Council agrees £250,000 funding for outdoor centre in Wales (From Daily Echo)
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Hampshire children will use outdoor centre in Brecon Beacons
9:57am Tuesday 16th October 2012 in News
Brecon Beacons
Hampshire leisure bosses have agreed a £250,000 funding deal for an ourdoor centre in Wales.
More children wil lnow be able to enjoy gorge walking, caving, rock climbing and kayaking, thanks to a partnership between Hampshire County Council and one of London’s oldest educational charities; Sir John Cass’s Foundation.
Hampshire country council recreation boss Councillor Keith Chapman approved a joint venture with Sir John Cass’s Foundation to provide funding for Hampshire’s Mountain Centre in the Brecon Beacons, in Wales.
Sir John Cass’s Foundation has been awarded a grant of £250,000 over a five year period, to what will now be called Hampshire County Council Cass Foundation Mountain Centre.
It will provide opportunities for children in London, as well as to students that were already catered for from across Hampshire and the rest of the country.
This annual grant of £50,000 is the equivalent to about 50% of the running costs of the centre, which will in turn reduce the subsidy required from the County Council.
Students from Sir John Cass’s Foundation Secondary School and other secondary schools in London as well as trainee teachers from the Sir John Cass School of education and Communities at the University of East London have already visited the Centre and will benefit from this new funding.
The Hampshire Mountain Centre occupies two sites, situated in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park among mountains, waterfalls and caves.
It offers children the chance to enjoy a range of outdoor activities, which they wouldn’t have access to in more built-up areas.
Groups can take advantage of the many curriculum based, learning activities and also participate in outdoor sports which include walking expeditions, canoeing, climbing, gorge walking and mountain biking.
Educational trips feature field study projects as well as historic buildings, museums and nature reserves to visit.
Every year an average of four and a half thousand children travel from Hampshire to stay at the two sites, which together can accommodate 64 young people at a time.
Councillor Chapman said: “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring Hampshire’s Mountain Centre and its excellent facilities to a wider audience. This partnership with Sir John Cass’s Foundation means that more young people in London will have the opportunity to experience a variety of outdoor activities in the beautiful setting of the Welsh mountains.”
Kevin Everett, the Treasurer and Chairman of Sir John Cass’s Foundation said “ The Foundation is delighted to have entered into this strategic partnership with Hampshire County Council and to be providing opportunities for students from London, many of whom who have never left the Capital let alone experienced and benefited from high quality outdoor education.
“The Foundation welcomes the chance to work with a Council which values the importance of outdoor education and looks forward to strengthening this strategic partnership in the years to come”
Comments(30)
hulla baloo
says...
10:42am Tue 16 Oct 12
Shoong
says...
10:49am Tue 16 Oct 12
Linesman wrote:What has foreign aid got to do with anything with this article what so ever?
At a time when the Tory-led Government are being asked to cut Foreign Aid, the Tory-led Hampshire County Council are making a £250,000 Foreign Aid grant.
Is this what Hampshire tax payers wanted?
Was there no similar project in Hampshire that could do the same job, and provide work for local people, and enjoyment for local children?
Are Hampshire County Council sending money overseas as Foreign Aid?
News to me, what a disgrace.
Subject48
says...
11:11am Tue 16 Oct 12
And yes, the idea does seem stupid because I am sure the money could be spent in a very similiar fashion localy...
Shoong
says...
11:17am Tue 16 Oct 12
Subject48 wrote:I'm not sure why it really 'has' to be in Hampshire?
I believe he was poinitng out that hamshire is exporting money to wales which technicaly is a different country.
And yes, the idea does seem stupid because I am sure the money could be spent in a very similiar fashion localy...
I went on a similar kind of trip in Wales in my teens and remember it very fondly, I made life long friends and it peaked my interest in wildlife which remains to this day. It also showed me that there's more to the country than Hampshire.
I don't think it's so terrible to spend money on children's education and experience, had it been millions of pounds then yes, but why does it always have to be about the money?
The same people decrying this are the same who wail and moan that not enough money is being put into schools and education.
elvisimo
says...
11:30am Tue 16 Oct 12
Stephen J
says...
11:51am Tue 16 Oct 12
Linesman wrote:Hampshire County Council has operated the centre in Wales for decades. It exists to provide Hampshire children with opportunities to experience a very different natural environment to Hampshire. As a way of sharing the cost of the centre, this new partnership seems very sensible.
