Sport NI has appointed a specialist advisory firm, Fathom Consultancy Solutions, to support the Strategic Review of Tollymore National Outdoor Centre (TNOC). The project commenced in December.
Fathom has expertise in the UK leisure sector and extensive relevant experience in recreation and leisure projects in Northern Ireland.
The Strategic Review is aimed at finding a more financially sustainable operating model for the publicly owned centre. In the last financial year of its operation, Tollymore National Outdoor Centre cost over £1.3million to run, versus an income of around £250,000.
Historically, Tollymore National Outdoor Centre has been used mainly for skills and leadership training for the outdoor sector. The income coming almost exclusively from this, versus the cost of running the centre, has become unsustainable in recent years.
The Strategic Review will examine how the specialist needs of the region’s outdoor sector could be balanced with improved utilisation of the centre’s outdoor recreation facilities by the wider community and visitors.
Key stakeholders in the outdoor sector will be consulted to ensure the specialist outdoor training and skills development needs are understood.
The Strategic Review will examine a range of possible operating models. It will also include a market sounding exercise to identify possible commercial operators with experience in the outdoor sector.
It is expected that preferred options for a target operating model will be presented to Sport NI for consideration before the end of the financial year (March 2026).
Sport NI recognises that Tollymore National Outdoor Centre is a high-quality facility in a unique area of Northern Ireland. Sport NI’s purpose is to promote sport and physical activity in Northern Ireland. It is committed to ensuring the potential of the region’s publicly owned national outdoor centre can be more appropriately realised.