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  • The Charity

    Supporting the future of Coventry's young people through outdoor education
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Courses for Adults, Families and Exclusive use

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details of courses on offer for families and adults, but currently we have these courses in the diary: 

If you can't see what you want, but would like a bespoke course organised, please just contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or phone 01766 510200 - we'd love to see you here at the Centre!

We're delighted to be able to offer these courses at the centre, and to be able to share the centre with people. All these courses require a minimum booking in order to ensure they go ahead. We will be sure to advise you about this when you book, but a great excuse to get more people together and bring them along!!

Family Adventure Courses - 

Come and spend time with your family at the centre in Snowdonia. You will be fully catered for, and a range of activity options are on offer for you such as Mountain Walking, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Mine Exploration, Mountain Biking and more. This is your chance to come and share Plas Dol y Moch with all the family!! You’ll be able to take part in activities together and share the magic of the centre and the surrounding area together. 

The centre has Coivd safe policies and operating procedures in place, to ensure you have an amazing stay, with safety measures to keep transmission risks to a minimum.

Weekend Dates available:

Spring weekend - 4th to 6th June 2021

Summer weekend - 30th July to 1st August 2021

Cost: £160 per adult, £120 for 12-16 year olds, £80 for 4-11 year olds, 3 and under free - this price includes all activities and instruction, food and accommodation, and transport from a central location in Coventry if required.

Mid-week dates available:

Summer mid-week course - 27th to 30th July 2021

Cost: £160 per adult, £120 for 12-16 year olds, £80 for 4-11 year olds, 3 and under free - this price includes all activities and instruction, food and accommodation, and transport from a central location in Coventry if required.

Family courses pictures


Adults Adventure Courses –

Come with a group of friends and spend the weekend enjoying being away from the City and in beautiful Snowdonia. We’ll make sure you are well fed, well looked after and have loads of different activity options to keep you as busy as you would like! These courses are kept specifically for adults only, so that you can all enjoy the centre and activities at a similar pace and level, followed by an evening of relaxation at the local pub or round a fire at the centre.

The centre has Coivd safe policies and operating procedures in place, to ensure you have an amazing stay, with safety measures to keep transmission risks to a minimum.

Cost: £195 per person - this price includes all activities and instruction, food and accommodation. It does not include transport to the centre.

Dates available: 

14th-16th May 2021

21st-23rd May 2021

Adults courses pictures

Bespoke Skills courses –

We have a highly skilled and experienced staff team who are fantastic coaches and can deliver a huge variety of skills based courses. Have you ever wanted to come and learn how to rock climb, or improve your mountain biking skills? Or perhaps you’d like to experience white water kayaking, or learn how to navigate and explore the more remote routes in the mountains?? Whatever you would like to try or progress your skills in, you’ll be working in a small group with one of our amazing staff who will share their expertise and passion for the outdoors with you. These courses are higher in cost as we work with groups of no more than four people allowing you to receive more quality time to learn and improve specific skills.

The centre has Coivd safe policies and operating procedures in place, to ensure you have an amazing stay, with safety measures to keep transmission risks to a minimum.

Costs: £300 per person. This price includes all activities and specialist instruction, food and accommodation. It does not include transport to the centre.

Dates available: 

9th-11th July 2021

Bespoke courses pictures

School trips in summer

Allow school trips in summer term, UK outdoor education centres say

Sector asks Boris Johnson to help them reopen as part of roadmap out of Covid lockdown

Outdoor education should be reopened because children in Britain are suffering, experts and celebrities have urged.

In an open letter sent to the prime minister on Thursday, explorers, authors and sporting figures joined headteachers, councillors, charities and outdoor education providers to call for residential school trips to be allowed during the summer term, when hotels and B&Bs are due to reopen in England.

Among the 200 signatories are the former England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward, the children’s author Sir Michael Morpurgo, the Olympic gold medal winning canoeist Etienne Stott and the explorers Benedict Allen and Victoria Humphries.

“Children and young people have been among those most impacted by the Covid pandemic,” the letter says. “As we recover from this pandemic … outdoor education has to be part of the government’s wider reopening of education, with both day and overnight visits allowed to operate.”

With more than 2 million children a year usually taking part in outdoor education, the benefits to health and wellbeing are clear, the letter continues. But a ban on residential school trips since March 2020 has already led to 30 outdoor education centres closing permanently, with 6,000 job losses and £600m in lost revenue.

The letter warns that unless providers can reopen at the same time as hotels from 17 May, the sector will face financial jeopardy, a further 10,000 jobs will be at risk and a generation of children could miss out on the often life-changing benefits of visits.

Jim Whittaker, the chair of the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres, said: “We can play a vital role in helping children get back on track to achieve their potential, but we need help to do so. The pandemic has been financially disastrous for outdoor education. But just as schools and children need us most, our sector is in an incredibly precarious situation. Without urgent action we face the devastating loss of provision for ever.”