At a time when the Tory-led Government are being asked to cut Foreign Aid, the Tory-led Hampshire County Council are making a £250,000 Foreign Aid grant.
Is this what Hampshire tax payers wanted?
Was there no similar project in Hampshire that could do the same job, and provide work for local people, and enjoyment for local children?
Subject48
says...
11:54am Tue 16 Oct 12
The money for this I think should come from central government and not splash out 250k from local coffers for something I seriously dont think anyone will benefit from in hampshire.
When I went to a local school there were no trips to anywhere beyond porchester, so, as im not an education specialist I can only go by my own experiances.
I wish we lived in an ideal world where it isint about the money, its a reality I sincerly wish would change in my lifetime.
As it stands, it is not so. Therfore this "money" should be used as wisely as possible while we are depending on it.
I could be worng, I am only human and this is my opinion.
Beer Monster
says...
12:50pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Shoong wrote:Agreed with Shoong - I went on a similar excursion when I was a teen with my school, the highlight of which was a trek up Mount Snowdon. My interest in meteorology was sparked by this.
Subject48 wrote:I'm not sure why it really 'has' to be in Hampshire?
I believe he was poinitng out that hamshire is exporting money to wales which technicaly is a different country.
And yes, the idea does seem stupid because I am sure the money could be spent in a very similiar fashion localy...
I went on a similar kind of trip in Wales in my teens and remember it very fondly, I made life long friends and it peaked my interest in wildlife which remains to this day. It also showed me that there's more to the country than Hampshire.
I don't think it's so terrible to spend money on children's education and experience, had it been millions of pounds then yes, but why does it always have to be about the money?
The same people decrying this are the same who wail and moan that not enough money is being put into schools and education.
I'm presuming that the funding that HCC are putting forward will mean a greater level of subsidy for similar trips for the children of Hampshire. Is that such a bad thing?
sarfhamton
says...
1:00pm Tue 16 Oct 12
*delete as appropriate
Subject48
says...
2:07pm Tue 16 Oct 12
The way I read the article it appears the money will be used to maintain the park in wales and not to subsidise trips for hampshire schools.
Maybe I misunderstood.
I think the 250k would more benefit children by investing in some sort of community centre/project in one of the less fortunate areas of our city to try and safe at least a fraction of yet another lost generation.
Linesman
says...
3:59pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Shoong wrote:If Wales is not a different country, why is there a Welsh International Football Team?
Linesman wrote:What has foreign aid got to do with anything with this article what so ever?
At a time when the Tory-led Government are being asked to cut Foreign Aid, the Tory-led Hampshire County Council are making a £250,000 Foreign Aid grant.
Is this what Hampshire tax payers wanted?
Was there no similar project in Hampshire that could do the same job, and provide work for local people, and enjoyment for local children?
Are Hampshire County Council sending money overseas as Foreign Aid?
News to me, what a disgrace.
Shoong
says...
4:02pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Linesman wrote:Now now, your just being silly.
Shoong wrote:If Wales is not a different country, why is there a Welsh International Football Team?
Linesman wrote:What has foreign aid got to do with anything with this article what so ever?
At a time when the Tory-led Government are being asked to cut Foreign Aid, the Tory-led Hampshire County Council are making a £250,000 Foreign Aid grant.
Is this what Hampshire tax payers wanted?
Was there no similar project in Hampshire that could do the same job, and provide work for local people, and enjoyment for local children?
Are Hampshire County Council sending money overseas as Foreign Aid?
News to me, what a disgrace.
Linesman
says...
4:03pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Stephen J wrote:If it were decades ago, then it was before the Welsh Assembly.
Linesman wrote:Hampshire County Council has operated the centre in Wales for decades. It exists to provide Hampshire children with opportunities to experience a very different natural environment to Hampshire. As a way of sharing the cost of the centre, this new partnership seems very sensible.
At a time when the Tory-led Government are being asked to cut Foreign Aid, the Tory-led Hampshire County Council are making a £250,000 Foreign Aid grant.
Is this what Hampshire tax payers wanted?
Was there no similar project in Hampshire that could do the same job, and provide work for local people, and enjoyment for local children?
If Hampshire County Council have money to burn, and considers that it needs to spend Hampshire Council taxpayers money outside of the county, then spend in in the Lake District or some such place in England.
Shoong
says...
