Delamont may close by March next year

Delamont may close by March next year

9 November 2016

DELAMONT Outdoor Education Centre could be closed by the end of March, it has emerged.

The centre has been earmarked as the first to close out of several residential and outdoor centres under threat in new rationalisation plans.

Ardnabannon in Castlewellan, Killowen in Rostrevor and Bushmills in County Antrim could also close as soon as August 2017.

Last week it was revealed the Education Authority wanted to reduce its number of large catered centres — and with the majority of these in the Newry Mourne and Down area there were fears of local job cuts.

A review with the further timescale details for those immediately affected was released yesterday but will not go to public consultation until Monday.

Local councillor Billy Walker, who has seen the plans, said he was shocked to hear 11 workers at Delamont could be out of a job by the end of the financial year.

“They are stunned and worried for their futures,” he said. “Morale is so low and they feel they are left biding their time.

“Redundancy and redeployment options have been discussed but staff are not hopeful of redeployment given that the number of outdoor and recreation centres are being reduced.”

Councillor Walker said he was very concerned that the consultation would be a “box-ticking exercise”.

“I will be encouraging everybody to respond to the public consultation, not just the workers, but those groups who have used the centre and the parents of those children who have used the centre,” he said.

Councillor Walker said that if more private facilities were going to be used instead in the future, the cost could be prohibitive to some families.

Among those centres still under review are Shannaghmore in Newcastle, Killyleagh Outdoor Education Centre, formerly known as Seaboard Sailing Centre, and the Gortatole and Woodhall centres outside the district. It is understood making the Killyleagh Centre a self-catering instead of a catered centre is one possibility being explored.

There has been widespread concern expressed for the future of the local education centres since last week’s revelations.

A change.org petition calling on local MLAs to save the Ardnabannon centre has so far collected 2429 signatures.

The petition statement reads: “Ardnabannon Outdoor Education Centre is synonymous with the term Outdoor Education in Northern Ireland. Since first opening its doors in 1967 the centre has been instrumental is shaping Outdoor Education in Northern Ireland as we know it today. 

“As the first fully catered and professionally staffed residential centre within education it was a bold initiative which became the model for others to follow in subsequent years. The old stately home has been refurbished, extended, modernised and maintained to meet the changing needs of children, young people and staff.

“Using activities such as canoeing, hill walking, rock climbing, bouldering etc. participants are set realistic and achievable challenges in an enjoyable and friendly atmosphere. This unique combination of enjoyment, learning and challenge helps develop individuals’ understanding and awareness of him/her self, others, improves self confidence, self image and self esteem, and encourages a healthy and caring attitude to life and the environment in which we live.”

Local MLAs Colin McGrath and Harold McKee released statements saying they were seeking urgent meetings with the Education Authority.

Mr McGrath said: “In my previous role as a full time Youth Worker I used most of the outdoor education centres in South Down and in Northern Ireland. They are top class facilities that provide social, educational and recreational experiences for Young People.

“I am unhappy at this consultation which proposes a reduction of outdoor education centres in the North. With the Mountains of Mourne and the Irish Sea coastal region as well as Strangford and Carlingford lough, South Down has benefited from having these centres located within it. We will also suffer from the economic impact of the closures.

“My colleague Sinead Bradley and I have sought an urgent meeting with the Education Authority chiefs to discuss the need and rational for this consultation and to explain possible solutions.”

Mr McKee said the affected centres were “prime examples of how education and sporting activities, using our unique local natural landscape as a giant playground, can enhance the learning and educational experiences for our children and young people”.

Referring to the Education Authority consultation, he added: “If they want to make services more effective, they have to listen to the many people who have benefited from these facilities throughout the generations, and from the local community and the anxious staff who will be affected most of all.”

Last week the Education Authority said it would be inappropriate to comment on the recommendations in advance of the 12 week public consultation process starting on November 14.

It said the purpose of the review was to ensure the effective use of Outdoor Education Centres and Youth Service Resources, to identify areas of good practice as well as areas for improvement, and to make recommendations for future delivery of the service linked to their Youth Service priorities.