The Centre is funded mainly from donations from private and non-governmental organisations, along with income from various fund-raising events.
In the restful setting of Richmond Park, the Holly Lodge Centre offers a range of educational activities for groups of children, young people and adults - particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities - focused on the nature and Victorian heritage of the Park.
The Centre has fully accessible facilities including;
The Centre has three employees, supported by over 80 volunteers and our board of Trustees. Our volunteers are involved in all aspects of running the Centre from education to administration. The Centre employs a small staff team, Centre Manager Anna King and Education Centre Coordinators Sarah Allgrove and Freya Ward.
The Centre operates on a budget of approximately £100,000 a year together with volunteer time valued at at least £49,260. Funding comes from trusts and foundations, fund-raising events and individual donations. Our charges to visitors amount to only 15% of our costs: we receive no monetary funding from central or local government.
The Centre was founded in 1994 as part of the Royal Parks education programme. Its aim was to provide an inspirational space to experience Richmond Park. It became a separate charity in 1999 and the Centre celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2014.