Closure of the RSR Rowner Centre

The RSR Rowner facility will be closing in the next 2/3 years, with a planning assumption of closure in July 2010. RSR Trustees have come to this decision with regret after long and thorough consideration. As RSR remains committed to serving the Naval community in the Rowner and Gosport area, we will be investigating alternative locations or providers for key activities at the Rowner site from 2010 onwards and seeking to develop our wider support role to Naval families in the area.

Questions & Answers

Why is the Centre Closing?

The RSR Trustees have decided that RSR Rowner should close for the following reasons:

1. The cost and difficulty of maintaining a 1966 prefabricated building which, although regularly maintained, is not designed for a long life and is now showing serious signs of its age. Major maintenance issues to deal with include:
• Central heating system
• External cladding
• Compliance with new disability rights legislation
• Leaking roof

The capital cost of addressing these maintenance issues is prohibitive. Furthermore the land and building are leased from the MOD, so any significant investment would be lost upon return of the building to the MOD.

2. Rowner has a significant and growing budget deficit. RSR cannot afford to maintain the level of subsidy provided at present to keep the Rowner Centre running.

3. The Centre has a falling number of Naval Service users. RSR as a charity exists to support the RN, RM & their families. Whilst we welcome non-service families subject to availability, our charitable objective is primarily to serve RN & RM personnel and their families.

Why have the Trustees made this decision now?

The Trustees tasked the RSR executive to carry out a strategic review of all the charity’s activities last year. The results of the review were presented at the June 08 Trustees meeting, when they made their decision to close RSR Rowner.

What will happen to the activities we offer at Rowner?

We think it is unlikely that we will be able to find another provider who would wish to take over the whole of the RSR Rowner facility and activities. Possible outcomes for each of our activities are shown below:

Pre-school (Rowner)
Seek an alternative local provider who may wish to take over the activity, though not on the RSR site.

Crèche
RSR continue to run if we can find a suitable location. Otherwise we will look to transfer the activity to another local provider.

Champions clubs
We aim to continue these, operating from local church premises, school hall or some other facility.

Grange Pre-School
We expect to continue running this as at present.

Cafe
To close, unless the site stays open.

St Vincent’s NVQ
The work will transfer elsewhere or close. (A decision for St Vincent’s College to make).

Other facility users (hall hiring)
To be informed and they will have to find alternative arrangements.

What will happen to the RSR Rowner Site?
The site and building are leased from the MOD, they will be returned to the MOD.

What will happen to the children in Pre-School and Nursery?
We expect the Grange Pre-School to continue operation. All children currently in Pre-School (Rowner) and Nursery should finish that stage of child care. The children who at present are on waiting lists may not be able to finish and may need to find alternative providers, unless we are able to transfer the activity.

Will new children continue to join the pre-school and nursery?
Our ability to take in new children will depend on whether parents wish their children to start here, given that they may have to move their children before the next stage of education.

What happens now?
RSR will begin discussions with potential local providers, facilities etc to determine what can be relocated. All staff will be kept closely informed of progress. Families of children attending the pre-schools, crèche and Champions Clubs will be informed.

A Printable PDF copy of the above information is available here