North Tyneside mayor Karen Clark has said a £100,000 fund created after the closure of the High Borrans Outdoor Education Centre could help schools pay for other trips.
Her comments come after parents stepped in to save a recent trip to Rising Sun Country Park from being cancelled. Families with children at Preston Grange Primary School in North Shields told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that educational activities should not rely on "last-minute crowdfunding" because of financial pressure on schools. While parents covered the shortfall this time, other visits to St Mary's Lighthouse and an overnight Year 6 trip have been scrapped.
Fund to support outdoor education
The Labour mayor pointed to the creation of a £100,000 fund to support outdoor education, following the decision to close the High Borrans centre in Cumbria, announced in September. She said school trips "shouldn't be something only available to families who can pay" and that schools could apply to the pot to help ensure other visits go ahead.
Ms Clark said: "No child should miss out on an outdoor education trip because their family can't afford it. These experiences give children the chance to learn new skills, build their confidence and enjoy the outdoors with their friends.
"They shouldn't be something only available to families who can pay. That's why Labour has introduced a new £100,000 fund that schools can apply to for help with the cost of outdoor education trips, supporting those least able to afford them.
"We know family budgets are stretched, and the cost of a residential trip can be a real worry for parents. The work schools, parents, and local communities put into fundraising deserves real credit. This fund will provide additional support so that more children can take part, whatever their family's circumstances."
High Borrans closure and school funding concerns
High Borrans, council property since the 1960s, is scheduled for closure by November 30, with the council citing a £3 million maintenance bill and declining school visits. Despite calls to retain it, including protests, petitions, and threats of legal action, the local authority has maintained that the centre will cease operating later this month and will be prepared for sale.
Preston Grange headteacher Tracey Taylor told the LDRS that funding for trips is a "difficulty facing all schools due to inadequate funding", especially with rising transport costs.
