THE ROSELAND CENTRE

THE ROSELAND CENTRE - OUR VISION

To create a community-led, residential Centre enabling a range of outdoor educational and cultural experiences, to promote health, well-being and sustainability for children and young people, and a long-term community hub for all.

ABOUT US

In the summer of 2022 The Roseland Centre charity successfully raised funds to buy the former Cornwall Council outdoor activity and education Centre in the village of St. Just-in-Roseland.

Located on Cornwall's scenic Roseland Peninsula, in the village of St. Just-in-Roseland, this former Methodist School was for many years successfully run as Cornwall Outdoors Activity and Education Centre and was used by organisations such as the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), as well as local and out of County schools. It was well known as the place where primary school groups from around Cornwall and the wider areas, and even Europe came to have safe, enjoyable, fun whilst learning to kayak, canoe, and sail, as well as being challenged by orienteering and camping trips in our beautiful countryside.

We want to continue in this tradition, offering children & young adults fantastic residential accommodation with access to classes, wellbeing support, 1:1 mentoring, specialist activity for SEN groups and outdoor soft/hard skill training, with particular emphasis on water-based activities which will initially be organised by contracted local outdoor activity providers. We couldn’t have a better location: The St. Just Creek is ideally suited for sailing and all kinds of paddle sport experiences, whilst nearby Summers Beach is one of the best and most scenic places in the area to learn how to paddleboard. There are also opportunities for sea kayaking and windsurfing, as well as land-based activities including hiking, camping, bush craft and orienteering.

We plan to operate 365 days a year but specifically throughout the Autumn/Winter months we plan to offer a similar accommodation model to the YHA, supporting and providing for local community events, training organisations, and youth groups/out of school programs that need outdoor classrooms/life skill-based accreditation. We have started community facilities such as a Permaculture Garden for volunteer engagement and support. We plan to integrate a Community Food Larder, perhaps even a volunteer-run village shop.

HERITAGE

An important part of St. Just-in-Roseland heritage, the building started life in 1893 and was the local Methodist school up until the late 1940's. Some local residents still remember it fondly as the place where they sat at their desk in their first-ever classroom.

YOUTH RESIDENTIALS

The Roseland Centre is the perfect place to host a residential course for children & young adults. With a capacity for 34 staying on site in comfortable bunkhouse, dormitory style bedrooms with showers and amenities, a fully-equipped kitchen, fully accessible facilities, green space and communal rooms, from June 2024 we will be open for business.

We will provide schools and youth groups with an opportunity to have an outdoor activity and educational experience with us here on the Roseland Peninsula. There will be on- and off-site activities available, with the river Fal, local beaches and surrounding AONB countryside all within walking distance.

The Roseland Peninsula is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, (AONB). We want to ensure that young people and adults, whether from the Roseland, Cornwall, or elsewhere in the UK & abroad, can come to visit this inspiring place, learn new skills through tailored classes and sessions, make friends, and explore all that the location has to offer. 

We know how lucky we are to live in such a breath-taking natural environment, but we believe the great outdoors is even greater when everyone gets to share in it! And getting people interested in outdoor activities, sustainable thinking and adventurous learning is more important than ever to everyone's physical and mental health wellbeing. 

SUSTAINABILITY 

As an environmentally-aware Centre, the refurbished building will be a beacon of sustainability on the Roseland, using renewables in its design and providing ecologically sensitive accommodation.

Cornwall is at the forefront of environmental and sustainability response, with the Council's Action Plan having the stated aim of regional carbon neutrality by 2030. Our plans support this goal. The buildings offer a community space for raising awareness on important environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity.

We wish to encourage education through nature, encouraging children and adults of all ages to live differently, providing an ecological and environmentally friendly context to develop and expand their knowledge. This would be in accordance with the recently launched Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change strategy, to establish the UK as a world leader in sustainability and climate change education by 2030.

