Challenges faced by LEA centres include constraints from LEA they serve, such as limits on charges made, inability to carry savings from one year to the next, bans on sending paper advertising to schools, not being allowed to take groups from other areas during quiet times etc.
Time to adapt, associated with greater freedom to act like a business, means that the removal of LEA funding needn't be the end of a centre. The fund the petition asks for will help centres to make the transition.
There are many LEA Centres providing some really great experiences for groups (they are well regarded by their users, with good websites and generate significant revenue). The petition includes the recommendation that better support be given to LEA Centres that need to develop their business model to be financially sustainable in the future and continue to provide good outdoor educational experiences which is why I have signed up.
I agree completely that some LEA centres are well run; however some, at least a significant minority, are very poorly run. Poorly run private companies go out of business allowing well managed companies to thrive. Poorly run LEA centres, historically, have not been shut down when they have performed poorly for years. I wish that all LEA centres were successful but if they are proven to be unsustainable and a drain on their communities they should be allowed to perish.
The fact is that many, many local authority outdoor education centres are very, very badly run, are desperately inefficient and don’t meet the needs of most of the community.
Not one of the outdoor education centres in my county has a website, no one knows what they do or where they are.
Many centres have become a burden to the communities they should be supporting.
If LEA centres broke even or, heaven forbid, made a profit the question of their closing down would not even arise.
I don't work for an LEA Centre so am perhaps not the best person to respond but... around where I am based in Snowdonia there are many LEA Centres providing some really great learning. I am sure there are some which are less well run, much like I imagine there are poorly run private companies. The petition includes the recommendation that better support be given to those LEA Centres that need to develop their business model so they can be financially sustainable in the future.
By poorly-run do you mean non-profitable?
MrSinistral1 1 month ago
What is the closing date for signatures?
nationalartandcraft 1 month ago
Challenges faced by LEA centres include constraints from LEA they serve, such as limits on charges made, inability to carry savings from one year to the next, bans on sending paper advertising to schools, not being allowed to take groups from other areas during quiet times etc.
Time to adapt, associated with greater freedom to act like a business, means that the removal of LEA funding needn't be the end of a centre. The fund the petition asks for will help centres to make the transition.
sheffielded91 1 month ago
There are many LEA Centres providing some really great experiences for groups (they are well regarded by their users, with good websites and generate significant revenue). The petition includes the recommendation that better support be given to LEA Centres that need to develop their business model to be financially sustainable in the future and continue to provide good outdoor educational experiences which is why I have signed up.
12345daniel123451 1 month ago
I agree completely that some LEA centres are well run; however some, at least a significant minority, are very poorly run. Poorly run private companies go out of business allowing well managed companies to thrive. Poorly run LEA centres, historically, have not been shut down when they have performed poorly for years. I wish that all LEA centres were successful but if they are proven to be unsustainable and a drain on their communities they should be allowed to perish.
biggingerdude 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
biggingerdude before I engage can I ask what your connection to local authority outdoor education centre is/was?
ukulele4 1 month ago
Comment removed
ukulele4 1 month ago
Comment removed
ukulele4 1 month ago
The fact is that many, many local authority outdoor education centres are very, very badly run, are desperately inefficient and don’t meet the needs of most of the community.
Not one of the outdoor education centres in my county has a website, no one knows what they do or where they are.
Many centres have become a burden to the communities they should be supporting.
If LEA centres broke even or, heaven forbid, made a profit the question of their closing down would not even arise.
biggingerdude 1 month ago
I don't work for an LEA Centre so am perhaps not the best person to respond but... around where I am based in Snowdonia there are many LEA Centres providing some really great learning. I am sure there are some which are less well run, much like I imagine there are poorly run private companies. The petition includes the recommendation that better support be given to those LEA Centres that need to develop their business model so they can be financially sustainable in the future.
12345daniel123451 1 month ago