Campaign Group Now Front-Runner for £4m Centre

By Carolyn Griffith

Lymington Times – 20 September 2024

A campaign group fighting to save Foxlease activity centre is celebrating after a U-turn by Girlguiding over its bid. As reported in the A&T, Foxie’s Future had made it through to the second round of bidding for Foxlease on Clay Hill, one of five Girlguiding centres across the country which was axed in a cost-cutting drive. It was later left "exceedingly disappointed" after its offer over the £4m price tag was rejected in favour of an undisclosed buyer.

However, the organisation has confirmed it has now been selected as the preferred bidder. A statement from the group said:

"We’re so excited to share with you our best update since we started fundraising last year. We’re absolutely delighted to confirm that we are Girlguiding’s preferred bidder for Foxlease. We are still going through the process at the moment so we can’t say more at this time but when we can share more, we will."

It added:

"We’re pleased to share that we are also working with Girlguiding to explore the ways that Foxlease can be use by Girlguiding members in the future to maximise opportunities for adventure and we’re really excited about that too. As you know, our future plans include making Foxlease available for all in the wider community, but we’re keen to start what we see as a great future relationship with Girlguiding to benefit its members."

Praising the support of the community, the group added:

"We can’t express enough our thanks for the many forms of support which we’ve had since we started Foxie’s Future – we honestly couldn’t have got this far without you all. Providing everything progresses as planned then we would be looking towards opening at the start of next year and we’re very excited to keep engaging with the local communities in the area to develop our future offerings at the site."

New Forest East MP Sir Julian Lewis previously urged the Charity Commission to undertake an “urgent investigation” into alleged mismanagement over the sale of the centre. Responding to the news, he told the A&T:

"Foxie’s Future have had extraordinary success in raising funds to meet the asking price for purchasing Foxlease from Girlguiding UK. I welcome wholeheartedly the decision to make them the preferred bidder and trust that no more obstacles will be placed in the way of an outcome which will benefit all concerned – especially future generations of girls and young women."

A spokesperson for Girlguiding told the A&T:

"The trustees continue to assess all the advice and information they have and have decided it is in the best interest of the organisation and its members to proceed with Foxie’s Future as the preferred bidder. We’re working together so that Foxlease can be used by Girlguiding members in future."

The spokesperson added:

"For each activity centre sale, we have worked hard and with care to act in the best interests and for the overall welfare of the whole organisation, our members and charity law."