Ardroy Outdoor Education Centre
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-02988, in the name of John Park, on celebrating Fife’s outdoor education centre. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament warmly welcomes the reopening of Ardroy outdoor education centre in Lochgoilhead; congratulates the Ardroy Ambassadors group, which ran what it considers to be an excellent campaign to reopen the centre after its closure in July 2011; notes that many school groups have already enjoyed adventures at Ardroy since its reopening and that it is already fully booked until the end of the summer school term; recognises that the Ardroy centre is now run as a charity; understands that the Ardroy team hopes to raise enough funds in the short term to upgrade the facility and in the long term to purchase the building from Fife Council, and celebrates what it considers the significant and valuable contribution that outdoor education centres like Ardroy make across the whole of Scotland through the diverse programmes that they run for children, young people and adults.
17:26
The more observant members in the chamber will be aware that Lochgoilhead and Argyll are not part of Mid Scotland and Fife, which is a big region that stretches quite far over to the west but not as far west and north as Argyll. However, I am pleased that Michael Russell is here as the constituency MSP and as the minister who will respond to the debate.
The reason why Ardroy outdoor education centre has featured so heavily in my interests over the past year or so is the service that it has provided to schools in Fife since 1969 as the outdoor education centre of choice for young boys and girls, particularly of primary school age, going on outward bound and outward education courses. The centre has played a huge part in shaping their lives.
I will provide some background to give colleagues a bit of an understanding of what we have been doing over the past couple of years and an appreciation of why I am optimistic about the centre’s future. Sadly, at the end of July 2011, the centre closed as a result of a decision by Fife Council that related to the budget pressures at that time. Previously, it was apparent that there were many people in and around Fife—not just teachers but many young people who had attended the centre as pupils—who wanted to be part of a campaign to ensure that it had a future. I became involved in supporting the save Ardroy campaign by raising issues in Parliament and, more important, by helping the group to find a solution to ensure that the centre stayed open. I will say a bit about the people who have been involved in that later in my speech.
I am pleased that, because of the work done by the Ardroy ambassadors group—which came out of the save Ardroy campaign—and its support, dedication and activities, the centre reopened as a social enterprise at the end of last year and is once again welcoming school groups from Fife. I am in a minority in Fife—members will not hear me say that often in the chamber—as I did not get the opportunity to go to Ardroy, which was because my school did not take that opportunity, rather than because of anything that I did.
My elder daughter has been to the centre and my younger daughter is going next year. I know from the experience that my elder daughter had what it means for a young person to go away overnight, with their peer group and their teachers, to an environment where they learn to work together as a team, develop their relationships with their friends and start to develop adult thinking and relationships. The work that is carried out there is hugely important. I would not say that I saw my daughter develop into a completely different person overnight but, from her experience and from hearing what her teachers have to say about it, I know that the work of the centre is valuable and we cannot put a price on that sort of experience and activity.
It was fortuitous that we talked about youth unemployment and opportunities during our debate earlier today. Centres such as Ardroy are where many young people take their first steps towards gaining what we in Parliament might describe as softer skills but which might be described in the real world outside Parliament as real skills or life skills, so that they can continue in their schooling and go into the workplace with some understanding of what it means to be part of a team and how relationships with friends and colleagues really matter.
I would like to highlight the campaign to save Ardroy. The forced closure in summer 2011 was obviously not good for Ardroy, but what arose out of it was good. I am talking about the work of the Ardroy ambassadors, and of George Bruce, who has driven much of the partnership working to ensure that the centre can open again. George has had regular conversations with Michael Russell, and he has my mobile phone number—that is all I will say—so he has been on to me quite a lot.
These things do not happen by chance. They happen because people in our communities, such as George, are prepared to work hard, to work across political boundaries, and to work in partnership with a range of people to make sure that there is a service for young people to enjoy. That is why the reopening of Ardroy has been a huge success.
I had the great opportunity of visiting Touch primary school in Dunfermline recently. One of its classes had had to leave Ardroy early because of the high winds that we had earlier this year. I met the pupils on the Friday and heard first-hand from primary 6 and primary 7 about what the experience had been like for them. I know quite a lot of their mums and dads as well because we are of a similar age, so I had a little bit of a reminder of that. I spoke to those young people, but it is difficult to put into words what the experience meant to them. They can put their experiences into words much better than I can.
