These children are learning and playing happily enough in the Beckermet Reading Rooms, but they are cramped by the absence of any outdoor play facilities. In a few months’ time they will be enjoying a brand new purpose-built building which is expected to open early in 2008 on a suitable piece of land adjacent to the village school. Children will be able to play in a secure playground, learning on the same area as their older siblings and parents will be able to drop off children of different ages on the same site.
Tricia Gallagher, who leads the team that teaches the children, tells us that it is the remarkable strength of community support for Beckermet Nursery that has impressed major funding agencies and won their support. There is no doubting the dedication and enterprise of the charity organisation that is responsible for the nursery. It has already successfully negotiated the lease of the land and gained planning permission for its vision. The nursery is already paying a monthly rental of £1000 for its existing premises and its financial security will be further strengthened by the purchase of its own premises.
Its services in providing affordable childcare in close proximity to Sellafield guarantees the strong and sustained demand from local families. The nursery provides full day care, pre-school care, before and after school care and holiday clubs. It claims to be the only provider close to Sellafield which currently offers a fully comprehensive service to parents. It is well established, having just celebrated its 30th birthday.
The new building will enable the nursery to increase its numbers from 20 to 26 and it will also be used by health visitors and the local midwife for outreach surgeries. The highly enterprising committee will continue to raise funds for a new building, and in addition to grants of £50,000 from the Big Lottery Reaching Communities fund and £25,000 from Cumbria Rural Infrastructure Support Programme, they have also been promised £1000 by a Neighbourhood Forum towards an intruder alarm system, and they are continuing to make applications to several Trusts and Foundations.
Many local people came to an open night to view plans drawn up for the new building and promised their strong support for this ambitious community venture.