Outdoor education centres may close, warns MSP

Scotland’s outdoor education centres may be forced to close without financial aid, a Fife MSP has warned.

Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Liz Smith, led a debate in parliament on Tuesday where she urged the Scottish Government to safeguard the centres at risk of closure.

The centres are under threat as coronavirus restrictions prevent schools from taking pupils on overnight trips until at least December.

However the centres may be unable to recover from the financial strain and could be lost forever, the Fife politician told MSPs.

“As the circumstances stand just now, it is predicted that half of our outdoor centres are likely to close by autumn 2021. If they do, they will likely not return,” she said.

“It is an extremely blunt warning, but when we see the details of the financial situation that faces many centres, in local authorities of every political hue, we realise just how desperate the situation is.

“We are all too aware of how many young people have struggled through this crisis, missing several months of school, feeling lonely and isolated in many cases.

“To lose that precious asset is an unconscionable thought and I hope the Scottish Government heard the loud message coming from the sector.”

Almost 20,000 have now signed a petition calling for urgent intervention after experts suggested hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren could miss out on the lifechanging experiences.

The Belmont Centre, near Meigle in Perthshire, is one of many centres under threat of closure.

Dave Spence, chief executive officer, said the loss of income from bookings could see the centre close before March.

MSPs from across the political parties joined the debate to share their own tales of how outdoor education enriched their childhood, and the lives of their children.

Richard Lochhead, minister for further education, higher education and science, will meet with representatives and also said he will be working with local authorities to highlight and encourage the need for safe day visits to outdoor centres.