Looking back, I know a number of people who went to Ardroy. It was quite funny to have a look at the save Ardroy website, which had a lot of personal testimony from individuals who had been there, and I have a quote that I want to share with members because I think it is important to get these experiences on the record:
“I went to Ardroy as a P7 pupil and had an amazing time. Last year, I took my own Primary 7 pupils to Ardroy for a week in October 2010. It was unbelievable how much they learned and benefitted from the great opportunities available to them at Ardroy. It would be a tremendous loss for future children for Ardroy to be closed. We will all be writing letters and encouraging as many people as possible to sign this petition.”
That is what happened. George Bruce deserves a lot of credit for the work that he has done, and the people who campaigned to save Ardroy also deserve credit. It is fantastic to have the opportunity here today in Parliament to recognise the work and to wish Ardroy all the best for its future.
17:34
I welcome the chance to take part in this debate on celebrating Fife’s outdoor education centre, and I wish Ardroy a successful future that builds on its reputation for delivering an excellent programme of outdoor activities. I congratulate the Ardroy ambassadors on the transfer of the provision of outdoor education at Ardroy from Fife Council to the new charitable trust, and I recognise the efforts of Fife Council staff and the previous Fife Council administration for all their work in helping to make this possible.
Ardroy reopened on Monday 14 November last year when the first schoolchildren visited the new centre. Since then, hundreds of Fife children and others have followed them, and the centre is now fully booked until the end of summer.
Outdoor centres such as Ardroy play an important part in outdoor education and the introduction of new activities to the many who participate, introducing them to exciting challenges and the benefits of a wide range of pursuits.
At a young age and at another centre in Lochgoilhead, I was introduced to various activities that influenced me greatly in my young teenage life. The introduction to canoeing and sailing encouraged me to pursue those activities throughout my teenage years, gaining many qualifications—particularly in canoeing—and going on to train four times a week and compete all over Scotland. Later on, after gaining my qualifications in skiing, canoeing, sailing and archery, I decided to go into full-time employment teaching outdoor pursuits to various age groups of all abilities. If it had not been for centres like Ardroy, my passion for outdoor sport would probably never have been fulfilled to its potential.
The work that is done by the staff at Ardroy must be praised. In many cases, children attending the centre would never have had the chance to try out such a wide range of activities, which are delivered with skill, dedication and passion. That makes the whole experience enjoyable for youngsters, allowing them to develop their skills; encouraging them to do their best and be inclusive instead of exclusive; and developing communication and team-building skills—all of which are greatly needed in later life—while enjoying the outdoors.
Ardroy’s motto that you are only as good as your last performance shows the high standard and the quality of the activities that are delivered. The centre is audited annually by the Adventure Activities Licensing Service and it is a Scottish Canoe Association-approved centre. Its wide-ranging programme and national initiatives have resulted in its being only the second centre in Scotland to achieve the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom quality mark. The centre’s themed programme also fits in with the new curriculum for excellence in being focused on the adventurous discovery and exploration of wild places, which allows pupils to complete the John Muir award. The woodland activities, outdoor sports and scenario-based courses that are delivered by Ardroy help children from all over Scotland to learn how to overcome adversity, enhance personal and social development and develop a deeper relationship with nature. What better values can we try to develop in our adults of the future?
I wish the Ardroy centre all the best for the future and hope that it continues to build on its success, as such facilities are greatly needed to develop impressionable youngsters by offering them organised learning in an outdoor setting, which is probably one of the best ways to learn and to enjoy education.
17:37
I congratulate John Park on the motion. I am delighted that Ardroy outdoor education centre has reopened and I add my congratulations to all those who fought extraordinarily hard to ensure that that was the end result, particularly as they had to fight against some very difficult financial circumstances.
John Park made clear the valuable role that Ardroy has played over a long period of time in helping young people in Fife to develop their skills, confidence and environmental awareness. He also made plain the strength of positive feeling towards the centre among many who have experienced its programmes. The fact that the centre is already fully booked until well into next year, whichever of the 17 different outdoor activities is being pursued, speaks volumes about the need for Ardroy. It would be unacceptable for so many Fife primary school children to lose the opportunity of attending this wonderful facility. I have no doubt at all, especially during the implementation of the curriculum for excellence, that the wider educational experience that such centres can bring will be an increasingly important part of any young person’s school career. John Park is absolutely right to say that it is appropriate that this debate comes just after the important debate that we had this afternoon about the skills that are required.
