Award-winning centre climbs popularity poll

Mountaineering  and orienteering were among eight sports given a new focus in the Hartlepool area when the Summerhill Visitor Centre opened on a 100-acre site in July 2003.

Sport England’s objective was to create an innovative centre for sport on the edge of the Yorkshire town and by providing a wide range of activities, it has encouraged many people in the local community to become actively get engaged in a range of outdoor sports and pastimes.

A visitor centre, boulder park, BMX track, ropes course, children’s play area and adventure play area are all part of the recreational facilities at the centre which attracted a £930,000 investment of Lottery funding from Sport England.

Other outdoor sports catered for on-site include rambling, cycling, horse riding, exercise and fitness, cross-country running, archery and rock climbing

Sports and public events are also held at the centre – which won a Civic Trust Award for it’s design - and the centre’s interesting environmental and archaeological area has also proved a winner with visitors.

Summerhill factfile

• ·Since it was opened over 50,000 people have visited the site helping Sport England towards its targets of increasing participation by 1% a year up to 2020
• ·6 new jobs have been created  
• There are 6 full time and seven part time qualified instructors operating at the facility
• Cleveland Mountaineering and Orienteering clubs regularly use the facilities
• The centre has a strong pool of volunteer workers

Return to Case Studies page

To find out more about the Everyday Sport campaign, for activities taking place in your area and simple tips on how to get active, log onto www.everydaysport.com or call the Everyday Sport hotline: 0800 587 6000 .