Delamont outdoor education centre has been catering to the needs of young people from the greater Belfast area for 30 years. In this time, Delamont has played host to many thousands of young people from all parts of the city. These young people have benefited from the care and attention of a great team of staff, who have always ensured that the needs of the young people were first and foremost in the programmes of activity on offer.

Under proposals revealed to staff this week, Delamont is to close its doors in March of 2017, followed a couple of months later by at least 3 other outdoor centres, in the biggest shake up of outdoor education ever seen in the provence.

Local councilors have described the loss to the community and to the kids of Belfast if this move is to go ahead. Thousands of young people from Belfast use the centre each year, many on their first ever experience of being away from home. The loss to these young people, to the schools and youth centres of Belfast will be felt across all sectors of the community. A Belfast youth worker said “Delamont has always provided the young people of our youth centre with a safe, neutral environment in which to grow and develop new skills. It will be a terrible loss to our young people.”

Please sign the petition to save Delamont and spread the word with everyone you know who has experienced what this great centre has to offer.