Helping Cleveland’s Playgroup youngsters get the best possible start
29/06/2007
Helping to give Cleveland’s children the best possible start to their education – thanks to Capacitybuilders
Playgroup Network Cleveland has received a total of more than £40,000 in ChangeUp funding over the last three years in order to help it connect with childcare providers in its area and help them access vital support and equipment.
Providing vital support to child care providers
Playgroup Network (PGN) Cleveland provides playgroups, day nurseries, parent toddler groups, childminders and other child care providers with advice, news and training. It also loans equipment through its resource shop at its Middlesbrough base.
Impact of initial funding
An initial ChangeUp grant of £18,000 in 2005 helped the organisation reconnect with childcare groups in the community and introduce its services to new childcare providers.
Adding the personal touch
A project officer was recruited to visit local childcare organisations, speaking to groups face-to-face and making the service more local and personal again.
Steady increase in demand
As a result, childcare providers in the Tees Valley received support, advice, and training. They were also able to give feedback about their requirements – with their demand for continuing visits, plus issues in accessing the PGN equipment loan shop leading to a second project.
Continued investment
Capacitybuilders awarded a grant of £9,000 in 2006/07 with a further sum of £13,000 awarded in 2007/08 for the next stages of the project.
Staff development
Regular visits to the area’s childcare providers have continued – and now the project officer also takes on the role of delivering and returning PGN equipment from the loan shop to the childcare groups.
Keeping people in the loop
She also ensures that the groups receive information on links to other organisations and gives them a ‘heads up’ warning on forthcoming government legislation or policy changes.
Practical support is essential
Without the practical support that the project officer offers, many of the groups – several led by volunteers – would not have had access to vital training, information, funding or equipment.
Valuable resource of support
“We don’t know where we’d be without it,” said one local play leader. “We always know we’ll get the support we need and there’s always a friendly face to talk to,” she added.
“We have been able to access information and advice which has been valuable to our group,” said another. “With PGN we feel we are not alone,” she added.
Birmingham-based Capacitybuilders is the national agency responsible for managing the £70 million ChangeUp programme, designed to help thousands of voluntary and local organisations across the UK to improve their communities.
