Save Our Outdoor Education Centres

A petition has been launched calling for the government to protect outdoor education centres from imminent closure. One in three local authority centres are threatened and this could deny millions of children from potentially life-changing experiences. In many cases these closures could be avoided.

Leading education organisations including the Field Studies Council, Association for Heads of Outdoor Education Centres, English Outdoor Council, Institute for Outdoor Learning and National Association of Field Studies Officers have launched the campaign and are asking for everybody to support it by signing their petition, which will be used to lobby the government.

Dr Steve Tilling Director of Communications at the Field Studies Council says: “The potential loss of these opportunities comes at a time when health, physical activity and contact with nature are all declining. It will also impact the most on children from poorer and more disadvantaged groups who have little or no other opportunity to share an overnight experience away from home and visit places they would not otherwise see. The FSC is constantly working to ensure that everybody has the chance to get outdoors to learn and be inspired by the environment.”



The petition calls for the government to create a fixed-term transition fund and provide business training, which would enable Local Authority centres to survive long enough to become self-sufficient. It is thought that many threatened of the centres would then be able to remain open. If they are forced to close now, many would never reopen.

To help protect these unique and important opportunities for young people please support the campaign by signing the petition which can be found at:  http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/26661

View the video at http://youtu.be/WPEenciK8uQ

Wednesday, January 25, 2012