The benefits of outdoor education are well known. It enhances the self-esteem, the self-discipline and the confidence of the young person and it gives children the teamwork skills that are essential for the workplace and in later life. It gives them a healthier and more active outlook on life, makes them more aware of a different environment, in some cases, and it gives them—especially at the end of their primary school career—a new independence and self-reliance that helps them to mature into young adults. As David Torrance said, it can also help to lay the foundations for the Duke of Edinburgh’s award or the John Muir award, which is immensely valuable. However, I would argue strongly that it is the residential aspect of the experiences that can be the most powerful, especially if they can be enjoyed over a week or two weeks and in locations that are far removed from the young person’s home environment. Those are the best learning situations.
There are other lessons to be learned from the Ardroy experience—lessons that were part of an interesting discussion that took place at this week’s Education and Culture Committee when, in the presence of some expert witnesses, we debated how best to ensure that there was much better strategic planning of local government and a much better understanding of how the public, voluntary and private sectors could work more effectively together to lay on diverse qualitative educational experiences for our young people.
It is not exaggerating things too much to say that there was considerable concern among some of the witnesses that, although we have some marvellous facilities on offer in Scotland, we do not always get the strategic planning right. There are some serious issues to do with how we could try to improve that co-operation in partnership between the different sectors.
It was pointed out in a written submission to the committee from Scottish Outdoor Education Centres that unless there is a different, broader approach to those issues, the future of some outdoor education centres, including Ardroy, could be under threat. SOEC pointed out the need to involve more stakeholders in the early strategic decision making. Sometimes our approach to the need for those facilities is a bit short term, and there can be a lack of transparency about how local authorities and the private and voluntary sectors could come together.
It is excellent news that Ardroy is back in business—I am delighted that John Park has highlighted that—but there are other messages, too, and a wider perspective that we need to address.
17:41
I congratulate John Park on securing this worthwhile debate. I congratulate, too, George Bruce, the other Ardroy ambassadors and the wider community for working so hard, raising funds and reopening the centre, which has benefited many people in the past and will continue to do so in future. I should say to John Park that Ardroy is in my constituency, the Highlands and Islands, which is far larger than Mid Scotland and Fife. However, if he wants a competition on that, maybe this is not the time to mention it.
I am really pleased that the centre has reopened, because it provides jobs for the local community. The Highlands and Islands is quite sparsely populated and it is difficult to find employment opportunities. The centre is part of a cluster of outdoor education activity centres in the area. A cluster is good for all its component outdoor activity centres, because they can work together and attract people into an area.
It is often said that someone who goes to a place as a child will come back as a young adult, then with their children and then maybe even with their grandchildren. That can only be of benefit to the area. Of course, the centre’s biggest benefit is for the young people who go there and enjoy their time there.
I was lucky enough to be brought up in a rural community and I had loads of time outdoors. It is great for young children to get out and about in a safe environment in which they can really let their imaginations go and enjoy themselves without being constantly under surveillance. Such surveillance happens a lot because parents are so afraid of the harm that may come to their children, and I have sympathy for parents in that position. However, outdoor activities help to broaden horizons and build confidence. Children taking part in outdoor activities have to become more self-reliant and therefore they become more self-assured and build the skills that do them well into adulthood.
Outdoor activities are good for children’s education—Ardroy is looking at curriculum for excellence—and for health because they allow children to do physical activity rather than being inside, as they often are, playing computer games and the like.
Fife Council has supported the centre in the past, has supported the reopening of the centre, and is obviously looking to continue that support, albeit in a different way, probably because of cuts in funding. I know that the group is considering purchasing the centre. It would be good if Fife Council could transfer ownership at a cost that would not be prohibitive to the group so that the centre can be secured into the future. Not only will the centre benefit Fife’s young people, but it has the ability to benefit young people from all other areas. I wish it every success in future.
17:45
I congratulate John Park on securing the debate. It has been a constructive and positive debate, and so it should be, because the story of Ardroy and the way in which it has come through a period of considerable difficulty to its present situation is a positive one.
