6th August 2002
BARNSLEY RESIDENTS FIND STEPPING STONE BACK TO WORK

Community childcare facility creates jobs and stimulates community regeneration

Stepping Stones Community Childcare Centre in Wombwell, Barnsley, has recently appointed a new project manager and has now created five jobs since it opened a year ago with the support of Barnsley Development Agency's Community Economic Regeneration Team (CERT). The centre is now well on the way to becoming a sustainable community enterprise in its own right, the primary objective with all CERT supported community initiatives.

Wombwell, Jump, Hemingfield and Broomhill Community Partnership worked closely with CERT and Barnsley Action Team to provide a comprehensive, affordable community childcare service in the area, and their combined efforts came to fruition last year when Stepping Stones was created. Stepping Stones continues to employ and train child carers under Barnsley's Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) initiative, designed to get the long-term unemployed back into work. Up to four further ILM positions will be supported by Stepping Stones over the coming year, with several ILM employees already moving into permanent staff positions with Stepping Stones.

Andrea Balmforth, formerly nursery co-ordinator at Barnsley College, is now settling in as centre manager and ILM Co-ordinator for Stepping Stones, and is delighted to be in her new role. Andrea is NNEB nursery exam qualified, and has private sector as well as many years of public sector experience in childcare: "I'm really pleased to be working at Stepping Stones and contributing to such a worthwhile community resource, providing a good service at reasonable prices for local parents in Wombwell, Jump, Hemingfield, and Broomhill," commented Andrea.

Stepping Stones has recently introduced programmes for 'early years' children, and is now a registered provider of early years education under the Government's (Ofsted's) guidelines in terms of quality and content.

Janet Bibby, BDA's Community Economic Regeneration Manager, said: "Parents in Wombwell now have a real opportunity to get back into work, searching for jobs, or taking up training programmes, without having to worry about the implications and cost of childcare. Affordable childcare is a massive barrier to the regeneration of local communities, and we've been pleased to work in true partnership with the community to create the centre, which fits in with national government thinking."

This local project is one of several that CERT are involved in, and is consistent with National Childcare Strategy legislation, which aims to improve childcare services for 0-14 years using the themes of quality, affordability, diversity, accessibility and partnership. Stepping Stones proves that local partnerships can work, and that community services can also operate as sustainable enterprises.

Stepping Stones is currently registered for up to forty 2-5 year olds, and is also able to take twelve 5-11s during school holidays and out of normal school hours. It offers a comprehensive range of childcare facilities, including breakfast club, full day care and out of school club, available from as little as £1 for a lunch hour session. For further information on Stepping Stones, contact Andrea Balmforth on 01226 754755, or Lynda Chapman at BDA's CERT team on 01226 784444.

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