Access Keys:

How do you rate this information / service?

Find My Nearest
Enter your postcode to find services and information for your area on a map e.g. schools, libraries and GP surgery
Translate this web page

17/11/03 - More childcare help for working parents in Cumbria

Long Marton After School Club in Appleby are celebrating this week after being awarded over £7k from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) to create 16 new out of school places for the area.  With help from Cumbria Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, the After School Club submitted a bid in May for extra funding to create more out of school childcare places available for parents in the area.

A voluntary management committee in Long Marton set up the after school club three years ago with a grant from NOF after they identified a need for before school care in the area. They hope to open the new places in January. Since 1999, over 120 projects in Cumbria have received NOF funding.  2,842 out of school places have been created as a result of over £1.9m funding which helps with running costs such as staffing, rent, activity costs, equipment and refurbishment.  

For the first time, exchequer funding is now available to develop an out of school hours childcare programme.  The new programme builds on the success of the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) out of school childcare initiative giving local authorities and partnerships a great deal of freedom to plan and develop out of school childcare in their area, according to local need and priorities.   

County Councillor Joan Stocker, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education says

“I am delighted that Long Marton After School Club has been able to secure more out of school childcare places in Appleby.  The demand for childcare is growing but it needs to be good quality, affordable and meet the needs of parents.  The Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership is working extremely hard with childcare providers across the County to ensure that we can continue to improve the quality, quantity and flexibility of childcare in Cumbria.

Vanessa Connor, Funding Project Officer at Cumbria Early Years and Childcare says,

“The new funding meets an identified need in Appleby. It will mean that more parents and children in the area will be able to benefit from out of school childcare, enabling parents to return to work or training more easily.”    

Schools or groups wanting more information about how to develop and apply for funding for an out of school club should contact Vanessa on 01228 601167.