Disadvantaged pupils and those with special needs, for whom these visits are often a unique experience, stand to lose the most. Andy Robinson, the chief executive of the Institute for Outdoor Learning, said: “These are often life-changing experiences which, by their very nature, cannot take place in the classroom. If we are to rebuild the resilience and self-confidence of this generation of children we need to start that process as soon as possible.”

Around 1.4 million children are on free school meals, and at least that many are unlikely to be able to have these experiences apart from on a school trip, Robinson added. “The industry is desperate to do what we do best: helping children fulfil their potential, whatever their background.”

Sean Day, the centre director at the Lake District Calvert Trust, said: “We specialise in providing life-changing residential trips for children and adults with disabilities. If you can complete a high-ropes course in your wheelchair or abseil down a 30ft Lake District crag, then everyday challenges at home can become far less daunting.

“If we can’t reopen this summer, the future of this amazing charity is at risk, and it is children with disabilities who will suffer. We are desperate for schools to come back.”

Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, is due to decide soon when school trips can safely reopen. The School Travel Stakeholder Group, which represents providers of outdoor education, last week proposed a fixed reopening date of 17 May for day and overnight school visits.

Under the proposals, centres would adhere to new Covid-secure protocols and ensure all visits adhere to the government’s school bubble requirements.

“We are ready to play our part in the recovery and believe that the Covid-safe protocols that we have developed will enable us to open safely,” said Whittaker. “We have put in place so many safety measures to ensure we can operate with everything that schools and hotels do and more. We opened over the summer to families and didn’t have a single recorded case.”

The letter also calls for a £50m culture recovery fund for school travel providers. A petition calling on the government to provide financial support to the sector has had nearly 15,000 signatures.

A Government spokesperson said: “Throughout the pandemic we have kept our guidance on both residential and non-residential visits under review, in line with Public Health England advice. We’ve taken action to protect lives and livelihoods, including the extension of the furlough scheme and wider support for businesses to continue to support jobs.”

Dear Friends and Supporters.

        
 

 
 
 
Dear Friends and Supporters.
 
As you may know, Plas Dol y Moch has been closed since last March and has had no income since then. Coventry City Council has launched a consultation on reorganising the Outdoor Education Service. They have stated that they are trying to save Plas Dol y Moch (PDYM).
 
However, as the Friends, we have grave concerns about their proposals for the following reasons.
 
1.      The Consultation Process has not properly consulted the users of PDYM
2.      We do not believe that the proposals will produce any short or medium term savings
3.      We cannot see how the proposals will preserve or enhance educational outcomes
4.      We have grave concerns about the impact on disadvantaged children, including those with SEND and disabilities.
5.      We cannot understand how two proposed new “business” managers can be appointed without a comprehensive Business Plan
6.      The Council is planning for PDYM not opening until Jan 2022, and then only at 25% capacity – we regard this as wholly pessimistic
 
We are arguing for at least a months delay until:-
 
  • ·       New Government Covid guidance becomes available especially regarding Schools reopening and Covid Safe procedures for residential education
  • ·       The Budget in early March provides more financial certainty
  • ·       The beneficial effects of mass vaccination becomes even clearer
  •         A new full consulation has taken place with all stakeholders 
 
Councillors will make the decisions. Please contact your local Councillors – many of them will be up for election in May. Please ask them what they know about the proposals and find out from them where they stand on the matter. Everyone who makes contact will help to influence better decisions for the future of Coventry’s young people.
 
To find your local Councillor go to https://www.coventry.gov.uk/councillors/search
Please do this as soon as you can as the consultation closes next Monday the 22nd.

Also, please forward this email to anyone you know who might have an interest, perhaps they are a teacher, a parent or someone who has been to Plas Dol y Moch in the past.

If you would like any more information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 07866 762415
 
Many thanks
 
Mike Ballinger

Chair, Friends of Plas Dol y Moch



 
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Coventry Live

Plas Dol-y-Moch restructure planned after council reports £150,000 losses due to Covid closure

The council is planning changes to the outdoor education centre loved by generations of Coventry kids

Children taking part at Plas Dol-y Moch

Concern has been raised over a planned restructure at Plas Dol-y-Moch - the outdoor education centre where Coventry kids have been spending their school trips since 1966.

Coventry City Council is proposing changes as the centre is running up an overspend of £500,000 this year, with losses of £150,000 even after Covid grants and Furlough cash.

Jobs are under threat at the Snowdonia site, while charity The Friends of Plas Dol-y-Moch said a ‘commercial model’ is being pushed to provide alternative revenue streams other than schools, with ‘in-city’ provision also mooted.

