nd 2024
BCP Council have issued a formal letter of support / intent to the transfer of the centre into community hands. 'As a cabinet we are 100 percent behind the transfer of the centre to HHO subject to the due dilligence required.' This is a significant step forward, and largely due to our members efforts in lobbying, by email, BCP councillors to act. The HHO team have already had formal follow up meetings with the BCP officers tasked with making this happen, in a timely manner. Thanks to the Bournemouth Echo for continuing to publish our progress.
Read the article on the Echo's website on the link below.
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Central Government Interest
April 11th 2024
We were very pleased to be chosen for a visit by Stephen Reed OBE, MP the Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (far left) along with Tom Hayes, the Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Bournemouth East (middle). Three of HHO's directors (L to R - Becs Vince, John Merritt, Bill Howlett) were on hand to ensure the pair understood the importance of the centre to the wider community and also the vital role of community run projects.
In the coming weeks we are hosting Tobias Elwood, MP the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East and also then Jon Nicholas the Liberal Democratic candidate at the centre too.
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Members Meeting - March
MARCH 18th 2024
We held our first society members meeting on Monday 18th March, we had a full agenda of things to get through and to update our members on such as our progress with BCP and a number of resolutions to vote on.
We had a great turn out from our members whose enthusiasm and encouragement for what we are doing was amazing. Thank you to St. Katherine’s Primary School for the use of the Hall and the Friends of St.Katherine’s (PTA) for providing the refreshments - what a great community we live in!
Minutes of the meeting have be circulated to all members and we will set the date for the next meeting in the near future.
Join now to become a member.
Community Asset Transfer
MARCH 1st 2024
We have formally submitted our Community Asset Transfer application (CAT) to BCP Council.
At our January supporters meeting we gave the commitment to submit the first part of the application process by the end of February.
We are pleased to say this was submitted on Monday 26th February.
The application has been acknowledged by the Council and we look forward to collaboratively discussing it with them in the coming weeks.
This is a significant milestone for HHO and one we are delighted to have achieved on time and as committed.
Bournemouth Echo
February 13th 2024
The Bournemouth Echo published a follow up article today on page two on our launch of the member share and through working with BCP Council on achieving a Community Asset Transfer.
The article has created a lot of interest and a lot of new members. It is encouraging to have this interest from the local press. Read the article on the Echo's website on the link below
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New Milton Advertiser &
Lymington Times
FEBRUARY 9th 2024
The New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times sent a journalist to our recent supporters meeting and have now published a nice article both on-line and in the February 9th print edition.
The article covers the support that we have gained to date, the launch of the member share membership of the society and our progress with BCP and the community to get the centre open in the future.
It's been great to see the level of interest in the centre.
Supporters Meeting - January
JANUARY 22nd 2024
It was standing room only at the supporters meeting on Monday 22nd January. It is fantastic to see how the support grows with each meeting. Thank you to The Commodore for allowing us to use the meeting room.
The agenda covered the background to HHO, the creation of the CBS and the charitable status. We covered all the progress made to date and our plans for 2024, including formally applying to take the centre on and some fund raising event ideas when the weather is a bit warmer!
We also formally launched the membership of the society through the member share, and so many people have already signed up which is amazing - Thank you.
The evening ending with a very good Q&A session with some great questions and points being made.
The next meeting will be a MEMBERS invite meeting and is planned for March 18th.
Councillor Support
JANUARY 10th 2024
Thank you to BCP Councillors Bernadette Nanovo and Judith Richardson, for the support they have given to our Community Benefit Society.
Working proactively across BCP council is key to the success of this project, and we've had some very encouraging conversations with BCP council.
It's great to see their local 'FOCUS' newsletter highlighting both the Hengistbury Head Outdoors project and our local Councillors support for the initiative.
Charitable Status - HMRC
JANUARY 3rd 2024
At the end of December we received the official confirmation from HM Revenue & Customs that our application for charitable status had been successful, and was effected from November 3rd 2023.
Hengistbury Head Outdoors Ltd is now a charitable company HMRC Charities reference number ZD28944.
This is a fantastic way to start 2024 in a great support to our plan to reopen the HHOEC and means we can use this status , for many purposes, Including Gift Aid on donations made.
Merry Christmas
DECEMBER 20th 2023
We just wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas, and a wonderful New Year.
Whilst the Hengistbury Head Outdoors journey is only really just starting, we have been really encouraged by the level of local support there is for the old activity centre and our plans to bring it back to life.
We look forward to sharing our progress throughout 2024.
Christmas Social
DECEMBER 6th 2023
We were delighted to hold our first Christmas Social gathering on 5 December, at The Commodore on Southbourne Overcliff.
It was great to see the breadth of support from the community that Hengistbury Head Outdoors has generated in such a short time.
Thank you to all of those who attended, including our supporters, the existing user groups, members of BCP council and the HHO team
To see our upcoming events please use the link below.
Bournemouth Echo
NOVEMBER 17th 2023
The Bournemouth Echo published a nice little article today on page two on our attempt to bring the old HHOEC centre back to life, through working with BCP Council on a Community Asset Transfer.
It is still very early in the process for us at Hengistbury Head Outdoors, but encouraging to have this interest from the local press. Read the article on the Echo's website on the link below.
Community Benefit Society
NOVEMBER 3rd 2023
We are delighted to announce that Hengistbury Head Outdoors has been registered on November 3rd 2023 by the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies ACT 2014, as a Community Benefit Society.
Registration number: 9176
This is a key milestone in our plan to reopen the HHOEC and give it a new lease of life.
Supporters Meeting - October
OCTOBER 9th 2023
Thank you to everyone who attended the October supporters meeting. It is a key element of our community plan to hold regular open meetings for people to hear our progress and to share their views on the centre and our plans.
The meeting was also attended by members of BCP Council and the current user groups.
The next meeting will be on 22nd January 2024, to get your RSVP invite please join our Supporters Newsletter below.
BCP Council Open Public Meeting - HHOEC
SEPTEMBER 28th 2023
BCP Council held an open community meeting at Bournemouth Indoor Bowls centre to discuss the short term and long term plans for the existing HHOEC. It was very well attended by Councillors, and officers of BCP, and many of the existing user groups. In a very constructive discussion, the Hengistbury Head Outdoors team were able to share the desire to take over the centre and run it on behalf of the community, and the progress already taken to achieve this.
We hope its the first on many positive discussions with BCP Council and the community.
CBS Registration no: 9176 BMRC Charities no: ZD28944 ©Copyright HHO 2024. All rights reserved.
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