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5th July 2001
BARNSLEY LEADS THE WAY IN COMMUNITY CHILDCARE PROVISION
Responding to a lack of appropriate, affordable childcare facilities both nationally and at a local level, Barnsley Development Agency’s Community Economic Regeneration Team (CERT), has created an innovative approach to childcare for communities by communities, which it has developed with Wombwell and Barnsley Dearne Community Partnerships.
The initiatives have led to the formation of two new pioneering community enterprises in the Borough, at Wombwell and Bolton-on-Dearne, which will not only provide much needed childcare facilities, but which will also create
long-term sustainable employment.
The combined efforts of Wombwell Community Partnership, CERT, BMBC, and South Yorkshire Action Team came to fruition recently when ‘Stepping Stones’ in Wombwell was officially opened by Barnsley poet and broadcaster Ian MacMillan, after months of hard work by everyone involved.
John Penney, chief executive of Barnsley Development Agency, said: “Today is a truly momentous occasion for parents in the surrounding community who now have a safe, affordable, and accessible childcare facility for the first time. The creation of this new facility in Wombwell a fantastic achievement and one that all partners can be genuinely proud of. We believe it's a fine example of agencies working in partnership for the overall benefit of the community, and it fits in with national government strategy to create extra childcare facilities in the regions, particularly in deprived areas."
By removing what has historically been a massive barrier to employment opportunities, more parents will now be in a position to seek employment in the knowledge that they can safely leave their children at the centre. Stepping Stones offers a comprehensive range of childcare facilities, including breakfast club, care sessions, full day care and out of school club. Available at reasonable prices, care is available for children between the ages of 2 and 12 years.
Around 50% of the centre's places are reserved for households on a low income in the Wombwell, Jump, Hemingfield, and Broomhill areas, and these parents will be able to qualify for childcare at extremely low rates.
Over 90 new childcare places have been created at Stepping Stones in total, along with approximately seven full time jobs. This local project follows legislation on the National Childcare Strategy, which aims to improve childcare services for 0-14 years using the following themes: quality, affordability, diversity, accessibility and partnership. This project has proved that local partnerships can work, and it is hoped that it will develop into a sustainable yet affordable enterprise in the future.
Just a few miles away in Bolton-on-Dearne, Roundabout Childcare is celebrating its first birthday, and with it the milestone of becoming a sustainable community enterprise in its own right. The project has received assistance and support from CERT, and to commemorate the first anniversary, around 40 children, staff, and friends of Roundabout attended a Teddy Bear's tea party at the centre, which is located in the old library building in Carr Head Lane, Bolton.
CERT worked hand in hand with the local Barnsley Dearne Community Partnership who had identified a need for childcare provision, and by working together and liasing with the local community, the two organisations were jointly able to deliver the service.
Cheryl Cooper, centre manager at Roundabout, commented: "Roundabout provides much needed, affordable childcare for local parents, which would not have been possible without the support of the BDA CERT Team and Barnsley Dearne Community Partnership. The facility represents a fantastic achievement for the community, and shows what really can be achieved at a local level on limited budgets when people work together in partnership for the benefit of everyone." Opened last year, Roundabout offers all-year round flexible childcare, and is designed to address a lack of full day-care, out of school childcare provision, and respite care for parents in and around Bolton-on-Dearne.
CERT played a key role in the development of Roundabout, acting as a facilitator at every progressive stage and supporting the community partnership. The project was delivered on time, and to budget, and now provides childcare for approaching 100 local youngsters age 2 - 12.
Janet Bibby, Team Leader for CERT, said: "We're delighted that Roundabout has reached this important stage in its development and we wish it every success as it embarks on life as a sustainable community enterprise in its own right.
"There was also a shortage of childcare places generally in the local area, so Roundabout very much fits into national government strategy in creating further quality childcare places in the regions."
Roundabout is open from 7.30am - 6.00pm weekdays, all year round apart from Bank Holidays. One of the innovative, flexible services offered to parents is wrap-around care. Children of different ages from the same family can attend different sessions at different times, and Roundabout's staff will make sure that they are back at home safely at the same, appropriate time, for mum or dad returning from work.
Registered to take up to 42 children per session, Roundabout currently employs five qualified nursery nurses and four childcare assistants who were recruited as part of CERT's Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) programme. The ILM programme offers opportunities to long-term unemployed local residents to re-skill and re-train for future job possibilities, and has already successfully re-trained two people who are now in full time employment a Lacewood and Robert Ogden Schools respectively.
For further information on Stepping Stones or Roundabout, contact Lynda Chapman at BDA on (01226) 784444.
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Barnsley Development Agency
Beevor Court, Pontefract Road, Barnsley S71 1HG
Telephone: +44 (0)1226 784444
© 2001