4:04pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Subject48 wrote:No, I didn't go to a public school, the trip was paid for by parent's and a subsidy.
How old are you both? and which school did you got to out of interest.. I trust they were public schools?
The way I read the article it appears the money will be used to maintain the park in wales and not to subsidise trips for hampshire schools.
Maybe I misunderstood.
I think the 250k would more benefit children by investing in some sort of community centre/project in one of the less fortunate areas of our city to try and safe at least a fraction of yet another lost generation.
Shoong
says...
4:06pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Linesman wrote:Hampshire Secondary schools have been going to the Lake District for years, that's nothing new. Not sure who paid for the facilities up there but money was required to get a place, funnily enough.
Stephen J wrote:If it were decades ago, then it was before the Welsh Assembly.
Linesman wrote:Hampshire County Council has operated the centre in Wales for decades. It exists to provide Hampshire children with opportunities to experience a very different natural environment to Hampshire. As a way of sharing the cost of the centre, this new partnership seems very sensible.
At a time when the Tory-led Government are being asked to cut Foreign Aid, the Tory-led Hampshire County Council are making a £250,000 Foreign Aid grant.
Is this what Hampshire tax payers wanted?
Was there no similar project in Hampshire that could do the same job, and provide work for local people, and enjoyment for local children?
If Hampshire County Council have money to burn, and considers that it needs to spend Hampshire Council taxpayers money outside of the county, then spend in in the Lake District or some such place in England.
Linesman
says...
4:06pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Shoong wrote:That is no answer to the question.
Linesman wrote:Now now, your just being silly.
Shoong wrote:If Wales is not a different country, why is there a Welsh International Football Team?
Linesman wrote:What has foreign aid got to do with anything with this article what so ever?
At a time when the Tory-led Government are being asked to cut Foreign Aid, the Tory-led Hampshire County Council are making a £250,000 Foreign Aid grant.
Is this what Hampshire tax payers wanted?
Was there no similar project in Hampshire that could do the same job, and provide work for local people, and enjoyment for local children?
Are Hampshire County Council sending money overseas as Foreign Aid?
News to me, what a disgrace.
I suppose you can find no answer that contradicts the fact that Wales is a different country to England, as is Scotland.
They both want Independence, so let them be self-supporting. That is what being Independent is all about.
Subject48
says...
4:24pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Just seems plain stupid....
good-gosh
says...
4:33pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Stephen J
says...
4:34pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Subject48 wrote:You do understand that the centre is used only by children from the areas that fund it? Like Hampshire?
exactly, seems a strange decision to spend local council money on a park in a different country let alone county, given how strapped for cash the council apparenty is.
Just seems plain stupid....
Linesman
says...
4:40pm Tue 16 Oct 12
good-gosh wrote:I am not counting the cost, just pointing out that I think that it is being spent in the wrong place.
Never count the cost when providing for children. Their development is the purpose of civilization.
Linesman
says...
4:45pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Stephen J wrote:By the same token, do you understand what Subject48 wrote?
Subject48 wrote:You do understand that the centre is used only by children from the areas that fund it? Like Hampshire?
exactly, seems a strange decision to spend local council money on a park in a different country let alone county, given how strapped for cash the council apparenty is.
Just seems plain stupid....
Of course it is understood that the centre will be used by children from Hampshire, but it is still an Investment in Wales when it could well have been invested to provide similar facilities in England.
Linesman
says...
4:49pm Tue 16 Oct 12
When England has enough of the facilities that are under discussion, and there is perceived to be a need for even more, with no suitable site in England, then by all means, help to provide them elsewhere.
Until that time, let us spend the money here before we spend it elsewhere.
Stephen J
says...
5:03pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Linesman wrote:Just to be clear, after decades of successful operation, the centre in Wales should be closed. Because it's in Wales. And a new one opened in England. Because it would be in England?
Stephen J wrote:By the same token, do you understand what Subject48 wrote?
Subject48 wrote:You do understand that the centre is used only by children from the areas that fund it? Like Hampshire?
exactly, seems a strange decision to spend local council money on a park in a different country let alone county, given how strapped for cash the council apparenty is.
Just seems plain stupid....
Of course it is understood that the centre will be used by children from Hampshire, but it is still an Investment in Wales when it could well have been invested to provide similar facilities in England.
Linesman
says...
5:54pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Stephen J wrote:That may be your suggestion, but not mine.
