It costs approximately £460,000 p.a. just to run the Castle (excluding new activity development and major maintenance projects). However, in order to prevent price being a barrier for many families, the price charged to schools does not reflect the true cost of running the Centre. As a result, income from schools for the children’s retreats covers 62% of the expenses, which means that the rest has to be met through fundraising and donations.

 To secure the future of the Castle, and to ensure that it continues to deliver such a worthwhile experience to children, fundraising is a constant, on-going priority and we continuously need support.

We also rely on the support of local businesses, many of whom have donated either goods or services at cost or totally free, and on the support of volunteers who give up a few hours or the odd weekend to help on specific projects. Without the generosity of these friends and supporters, Alton Castle would not survive.