The Life Skills Centre
This page requires Javascript to be enabled on your browser, and Flash Player 8 or above to be installed.
Get FlashPrivate Finance Initiative (PFI)
PFI is a form of public-private partnership (PPP) in which local authorities can gain access to new or improved capital assets. Unlike traditional procurement the public sector does not buy the assets, but rather pays for their use, together with associated services (for example, security cleaning etc)
Capital investment in the assets is made by the private sector which recovers its costs over a long contract period (often 25 years or more). In order for Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue to secure the financing it has to satisfy to HM Treasury through extensive checks and balances that the Outline Business Case (OBC) is value for money and its affordability is sound.
The Life Skills Centre forms a small but fundamental part of the overall PFI programme and provides financing for four Community Fire & Rescue Stations – the total package amounting to £39 million worth of PFI credits over 25 years.
This will enable Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue to build a £3.4 million purpose built community facility in which a range of scenes will reflect scenarios where people can put their knowledge about how to deal with risk and safety incidents into action.
By developing this project through a range of partners the Life Skills Centre could be used by and for various groups of people for a range of life skills issues, ranging from mainstream education for key stages, youth intervention and the vulnerable.