But critics believe proposals are “flawed” and will jeopardise the valuable experience provided to school children in the city. They also say the site was successful before the coronavirus pandemic hit and is showing good signs of recovery with bookings up in the past few weeks.

A consultation closes on Monday, February 22 - but the Conservative opposition group at the council has demanded the proposals are scrapped in favour of an open public consultation outlining the plans. 

Mike Ballinger, chairman of The Friends of Plas Dol-y-Moch, said all options for further grants have not been explored, with no proper discussion held on its future.

He said: “The way this has been put across is they want to change it from an outdoor education centre to outdoor activity centre. Plas Dol-y-Moch is hugely successful and prior to Covid the formula worked before. It was not a loss-making centre. 

"We are frustrated they are trying to change something that worked. We believe the change of emphasis is fundamentally flawed and will not save money.

“They have had 90 bookings in the last few weeks and that is almost at full capacity. That shows the faith."

 
Children taking part at Plas Dol-y-Moch 

The site has been unable to open due to Covid-19 and the council has reportedly told staff it will still only be running at only 25% capacity in January 2022.

The authority said it is “realistic about future deficits” and is therefore “exploring a number of options” to ensure the site can mitigate losses.

The site reportedly made over £340,000 in the last five years. 

The council said all expenditure has been reviewed to reduce spending after a £500,000 overspend prompted by its Covid-enforced closure.

Avenues are currently being explored in relation to other forms of income generation outside of schools, a spokesman for the authority said.

Fears schools will lose out

Mr Ballinger continued: “They seem to want to ‘save Plas Dol-y-Moch’, but what concerns us is do they actually realise what is being proposed here? 

"Do they understand Coventry schools may lose out as more places go to Warwickshire schools instead of ours? Do they understand there will be reduced education? 

“It is a reduction in the opportunity for Coventry children to go and losing a lot of the experience they will get when they are out there. We are concerned it will be run by people who are not educators and put profit above.

 
Children taking part at Plas Dol-y-Moch 

“There does not seem to be a willingness to accept there will be a short term loss at Plas Dol-y-Moch but it will be a valued site in the future years and can contribute to the overheads.

“We all understand the pandemic is a big problem but do not wreck something that is working.”

Calls for plans to be scrapped

A letter from Coventry Conservatives to the council’s chief executive and leader is calling for plans to be scrapped.

Cllr John Blundell, shadow cabinet member for education, said the group was “extremely concerned” at the move.

He said: “For 55 years the centre has provided Coventry children with a unique opportunity to enjoy a true outdoor education led by experienced qualified teachers. Something we believe will be greatly demeaned by the current proposals. 

“We will be writing to the leader of the council and the chief executive to demand the current proposals are scrapped and a full and open transparent consultation should take place, listing various options, that gives everybody the opportunity to contribute. We believe this is the least that Plas Dol-y-Moch deserves.”

Council 'has to be realistic'

Cllr Kevin Maton, cabinet member for education, said: “Plas Dol-y-Moch is a fantastic outdoor education centre that is part of the childhood of thousands of people in Coventry.

“That’s why we are committed to finding a way for the centre to continue providing a valuable resource to children and young people in Coventry.

“There’s no doubt that the pandemic has had a massive impact on the venue and that is the reason for the current and projected deficit

“Since March last year it has received no income due to lockdowns both in Wales and England, plus restrictions on travel.

“So, by the end of this financial year, after securing Covid relief grants and Furlough of staff, the centre saw a deficit of circa 150k.

“As we are continuing to be in lockdown, and with restrictions on travel post lockdown, we have to be realistic about future deficits.

“We have to make a best guestimate of when the centre will be able to operate at its full bed capacity.

“In the meantime and short term, we must explore a number of options for the coming months so that the outdoor education centre can look towards a positive future and mitigate income losses going forward.

“School leaders and other stakeholders are aware and this forms part of the internal consultation.”

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AMAZING venue for exclusive use bookings

Great for family gatherings, corporate courses, sports and social group getaways and more. You can have exclusive use of the centre, and have a package of activities that would suit you and your group. Please get in touch for more details:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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FAMILY ADVENTURE COURSES - DATES ANNOUNCED!!

Hello everyone!!! We're sad to say that we are still unable to open the centre for school groups, but we are very excited to announce that we have some FAMILY Adventure courses on offer through Septemebr and October. We would love to see you and your family for lots of fun here in Snowdonia. It's a great place for a get together with friends and families!! Please check out all the details on our website and get in touch if you would like to book some places: https://www.plasdolymoch.co.uk/plas_dolymoch/info/2/courses/3/courses/2?fbclid=IwAR3m0euTF7NUf7L49UoLhaNsvCrkMufTh2O4DaXXHWDyZNHRKl8h1VPObho

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 We'd love to keep in touch and give you more information about the big events planned in Plas Dol-y-Moch's 50th Celebratory year.

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50 years