Christian charity Fegans will be opening a new pre-school and after school club in Kent this September thanks to funding from Allchurches Trust.
Fegans has been providing children's counselling and parent support services at the Archbishop Courtenay primary school in Tovil, Maidstone for a number of years.
The charity said by opening its own Ofsted-registered pre-school onsite, these services can now be consolidated into a "family hub" so local families can benefit from childcare and development, parent support and specialist therapy from an early stage.
The Buttons ABC Pre-School will open on 7th September and follows the model of the Buttons pre-school run by Fegans in Ramsgate, Kent which has been an integral part of its local community for over ten years.
Ian Soars, CEO of Fegans said, "Our Buttons pre-schools don't just focus on the development of the child but provide support to whole families throughout their individual journeys with all the ups and downs life brings. Families are welcomed and valued, and children feel comfortable, secure and are able to forge positive relationships with both staff and other children. We see how transformative this can be and are very excited about offering this to young families in Maidstone too."
The project has been part-funded by a £10,000 grant from Allchurches Trust which has paid for much of the set-up costs as well as toys, equipment, staff uniforms and a new dishwasher.
Allchurches Trust is one of the UK's largest grant-making charities and gave more than £16 million to churches, charities and communities in 2018. Its funds come from its ownership of Ecclesiastical Insurance Group.
Buttons ABC pre-school Manager, Michelle Burr, who has been busy getting ready for the opening said: "The funding from Allchurches Trust has enabled us to create such a nurturing and fun environment. We have a fabulous outdoor space and everything looks so bright and inviting. We cannot wait to open and to welcome lots of children and their families to enjoy everything we have to offer."
