‘Save our playgroup’
Thursday, 20 November 2008
Campaigning for people to vote on November 26 to SAVE OUR PLAYGROUP are the children from Gran Tots Playgroup Swatragh, pictured with the Gran Tot Bear, Playgroup assistants Anne and Donna, Playgroup leader Claire and Playgroup administrator Fiona.
GRAN Tots playgroup in Swatragh has succeeded in being accepted onto the 'Peoples Millions' competition hosted by UTV on Wednesday, November 26 between 5.30pm and 6.00pm.
In order to be successful in the competition Gran Tots needs all the telephone votes it can get between 9am and 12 midnight on November 26.
The playgroup is competing against one other group and whoever gets the most votes on the day wins.
You can vote up to 10 times from the one telephone number with the total cost of making 10 votes only £1.
The telephone number to call will not be published until the morning of Wednesday, November 26. It will be available in the Daily Mirror, online at www.biglotteryfund.org/peoplesmillions and on UTVlife from 5.30pm - 6.00pm.
You can also find out the number to call by texting 'Grantots' to 07510326199 or by emailing grantotsplaygrp@btconnect.com and you will be contacted before 11am on November 26 with the required number.
Breige Church, Spokesperson for Gran Tots playgroup explained that the playgroup was set up 18 years ago by a group of local mothers interested in giving their children a good start in life and a solid base for their education. "The building at that time was a second hand mobile with an estimated lifespan of five years. However, the playgroup are still using the same building and it is now far beyond the stage of repair and maintenance," commented Breige.
According to Breige there is a major problem with subsidence resulting in a large part of the playground being fenced off, the remainder of which is uneven and slippery. The building itself is dilapidated suffering from draughts, damp, cracks and leaks and will actually struggle to see through another winter.
Breige explained the amount of hard work that goes into the running of Gran Tots and how important receiving funding for the new building is, saying: "Gran Tots is a charity organisation with places for up to 52 children both pre-school and three year olds and is oversubscribed almost every year. There is a very dedicated staff and committee of volunteers who give a lot of time and effort into the running of the playgroup and fundraising. As a charity a lot of our fundraising goes towards the daily running costs, making it difficult to secure funds for our much needed new building."
All the playgroup's research dictates a huge demand for preschool education in the area.
“Gran Tots aims to stimulate children's minds and introduce learning and social interaction in a pleasant, clean, bright and safe environment, something impossible to achieve in the present location," said Breige.
The playgroup have planning permission for the new building and completion of the project will result in a modern functional facility at the heart of our community. The existing premises are to be removed and the plot restored to a community garden area for use by the many groups operating from the community centre close by.
Gran Tots playschool is a great service to the children of all the communities in the area, including those with special needs. It provides an opportunity for children to interact socially, play and learn with their peers.
So the playgroup are urging the local community to pick up the phone and support this local cause.
