Upper Dales Child Care Partnership

UPPER DALES CHILD CARE PARTNERSHIP

The development of child care services in the area is finally coming to fruition, even though it has taken a lot longer to achieve than we would have first hoped.

Those of you who have seen the primary school grounds in Hawes over the past few weeks will have noticed that more building work is taking place. Well underway is the construction of a purpose built facility which will offer before and after school care and holiday clubs, wrap-a-round care for those attending pre-school or nursery provision and will also be able to cater for early years.

Even though the main base is in Hawes the facility aims to serve the Upper Dales area for those who live and work in it and will be able to offer care for 0-14yrs from 8.OOam to 6.OOpm Monday to Friday (further work is in development to cater for those who will need assistance with transport to and from the facility during the working day).

A list of those interested in using the facility is being created and more expressions of interest are welcome. The building is on schedule to be completed for Christmas and will open for business in January 2006.

• Childcare Deputy Manager - Hawes. Closing date 2nd December

• Playworker/Nursery Nurse - Hawes. Start early mid 2006

Appointment of Manager

Position Filled

• Job title: Childcare Manager
• Location: Gayle Lane Hawes
• Salary: £7.00 per hour (£13,468 p.a.)
• Hours: Full time (37 hours per week) variable, during school term and holidays.
• Monday to Friday between 7.30 am and 6.30 pm
• Start date: November 2005

• Organisation: Upper Dales Child Care Partnership. Registered Charity No. 1104057

Further Recruitment Opportunities:

• Deputy Manager (Post ref: UDCCPW2; Dec 2005)
• Play Worker/Nursery Nurse (Post ref: UDCCPW3; Dec 2005)

For an application pack or further information contact:

• Sarah Dinsdale, UDCCP, c/o Wensleydale Centre, Yorebridge, Askrigg, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 3BJ
• Tel or Fax: 01969 650060 or 07721 211169

Email: colinbailey@craven-college.ac.uk

About the Childcare Facility (History)

Work has begun on a childcare facility for children in rural North Yorkshire.

The unit in Hawes, Wensleydale, is the culmination of four years' work by the Upper Dales Childcare Partnership.

The community group was formed in 2001 amid concern over the lack of full-time childcare in upper Wensleydale and Swaledale.

The unit will provide services including breakfast, wrap-around nursery, after-school and holiday club care.

Funding for the £350,000 project has come from several sources, including the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which has pledged more than £165,000, and Yorkshire Forward, which has donated £65,000.

Colin Bailey, from the partnership, said getting the project off the ground had been a major achievement.

"The challenge has been for the community-led project to work through the minefield of funding bodies and their different criteria," he said.

"It's taken determination and a willingness from people to give up their time and not accept no for an answer."

Richmondshire District Council this week pledged to loan the community group a maximum of £35,000 for seven months to cover a shortfall while other money is collected.

Leader of the council, Councillor John Blackie, praised the hard work of Mr Bailey and council officer Alan Simpson, who worked with the community group to secure the funding.

He said: "This is exactly what district and county councils should be doing - making sure community-driven projects get the best chance possible. This is going to be an absolutely fantastic child care facility for families in the upper Dales."

The original plan had been to refurbish a hut in the grounds of Hawes Primary School.

But a structural engineer found that it would cost £30,000 to repair the corroded frame of the building.

Coun Blackie said: "This has meant we will now get a new facility instead of one that was slightly suspect."

Community leaders hope the unit, which is expected to open next January, will provide parents and carers the chance to seek further education or full-time employment.