Job losses possible at Derwent Hill as Sunderland's Lake District outdoor education centre faces uncertain future amid covid pandemic

A popular outdoor education and training centre visited by generations of Wearside youngsters is facing an uncertain future due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Derwent Hill is the Lake District outdoor education centre owned by Sunderland City Council.Derwent Hill is the Lake District outdoor education centre owned by Sunderland City Council.
Derwent Hill is the Lake District outdoor education centre owned by Sunderland City Council.

Derwent Hill in the Lake District has been owned and run by Sunderland City Council since the 1960s, providing the opportunity for young people to try activities such as rock climbing, canoeing and kayaking.

But a review of spending plans has raised the spectre of major changes and possibly even job losses at the centre.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“As a general point, any changes to staff will first look for vacancies or change of hours. Existing staff redundancies would always be a last resort,” said Jon Ritchie, the council’s executive director of corporate services.

“Redundancies will be minimised unless absolutely necessary, but in some areas where demand for services has gone away, unfortunately we have to look at those staffing areas.

“However it’s worth noting that there’s more money coming in from Derwent Hill through the attraction of external income from the private sector or the commercial activities that some in.

“So as well as looking at reducing the spend, we’re also looking to increase the income to help balance the books.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ritchie was speaking at a meeting of the city council’s Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube on January 14.

Proposals for the much-loved facility were raised in the local authority’s Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2021/2022 – 2024/2025.

Sunderland is currently facing a combined funding gap worth more than £60million, partly due to higher costs and income lost due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is hoped a ‘review of staffing arrangements’ at Derwent Hill could save £37,000, while attempts to ‘maximise’ commercial opportunities are predicted to raise £103,000.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, the report also added: “Some of this proposal could result in their being a negative impact on the ability for Sunderland families to afford the cost of attending Derwent Hill.”

This was raised by SIlksworth councillor Pat Smith, who called for bosses to return to the committee to answer questions about plans for the venue.

She said: “With what’s been going on at Derwent Hill because of COVID I think we need a long term look at the plans [the council leadership] has for Derwent Hill.”

Support your Echo and become a subscriber today. Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest on SAFC and new puzzles every day. With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe.