The grants from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF), the National Lottery distributor, were announced last week. One beneficiary is the Highland branch of the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA), which will receive Pounds 129,446 to create out-of-school provision for children throughout the Highland and Western Isles. Childminders will receive start-up funding and support to provide places in areas where there are not enough children to sustain out-of-school clubs.
Katie Adam, SCMA Highland co-ordinator, said, 'This is a great and a first opportunity for rural childminders to be assisted to provide sustainable out-of-school childcare. Thirty-one partners will benefit throughout the Highland and Western Isles through start-up support in training, marketing and providing equipment.'
Around Scotland, 4,000 new out-of-school and holiday places are being created with 1.7m NOF funding. One Plus: One-Parent Families received the largest award of 266,691 to create 99 before-school, 175 after-school and 199 holiday places for children aged between four and 12 in South Lanarkshire. The award will also contribute to the employment of 73 part-time staff.
In Northern Ireland, grants totalling almost 1m have been made to create more than 1,400 childcare places in areas where none existed before. A project, An Tearmann, to offer accessible childcare to members of the travelling community in Coalisland, Co Tyrone, has received 38,400 to create 32 places for children aged between four and 11. Project co-ordinator Linda Daly said, 'There is some after-school provision in this area, but the travellers have not built up a relationship with the community to access these services.
'Children will be able to receive the help with homework that they may not get at home. This project will also provide much-needed activities for the children that aren't available elsewhere.'
In south Derry, community leaders have joined forces with Oakleaf Rural Community Network to create childcare projects in three rural areas. The Network secured a grant of 80,000 to provide 128 places in Kilrea, Glenullin and Upperlands.
The English county of Devon, hard hit by the foot and mouth disease crisis, has also received a grant of 50,000 to boost wraparound care, childminding facilities and holiday schemes run by the Playlines consortium.
NOF chief executive Stephen Dunmore said, 'Many parents, especially if they are on their own, struggle to cope with the school run while dashing to and from work. Childcare places that provide a safe and stimulating environment are a real boon, meeting the needs of children as well as parents. What has been achieved in Devon is tremendous.'
Further NOFfunding allocations for England and Wales are due to be released this week.