THOUSANDS of school children are set to lose out as a popular study centre closes its doors at the end of the month.

The Swindon Town FC Study Centre, which is based at the County Ground, is shutting up shop due to the withdrawal of the Playing for Success grant, which is part of the government standards fund.

The centre was told in August it would no longer be receiving the £105,000 grant, which allowed about 2,000 primary school pupils to use the centre each year for numeracy and literacy sessions.

Martin Turnbull, who has been managing director of the study centre since it opened in 1998, said: “It is outside our control. It is not ours, the club’s or the local authority’s fault.

“Once the main grant goes it is hard to sustain. Remove the main plank of support and the rest falls apart as well.

“Headteachers are really sad it’s closing because they found it useful for groups of young people who need that support.

“We get between 95 and 99 per cent attendance because the kids love coming and what we do.

“The project is a boost to the pupils’ confidence and self esteem, it’s just so sad.”

Five members of staff will be made redundant when the centre closes next Thursday.

Mr Turnball said: “I have stayed there because the centre has grown and I have had really good support. For somebody who likes sport and football it is a great job to have.

“We have known since August, I have drawn a line and I am ready to go.

“We are having to put our files into boxes to to be recycled or shredded, that’s all the evidence of the last few years.

“I came across letters from headteachers praising what we have done but we have got to look forward and not back.

“Swindon College were in today looking at how they might be able to do things.

“It’s the 59th minute of the eleventh hour.”

The centre is also an Apple regional training centre, which Mr Turnbull will be moving to Drove People’s Campus. He also hopes to take the literacy and numeracy project out to schools instead of them coming to him.

To mark the centre’s achievements, and the thank everyone for their support during the last 13 years, the study centre is holding a celebration evening tonight, the final day it is open to children. It will include a presentation by youngsters from Mountford Manor School who have attended sessions at the centre this term.