duffer
Well-Known Member
Just in case this one has passed you by, I thought it might be worth making people aware that the Council are working hard behind the scenes to close down Dol-y-Moch.
For those who haven't been there, Dol-y-Moch is an outdoor education centre in North Wales that's been used by Coventry children for decades.
For some children, going to Dol-y-Moch is life-changing. It was for me. I was a working-class kid from Tile Hill. It was the first time that I'd hiked, climbed, canoed or spent any time anywhere that wasn't either in the city or at Skegness, or in Weston-super-Mare! It was the first time that I'd been away from my family overnight.
In less than a week I got a lifetime love of the mountains and came home with a confidence that actually, I could look after myself. I found that being a bit, cold, wet or even scared, wasn't in itself something to be afraid of. In fact, with a bit of support from the staff there, it was the best thing I'd ever done. I grew up a bit, basically.
I can't understand why anyone would want to take that away from kids - especially kids from poorer backgrounds, like I was.
The Council are doing all this on the back of a 'closed consultation'.
The claim is that the centre is losing money, which is true during the Covid period, but prior to this the centre has run at a surplus.
The council has of course, been able to find far greater funds to support other loss-making businesses, notably Coombe Abbey Hotel. I don't remember ever being invited to stay there as a child.
A £1.6m arts centre at Ikea might make for an interesting day trip for some schoolkids, but I just don't think it'll have the same impact somehow.
There's no doubt in my mind that the Council would like to do this as quietly and secretly as possible, so as to avoid awkward challenges just before the local elections.
I might not be able to change their decision - it feels like it's already been made. But for some of us that vote, and many that also share happy memories of Dol-y-Moch, that decision might at least have some consequences.
For those who haven't been there, Dol-y-Moch is an outdoor education centre in North Wales that's been used by Coventry children for decades.
For some children, going to Dol-y-Moch is life-changing. It was for me. I was a working-class kid from Tile Hill. It was the first time that I'd hiked, climbed, canoed or spent any time anywhere that wasn't either in the city or at Skegness, or in Weston-super-Mare! It was the first time that I'd been away from my family overnight.
In less than a week I got a lifetime love of the mountains and came home with a confidence that actually, I could look after myself. I found that being a bit, cold, wet or even scared, wasn't in itself something to be afraid of. In fact, with a bit of support from the staff there, it was the best thing I'd ever done. I grew up a bit, basically.
I can't understand why anyone would want to take that away from kids - especially kids from poorer backgrounds, like I was.
The Council are doing all this on the back of a 'closed consultation'.
The claim is that the centre is losing money, which is true during the Covid period, but prior to this the centre has run at a surplus.
The council has of course, been able to find far greater funds to support other loss-making businesses, notably Coombe Abbey Hotel. I don't remember ever being invited to stay there as a child.
A £1.6m arts centre at Ikea might make for an interesting day trip for some schoolkids, but I just don't think it'll have the same impact somehow.
There's no doubt in my mind that the Council would like to do this as quietly and secretly as possible, so as to avoid awkward challenges just before the local elections.
I might not be able to change their decision - it feels like it's already been made. But for some of us that vote, and many that also share happy memories of Dol-y-Moch, that decision might at least have some consequences.