A long-running nursery at the heart of a deprived Whitehaven estate is at “breaking point” as early years providers continue to be hit with rising costs.
New Rainbow Pre-School, based on Croasdale Avenue, in Mirehouse, Whitehaven, is finding it “increasingly difficult” to fund the work it does as costs rise and funded places don't cover the core costs of running the setting.
The charity-run pre-school relies on donations, grants and fees from the children attending, but the last financial year has been “particularly difficult” and a crowdfunding page has now been launched to help cover the rising costs.
The setting tragically lost its leader, Amy Martin in 2021, and new leader, Vicki McBain said she would hate to see it close, as she would feel like “they had let Amy down”.
Staff from the pre-school are also planning to hold a sponsored walk in Amy’s memory next month.
Ms McBain said: “We’re at breaking point. We’re full but we’re still not covering costs because of the rising costs. If we weren’t full, how bad would it be? It’s very worrying.
“We rely on the funds from fee-paying and funded places. In the last couple of years we haven’t had as many donations from grants.
“I don’t want it to close. It’s in the heart of the estate and it would be really upsetting if we had to shut because a lot of families do rely on it. We’re a very small, friendly setting and we’re a bit different to a class setting.”
Ms McBain said that government changes to expand funded childcare for working families had “not been thought through”.
She said: “They haven’t considered the fact that in order to offer places for under-twos, staff have to have completely different training and you have to have a separate room, which we haven’t got.
“Your average setting isn’t going to be able to make room for these children. It’s great that they are offering an incentive for people to get back to work but that doesn’t help the settings.
“There are places that are already struggling now that are expected to take more children in.
“There’s a nationwide problem with recruiting qualified staff as well.
“There should have been consultation with early years settings before it was announced.”
Ms McBain said she would like to see the Government subsidise childcare settings to cover the changes.
She said: “We are running at a loss. There’s a big shortfall to what comes in to what goes out. We’re a charity so we’re not doing it to make money but we are really struggling.”
Emma Williamson, deputy leader of Cumberland Council, said: “It’s such a shame to be seeing organisations like this that provide a valuable service on its knees and struggling.
“We need to call on the Government to be helping these nurseries. If places like that shut, not only is it detrimental to the community, but it’s also detrimental to the staff and parents who use that facility.”
To donate to the crowdfunding page, go to: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/newrainbowpreschool
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