Brighton, September 2025 – When the sudden closure of the Self-Managed Learning College (SMLC) in Fishersgate was announced earlier this year, families, staff, learning advisers, and young people were left devastated. With only five weeks’ notice, the community lost not just a place of learning, but a 24-year lifeline: a safe space where young people had felt respected, understood, and empowered to learn in ways that truly worked for them.
Mainstream education had never been a suitable option for most of these students, and the loss of SMLC left families reeling – unsure where their children could now belong.
But out of this heartbreak, a new chapter has begun. Parents, staff, and learning advisers have joined forces with determination and vision to create something extraordinary: OurPlace Learning Community (OPLC).
A New Beginning
This September, OurPlace opens its doors at Brighton Youth Centre (BYC), becoming a new home for young people seeking meaningful, personalised education.
OurPlace is a non-profit, self-directed learning environment where young people shape their own educational journeys. Guided by experienced Learning Advisers, the community encourages project-based and interest-led exploration – free from the pressures of testing, grades, or one-size-fits-all teaching.
“What we’ve set out to do with OurPlace is simply to continue what we already know works: creating a supportive, learner-led community where young people can thrive. The need for this kind of space is greater than ever, and we are determined to make it available to even more families.” – Theo Hutchinson, Learning Adviser and founding member of OPLC
Why This Matters
At its heart, OurPlace is built on the belief that every young person deserves a place where they belong. By offering a nurturing, flexible, and inclusive environment, OPLC ensures that no child is left without the chance to learn, grow, and find their voice.
How You Can Help
As a non-profit, OPLC relies on community support to keep this vision alive. Donations, partnerships, and word of mouth are critical in sustaining this essential alternative provision.
- Donate to help secure resources and long-term stability
- Share the story of OurPlace with your networks
- Support by volunteering your time or skills, or engaging with the community
Every contribution helps build a future where young people are not only educated, but deeply connected – to themselves, each other, and the wider world.
Please visit: Support Us — Our Place Learning Communit
