Crche saved after last gasp appeal (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Crche saved after last gasp appeal

A RACE against time to save a crche at Cirencester College has been successful.

Last week we reported that student parents had just three days to raise £800 and prevent the facility at Cirencester College's Castle campus from closing.

And, thanks to the generous support of local residents, businesses and organisations, the crche's future is secure.

Campaigner Clare Williams, whose children attend the create, said: "We're really chuffed with the support and we'd like to say a big thank you to everyone for saving the jobs there, keeping the crche open and enabling people in Cirencester with pre-school children to further their education."

The crche enables adult learners to leave their children in a supervised environment while they study.

But a cut in Government funding left the facility with a £5,000 shortfall and, at the time of going to press last week, just three days left to plug the remaining gap of £800.

Mrs Williams and fellow student parents appealed, through the Standard, for individuals and businesses to step forward and help. And she says she is delighted with the response of our readers, who have stepped in to save the facility.

Peter Stringfellow, who runs the Woolmarket-based Crocodile toyshop, had already promised a 'major' contribution and the facility will now be known as the Crocodile Crche.

Youngsters and parents sporting 'Save Our Crche' t-shirts, raised cash through a sponsored walk, the Soroptimist International group made a contribution and Mrs William's own son Ben drummed up £800 towards the cause.

Mrs Williams says the crche will have to operate on a 'reduced hours' basis and the group is still trying to raise the final £200.

But she said: "The college have been really supportive and are okay with it.

"I'd like to say a big thank you to the Standard and all its readers for their support."