Media Release — Thursday, 15 March 2007

Salvation Army Delays Closure Of Balclutha Employment Training Centre

The Salvation Army has responded positively to community concern regarding the closure of its Employment Plus Training Centre in Balclutha. The centre was due to be closed in the next few weeks, but the closure has now been delayed until the end of the training year in December 2007. The Salvation Army Employment Plus services will continue to fund the loss-making centre during this time.

Mr George Borthwick, National Manager of The Salvation Army Employment Plus, said “We value the high regard for the programme expressed in community submissions on the closure. Occupancy levels and financial losses are forcing us to close, but we hope the delay announced today will assist the Balclutha community to develop alternative ways to assist learners.”

Employment Plus staff in Balclutha have been advised of the delayed closure, he said. “Making a decision to close services is difficult because we value our staff and the role they have played in delivering high quality employment training services.”

The mechanisms of funding followed by the Tertiary Education Commission mean there is insufficient revenue to support the continuation of the Balclutha centre. Although the plan to close at the end of the training year in December is firm The Salvation Army will conduct one last review in July to see if any extra TEC funding, growth in occupancy or other initiatives mean the parameters forcing closure have altered.

“The Salvation Army values the opportunity it has had for the past 25 years to assist young people in the Balclutha community,” said Mr Borthwick. “We are pleased to see lower levels of unemployment in the Balclutha community, but the subsequent reduction in learner numbers accessing the centre inevitably means change in employment training for centres such as Balclutha.

“We hope the willingness of The Salvation Army Employment Plus to fund a loss until December will create an opportunity for the community to develop other options to support those who need employment training.”

ENDS

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