AN OUTDOOR education service in Monmouthshire, which is used by thousands of children across Gwent, could be under threat after one of its partners proposed cuts to its funding.

Gwent Outdoor Education Service has been providing a service to the children of Gwent for the last 15 years and is subsidised by Newport, Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Blaenau Gwent Councils.

But all that could change after Newport City Council proposed removing its subsidy of £142,000.

The partnership, in place since 1996, has allowed Gwent pupils to access outdoor education away from their school at a subsidised rate through the help of the four local authorities.

The children take part in activities such as orienteering, archery, climbing and problem solving at its three centres in Hilston, near Monmouth, Gilwern near Abergavenny and Talybont near Brecon.

But Ian Kennett, Gwent Outdoor Education Service’s head of service, fears Newport’s potential withdrawal of financial support could have a significant impact on the children who use it.

“This comes as a potential killer blow,” he said.

Mr Kennett said half of the centre's funding comes from the four authorities while the other half comes from parents.

He said the withdrawal would put more pressure on parents and could increase the charges for a five day stay by at least £100 to £265 per pupil.

Mr Kennett said: “Such increases could result in parents being unable to afford the service whilst at the same time school budgets would be either insufficient or under high pressure to subsidise costs. Either way the ultimate losers would be the children and schools who currently benefit from the service.”

He added: “For some children, this may be the first or perhaps the only opportunity they have to spend some time away from their families and have some form of break from home life.”

Mr Kennett said the centres cost a total of around £900,000 and that the withdrawal of financial support from the largest of the four local authority partners could mean the closure of at least one of the three current outdoor centres.

He said the centre has strong support from Newport schools with 43 out of 49 primary and secondary schools in the city being regular users of the service.

He also said how Gwent schools have already booked out 110 weeks out of a possible 117 weeks for stays at the centre this year.

In operation for more than 40 years, Mr Kennett said around 150,000 children have experienced a residential stay at one of the centres and highlighted how adventurous activities are a requirement of the National Curriculum.

Parents will have to meet cost

A spokeswoman for Newport City Council said Newport school children will still be able to access outdoor education but the full, rather than a subsidised cost, will have to be provided by parents.

She said schools would continue to provide subsidies as they consider appropriate and said the Talybont building, which is owned by Newport Council, would remain.

The spokeswoman added: "This is a non-statutory service and Newport City Council is discussing how this reduced contribution will be delivered with the other contributing councils."

Blaenau Gwent Council said it does not propose to cut funding to the service.

Torfaen and Monmouthshire Councils were unable to comment by the time the Argus went to press.