Linesman wrote:Just to be clear, after decades of successful operation, the centre in Wales should be closed. Because it's in Wales. And a new one opened in England. Because it would be in England?
Stephen J wrote:By the same token, do you understand what Subject48 wrote?
Subject48 wrote:You do understand that the centre is used only by children from the areas that fund it? Like Hampshire?
exactly, seems a strange decision to spend local council money on a park in a different country let alone county, given how strapped for cash the council apparenty is.
Just seems plain stupid....
Of course it is understood that the centre will be used by children from Hampshire, but it is still an Investment in Wales when it could well have been invested to provide similar facilities in England.
My opinion is that, as it is located in Wales, it should be funded by the Welsh National Assembly, the body that was elected to represent the Welsh nation.
Stephen J
says...
6:38pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Linesman wrote:Why would the Welsh even consider funding it? The centre's owned by Hampshire County Council for the benefit of Hampshire children.
Stephen J wrote:That may be your suggestion, but not mine.
Linesman wrote:Just to be clear, after decades of successful operation, the centre in Wales should be closed. Because it's in Wales. And a new one opened in England. Because it would be in England?
Stephen J wrote:By the same token, do you understand what Subject48 wrote?
Subject48 wrote:You do understand that the centre is used only by children from the areas that fund it? Like Hampshire?
exactly, seems a strange decision to spend local council money on a park in a different country let alone county, given how strapped for cash the council apparenty is.
Just seems plain stupid....
Of course it is understood that the centre will be used by children from Hampshire, but it is still an Investment in Wales when it could well have been invested to provide similar facilities in England.
My opinion is that, as it is located in Wales, it should be funded by the Welsh National Assembly, the body that was elected to represent the Welsh nation.
Gainer T Gopher
says...
6:51pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Next it will be a fact finding tour by the council to Hawaii to see if they can open one there....
Linesman
says...
7:28pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Stephen J wrote:Owned by Hampshire County Council for the benefit of Hampshire Children?
Linesman wrote:Why would the Welsh even consider funding it? The centre's owned by Hampshire County Council for the benefit of Hampshire children.
Stephen J wrote:That may be your suggestion, but not mine.
Linesman wrote:Just to be clear, after decades of successful operation, the centre in Wales should be closed. Because it's in Wales. And a new one opened in England. Because it would be in England?
Stephen J wrote:By the same token, do you understand what Subject48 wrote?
Subject48 wrote:You do understand that the centre is used only by children from the areas that fund it? Like Hampshire?
exactly, seems a strange decision to spend local council money on a park in a different country let alone county, given how strapped for cash the council apparenty is.
Just seems plain stupid....
Of course it is understood that the centre will be used by children from Hampshire, but it is still an Investment in Wales when it could well have been invested to provide similar facilities in England.
My opinion is that, as it is located in Wales, it should be funded by the Welsh National Assembly, the body that was elected to represent the Welsh nation.
In that case, why is it funded in conjunction with the Sir John Cass Foundation, which is a London charity?
"It will provide opportunities for children in London, as well as to students that were already catered from across Hampshire AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY."
Who are employed to run and maintain this Outdoor Centre?
If an outdoor centre were located in Hampshire, then it would be providing work for Hampshire people, who would be paid by Hampshire County Council and in turn, would be paying council tax to either Hampshire County Council or some other Hampshire locals authority.
Stephen J
says...
8:03pm Tue 16 Oct 12
andysaints007
says...
8:12pm Tue 16 Oct 12
Shoong wrote:Me thinks Shoong is as thick as sh*t !! Read the comments properly u donut !
Subject48 wrote:I'm not sure why it really 'has' to be in Hampshire?
I believe he was poinitng out that hamshire is exporting money to wales which technicaly is a different country.
And yes, the idea does seem stupid because I am sure the money could be spent in a very similiar fashion localy...
I went on a similar kind of trip in Wales in my teens and remember it very fondly, I made life long friends and it peaked my interest in wildlife which remains to this day. It also showed me that there's more to the country than Hampshire.
I don't think it's so terrible to spend money on children's education and experience, had it been millions of pounds then yes, but why does it always have to be about the money?
The same people decrying this are the same who wail and moan that not enough money is being put into schools and education.
Linesman says...
10:19am Tue 16 Oct 12
Is this what Hampshire tax payers wanted?
Was there no similar project in Hampshire that could do the same job, and provide work for local people, and enjoyment for local children?