COMMUNITY

We’re redefining what a community Hub is in Cornwall. We’re putting sustainability, environment and community at the heart of everything we do. We also see the Centre as a resource for educational, voluntary and community groups and as a place to promote supportive activities, action and networks for both young and old, so vital in these challenging times. 

The Roseland Centre has a long term goal to inspire expression through and to nature, offering a true sense of place. 

Although everyone will be welcome at The Roseland Centre, and we will strive to be accessible to all, specific attention will be provided to local schools from around Cornwall and the UK. The aim is to provide an opportunity for groups of children or young adults with a residential outdoor activity journey and educational experience here at the Roseland Centre, with a Bursary scheme to support disadvantaged young people, out of school, and young adults who are classed as ‘not in education or training’ with a range of opportunities, including transferrable LIFE Skills, academic accreditation and employability skills. 

The project will ensure that there is direct local community impact in promoting well-being to local children and adults, through improved community access to a range of outdoor learning/activities, wellbeing support, volunteering opportunities, affordable training, cultural experiences and a range of tailored possibilities through our networking and Countywide contacts. 

SUPPORT US

Support the Roseland Centre and change lives through outdoor activities and adventurous education in Cornwall.  2024 is our first year of trading, so until we get our business fully established we will always need additional funds to enable us to pay bills.  

With the support of local business partners and other sources of funds we aim to develop scholarship opportunities to offer training, mentoring, support and Bursaries to enable disadvantaged children & young adults to access our facilities.

We are also seeking volunteers to help us in this enterprise so please do get in touch and see our Latest News.

Donate through our Crowdfunder page.

WHAT ELSE?

Community Garden:

We were granted funds to begin a permaculture garden in the Roseland Centre grounds for use by the local community. In 2023 our Trustees and Volunteers planned and created an amazing start to the layout. We had an interesting Spring and Summer with trial and error, some fascinating growth and lots of success - some of which was used last Autumn for an evening event as vegetable soup! 

If you have an interest in gardening, growing your own food or just want to connect to the land, please get in touch to find out more.

The Committee:

The Roseland Centre is run by the community for the community and beyond. Our committee currently consists of a small group of 15 local volunteers. We are on the look-out for new members to help with such opportunities as social media, marketing, communications, governance and fundraising. If you are interested in getting involved please do get in touch.

ENQUIRE NOW

Contact us and make a booking enquiry by emailing us at:

[email protected]

The Roseland Centre

St. Just-in-Roseland

Truro

Cornwall

TR2 5JA

07940 098860

Questions and Answers:

Who are the potential users and beneficiaries?  Children to adults, the community in general and voluntary organisations. For example: A full range of users, abilities and ages from Cornwall, the SW and from across the UK, maybe even abroad! Local schools (Roseland Academy/Trust), non-local schools, education facilities, Guides, Brownies, Scouts, Cubs, South West Coastal Path walkers, Duke of Edinburgh groups, outdoor activity providers, water sports specialists, health and wellness groups, adult training providers, corporate teams, nature and environmental support groups, community AGM's, SEND organisations and providers, first aid facilitators, Royal Yachting Association, National Citizen Service, Cornish youthwork and "looked after child" services and hopefully a lot more.

What is the situation with parking? The building has its own limited off-street parking area, and there are public car parking sites in and around the village. Visitor Groups have always been dropped off by coaches, minibuses or cars, with the vehicles leaving the village almost immediately or parking neatly onsite, clear of any highway through traffic and local residents. We ask Visitors NOT to park on the kerb/roadside outside the Centre because of the relatively narrow roadway and potential difficulties caused to pedestrians and other road users.

Will it be noisy? In the many years it was previously run as an outdoor activity and  education Centre, there has never been any issue with noise. The operational plan will design and use Visitor/Residential Welcome Packs which will outline conduct and expected behaviour/activity during use of the Centre.

What will happen to the Peace Tree? The Peace Tree is a protected focal point in our planning. 

Is there disabled access? The whole property is on one floor and the St. Austell Charity Active8 have guided our refurbishment plans to ensure it is as accessible as practicable.