Funding package for outdoor education centres welcomed
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A north politician who co-chairs the Scottish Parliament’s Diabetes Cross-Party Group has welcomed a £2 million funding package to help outdoor education centres survive the coronavirus pandemic.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart, who twice represented Scotland as a diabetes champion, has been supporting the Scottish Adventure Activities Forum’s #SaveYourOutdoorCentres campaign as well as making funding representations to the Scottish Government and local authorities on behalf of several outdoor education centres.
Mr Stewart said: “It’s crucially important that young people have an active lifestyle because we have got a horrendous rate of type 2 diabetes. Scotland has a healthcare epidemic and it particularly affects children in disadvantaged areas.
"We are seen as the sick man of Europe, and outdoor education plays a great role in fighting against this.
“I applaud everyone who joined the campaign. This work kept enough pressure on the Scottish Government until it eventually buckled and agreed to give out the cash.
"It’s extremely welcome but a long-term strategy is still urgently needed and this £2 million is £1 million short of the £3 million the sector said it needed, so I am firmly backing ongoing efforts for more support.”
The Scottish Government's £2 million package will include funding to help centres provide "safe, impactful outdoor learning experiences" to support young people’s education and wellbeing.
Science minister Richard Lochhead has written to MSPs.
He said: “I met representatives from the sector recently to discuss their concerns and request for funding. I am acutely aware of the challenges the sector has had to face in the wake of the restrictions imposed to suppress the spread of Covid-19.
“Outdoor learning is an important aspect of Scotland’s curriculum. It can play a vital role in supporting children’s wellbeing and attainment and we are fully committed to supporting outdoor education providers.
"I hope this funding, along with third sector and youth work funding streams which are already available, alleviates some of the pressures facing the sector during these challenging times and allows them to offer meaningful experiences to young people.
“Funding on its own will not address all of the challenges. We will continue to engage with local authorities to support the important role that outdoor education centres and their staff can play during the period when overnight residential stays are not permitted for public health reasons.”
Details of how to apply will be made available "as soon as possible".
Alongside the new fund, the Scottish Government says it will produce a package of communication and support materials to local authorities and schools in order to publicise the opportunities for outdoor learning experiences in their area.
