Page 18 - link magazine

18 The Link Magazine • May 2004
Drop in West primary population puts paid
to pioneering after school club
Toothill After School Club at Toothill Farm Community Centre, Swindon's first and longest running after school and holiday activity club,
has had to close because it is no longer able to make ends meet.
A trend setting community de- ago to £500, has meant that it was lies are moving to North Swindon. left as confident juniors ready for
velopment project in 1988, involv- no longer financially viable. "We didnotreally have a choice. secondary school. The first who
ing parents in its management, it Club manager Annette Proberts Our income from fees and grants attended would be around 25 now;
was the first in Swindon to win the said, "two years ago we were up to did not match the outgoings and perhaps they are parents them-
Kids' Club Network Aiming High our maximum of 35 children every parents did not want to see the selves.
Award at Level 3, and consistently afternoon. Since then we've seen club run up debts which it did not "The club became an important
set an example for similar clubs numbers dwindling as Toothill's have the means to cover. partoftheToothill communitybut
across the town. population has matured, whilst "The staff are verysadthatithas it's now time to close."
A rapid drop in the number of parents from further afield have had to come to this. We've been Present and past members, staff
primary age children is the main placed their children at commer- with the club for over six years and and parents enjoyed a party on 23
factor for its closure. This corn- ciallyrunclubsattachedtoorclose have built such close relationships April to celebrate the good times
bined with cuts in grants by Swin- to their primary schools. We've with the children and their par- before closing the club down.
don Council, from £21,000 six years also noticed that many youngfami- ents. Over the _ ,^
- years the club ^ ^ ^ - a
has cared for ~"
many hun ,. ^z .,^ j
CO-OPERATIVE FUNERAL SERVICE dreds of chit- *,
SWINDON dren who ( ' ` _ ^'
,, ^^ON OF^, joined as ' — "^ '
439 Cricklade Road nervous fiv ''^
year olds and h Y
(01793) 534759
Y N SNOY
^^'^ Toothill After
& Temple House, 4/5 Temple Street School Club
members during
half term with
(The closest timeral director to the Registrar)
A n n e t t e
(01793) 491091 Proberts, centre,
Gill McFauld,
24 hour service right, and volun-
Private Chapels of Rest • Monumental masonry teer helper Irene
Funeral pre-payment plans Ngoye
^^> R www.mywishes.coop
Places available at North nursery unit
The nursery class at Moredon Infants School opened its doors at the
end of last term for parents to visit the classroom and meet the staff.
Children due to start in September were also introduced to the many
• • 1 . exciting activities on offer.
Mum Amanda Fraser from Abbey Meads, brought her son to meet
y
the staff. She said her daughter Emily had enjoyed the nurser before
moving onto primary school. "It's a lovely well organised class with
lots to do. The staff are so friendly and prepare children well for their
Community Dividend Scheme next stage in education."
Places are available for September. Call heateacher Anthea Hilson on
A minimum of 535992 for details.
1% of the Bradley Fraser was far more interested in playdough than the attention of
Society's profits nursery staff, from left, teaching assistant Sylvie Kimber, nursery teacher
Hilary Poole, nursery nurse Lynsey Neal
are returned
to projects to
benefit the
local community
through the
Community Highworth Netball promotes and organises
netball for girls aged 9 to 21 years but wanted to
Dividend
involve youngsters in the game at an earlier age.
Scheme. An £800 grant helped buy scaled down equipment
to promote First Steps aimed at
If you think a projec t introducing 6 to 9 year olds to the game
you know of could
at club sessions and in local schools.
qualify for a grant Pictured is Alan Massingham,
of up to £ 1,000, call: High worth Co-op manager with local players
call 0800 43 5902

for more information

Oxford, Swindon & Gloucester ♦^