Support for Threatened Outdoor Centres

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Support for Threatened Outdoor Centres

October 2, 2020

Outdoor Centres Need Support #SaveYourOutdoorCentres

The Scottish Canoe Association (SCA) has joined with outdoor sports to help prevent the threat of closure of outdoor centres.

Back at the start of September, Scotland’s outdoor education sector has issued a call to the Scottish Government to support outdoor residential centres or face losing them forever.

We have written to John Swinney MSP, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, urging him to provide support to outdoor centres which are at serious threat of closure due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

The letter is sent by Stuart Younie, CEO of Mountaineering Scotland, on behalf of the SCA and other outdoor governing bodies. Joining SCA in this plea to support the #SaveYourOutdoorCentres campaign, are Developing, Mountain Biking in Scotland, Mountaineering Scotland, Ramblers Scotland, Scottish Archery, Scottish Curling, Scottish Cycling, Scottish Fencing, Scottish Orienteering, Snowsport Scotland and Royal Yachting Association Scotland.

The letter to Mr Swinney stresses the decades of invaluable life and learning experiences for children and young people provided by Scottish outdoor centres, and the effect their loss would have on a number of sports.

Each year over 100,000 young people are given the chance to try paddlesports, snowsports, mountain biking and many other outdoor activities.

Our outdoor centres are a resource which has been shown to help close the attainment gap and develop resilience, confidence and life skills in children, while improving their physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The outdoor residential sector also supports thousands of jobs both directly within the sector but also in the rural economies where many are based. However, the closures are already starting, with the closure Girlguiding Scotland’s centre – Nertherurd House. More will follow and shut down permanently before Christmas.

In the letter Stuart Younie, CEO of Mountaineering Scotland, said: “More than ever we need opportunities for future generations to learn to how to enjoy, appreciate and behave responsibly in the outdoors.

“Adventure tourism is also an important part of the Scottish economy, and these centres play a critical role in providing employment opportunities in some of the most rural parts of Scotland.”

Centres have already begun to close, and it is anticipated this will accelerate when the furlough scheme ends, with 50% of Scotland’s 36 Centres likely to close and half of their 600 employees at risk of redundancy.

And he warned: “Young people across Scotland will be denied the opportunity to access residential outdoor experiences that have been identified by MSPs as being so important for Scottish children and young people.”