It is important to recognise that many outdoor centres are situated in my constituency of Argyll and Bute, and I am glad to be speaking here not only as a minister but as a member for that constituency. However, the concentration of those outdoor centres creates problems. As local authorities found it more difficult to support the centres, others have found themselves with a number of commitments to outdoor centres and find it difficult to sustain them for an indefinite period.
A moment ago, off the top of my head, I wrote down the names of some of the outdoor centres that still operate in Argyll. The City of Edinburgh Council has a centre in Benmore. Caol Ruadh used to be an outdoor centre but is now a private house. Perhaps most impressive of all is Kilbowie, which is still run by North Lanarkshire Council. I visited Kilbowie last August and saw young people jumping off a very high cliff into the Sound of Kerrera. They were thoroughly enjoying the experience—I did not do it, but I would like to.
It has been difficult for local authorities to sustain the centres, and the imagination that has gone into ensuring that Ardroy can continue to operate is certainly an outcome of the passionate campaign, as John Park said. However, it is about more than that. It is about the great imagination that George Bruce and his wife—who are in the public gallery today—and a variety of other people brought to this activity. Their extraordinary persistence—I know what John Park means when he says that George Bruce has his number; he has my number, too—their determination to make the centre work, their keenness to negotiate with the local authority, and the willingness of Fife Council, to which I pay tribute, to have that negotiation brought the result that we now have.
The centre is operating again in Lochgoilhead. It has wide support in Fife and in Argyll. Parents, teachers, pupils and the community are all impressed and are keen to support the centre. As members have said, the centre is booked through until next year. I look forward to visiting the centre this summer to see for myself what has been done.
John Park was also right to quote the individual user. I will quote one of them, too—a pupil called Megan, who was quoted in The Herald last year in its coverage of Ardroy. She said:
“It’s changed my friends ... I have never seen them in the way I see them now.”
Visiting any outdoor centre for a period of time has a profound effect. That personal experience is backed up by wider research. The Outward Bound Trust’s social impact report in 2011 found that 93 per cent of teachers reported improved personal, social and emotional wellbeing among young people following such a visit and that 60 per cent displayed improved performance on their return to school. That is why the Scottish Government’s social entrepreneurs fund was happy to award almost £25,000 to enable the re-establishment of Ardroy as a sustainable social enterprise.
A number of members have rightly referred to the curriculum for excellence. The publication “Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning” provides national guidance and resources that highlight the value and importance of progressive outdoor learning experiences, including through residential programmes. Education Scotland is promoting outdoor learning as an approach to learning across the curriculum, supporting local authorities to build capacity and share practice. The national network for outdoor learning includes local authorities, the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres, the Scottish Advisory Panel on Outdoor Education and other partners. From August to October, there will be a series of glow meets around the theme, “Building your curriculum—outside and in”, which will all be based at outdoor residential and adventure centres and which will feature discussions of residential experiences in primary and secondary.
In cross-curricular terms, the recommendations of the Scottish studies working group noted the importance of outdoor learning, too, and said that it should be highlighted in guidance and included in professional learning activity. That guidance was published on 21 March, alongside the studying Scotland resource, and professional learning events are planned.
The Scottish Government is supporting the sector more widely. Scottish Outdoor Education Centres was awarded £500,000 through the social investment fund in 2011 to support business development and refurbishment. A social return on investment study calculated that every £1 that is invested in five-day residential outdoor learning programmes has a social return of just over £11, so the £500,000 will produce many outcomes.
We are talking about Ardroy, so I will conclude with Ardroy. People who are lucky enough to know Lochgoilhead know that it is a beautiful small community, but it has been revitalised over the years by the outdoor education centres there, of which there is more than one, as David Torrance pointed out.
Those centres give young people the opportunity to experience wonderful surroundings—sometimes for the first time—and to participate to the full in a range of activities and sports. Young people can go away inspired and excited, with their eyes wide open. They often come back year after year and, as John Park said, people sometimes come back as teachers to take young people to the centres, which is a truly great thing.
I always regard myself as lucky to represent Argyll and Bute, where the opportunities for outdoor education are great.
It gives me the greatest pleasure to know that Ardroy will continue to operate, through the enthusiasm and campaigning of John Park’s constituents, through the vision and commitment of George Bruce and through the excitement of every child in experiencing something new.
Meeting closed at 17:51.