04/03/13 Pre-school funding appeal - Midway Pre-school, James Street, MidwayMidway pre-school funding appeal....Kate Mole / Cllr Pat Murray....A PRE-SCHOOL in South Derbyshire is appealing for support from businesses and members of the public to help fund repairs for its crumbling building.
Midway Pre-School, which is a registered charity and receives little outside funding, is in need of a cash boost to enable work to be carried out on its ailing playground and as well as much-needed repairs to the main building.
The pre-school, based in James Street, has struggled to find a settled home for a number of years, having moved from its former base at the nearby Midway Methodist Church to fulfil its hope of finding a permanent home.
The pre-school moved into its current building, a former spiritualist church, after agreeing to buy it in October 2011, and although bosses are satisfied to finally own their own building, mortgage payments and staff pay often mean that there is little money to pay for anything else.
Initial work was carried out when the pre-school moved in, but bosses have been left struggling to maintain the upkeep of the building.
The pre-school is now hoping that businesses in the local area could lend their support.
Manager Julie Hughes said: We wanted to own our own building and it was more practical.
“Extensive building work was carried out, but most of the money we raised was used to carry out structural engineering work on a 20ft wall so we haven’t had the money to develop it further.
Parents have even been taking on some of the workload such is the desperate situation the pre-school finds itself in.
Kate Mole, a mother who has recently joined the pre-school’s committee, said: “The playground is just a lot of rubble at the minute. Hopefully in the summer we can get it done up so we can get the bikes out and the playing equipment.
“I came in and did the toilets myself but we can’t rely on the parents all the time.”
Anyone wanting to offer their support should call the pre-school on 01283 222109.
