Trust grants £150,000 to Adventure Dolphin Pangbourne

Adventure Dolphin Pangbourne, the centre that provides outdoor activities for children and young people in West Berkshire, is to receive a grant of £150,000 from Greenham Common Trust towards its appeal for funds to build and equip a new headquarters facility on the banks of the River Thames.

Adventure Dolphin's existing wooden clad building has been used as an activity centre for forty-five years but the increase in demand on its facilities means that it has now been outgrown. The structure's age also means that it is not capable of meeting disabled access requirements.

Greenham Common Trust's Stuart Tagg says: “Adventure Dolphin Pangbourne has a national reputation for excellence in providing first-class outdoor activities for young people from all backgrounds in West Berkshire. The services and opportunities available at the centre allow young people to build self esteem and develop as positive members of the community and our support for this project will enable Adventure Dolphin to sustain its activities for many years to come.”

Clive Williams, the chairman of Adventure Dolphin Pangbourne, adds: “This generous donation by Greenham Common Trust will allow us to provide the new centre with the facilities that will be vital for its future success. These include a new climbing wall, the fitting out of the training room and social centre, the provision of furniture and equipment and the purchase of a second Bell boat, a dual-hulled canoe that will allow even more young people to take their first steps in paddle sport.”

The Adventure Dolphin (Pangbourne) Charity launched its appeal to raise £500,000 in July this year. West Berkshire Council is contributing £1.1 million pounds towards the total construction cost of £1.45 million, requiring Adventure Dolphin to raise the additional funds required to complete the project and equip the facility. It is hoped that a planning application for the new centre will be submitted in 2007 and that the new facilities will be available for use in the early summer of 2008.

For more information call Andrew Barber on 01635 817444 or email andrew@greenham-common-trust.co.uk.