ATC?
Hi Adam,
Forgive me if I am repeating something from earlier in this thread; I haven't been following this thread too closely so I may be repeating someone else's comment.
As a young person, have you considered joining the Air Training Corps? I believe there is quite a bit of free flying to be had with them in both powered aircraft and gliders; (gliding courses and 'flying scholarships').
You asked whether the 45 hour requirement includes ground school. No it does not. And the 45 hours is only a legal minimum training you must receive to reach the standard to pass the skill test and cross country. Most people take more like 70 hours of flying to reach PPL standard.
Also, why not start off on weight-shift and/or three axis microlights, which are much cheaper to hire and I believe the BMAA training requirements may be less demanding than the PPL; (I'm not speaking from personal knowledge on this: anybody here know about this?).
You could also join a civilian gliding club.
Good luck!
BP.