kinex has supported The Community Centre at Yorkley’s first Baby and Toddler Group, through their Community Support Scheme.
Built with Big Lottery funding (Reaching Communities) and Landfill Communities Tax monies, the aim of The Community Centre at Yorkley (CCY) was to improve the lives of local people, especially children. Four years on, the community feel this aim has well and truly been achieved through the range of activities, events and classes offered by the centre. Local residents now feel an increased sense of community and improved health and well-being and even have a safe space to access services such as debt, counselling and Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
CCY came to kinex to access a grant through their Community Support Scheme to start a Toddler Group, which would be unique in the surrounding area. The centre serves the four local villages of Yorkley, Pillowell, Voney Hill and Oldcroft as well as the wider Forest of Dean. With the nearest town 3 miles away and infrequent and sporadic public transport, accessing social groups which help and support family life can be difficult. Whilst there is a Playgroup in the grounds of a nearby Primary school, it is only suitable for children over 2 years old.
The idea of The Baby and Toddler Group was raised by new member of the CCY committee and Trustee, Claire Lewis. As a working midwife and mother of young children, she saw a need for something to support new parents in the local area.
On the donation, Claire said: “A huge thank you to the kinex Community Scheme for their very generous donation to help us set up the much-needed Baby and Toddler group. With the money from kinex we have been able to buy two small sofas to make a comfortable area for parents and carers to sit and talk, to make new friends and share stories. We were also able to buy play mats, tunnels and a small ball pit – everything we needed to make a stimulating, safe and fun place for babies and pre-school children. The group also allows time and space for parents and carers to get together, make new friends and support each other. Many long-term friendships are made during these important times in both the children’s and parents’, grandparents’ and carers’ lives.”
On the grant to the Community Centre at Yorkley, PR and Content Manager Molly Chong said: ‘This is the exactly the kind of initiative that we are looking to support through the kinex Community Support Scheme. There’s already brilliant work being carried out by the centre so we were thrilled to be able to help them add to the activities they run.’
The kinex Community Support Scheme allocates grants from £100-£500 each and every month to support worthwhile causes like this. Do you know an organisation or charity that could benefit from some extra funding? Visit https://kinex.co.uk/community-support to apply or for more information.