Ethos Public Relations Manchester

Smart Kids expansion plans given green light thanks to unique funding

by Ethos public relations

A unique Fulwood-based childcare Social Enterprise which is run for the good of the community will soon be expanding, taking in additional children and employing more staff, thanks to a six figure loan from The Social Enterprise Loan Fund (TSELF).

Smart Kids Childcare has been awarded a loan from The Social Enterprise Loan Fund (TSELF) which will enable the organisation to refurbish a newly acquired building at former Sharoe Green Hospital in Fulwood, in order to provide vital childcare facilities for working parents, single parents and those attending higher education who require full or part-time care for their children in the local community.

Smart Kids Childcare, recently marked as outstanding in all areas by Ofsted, was established in 1975 as a pre-school nursery operating as a charitable trust to provide care and education for children between the ages of two and eight, and currently employs six members of staff who are fully qualified and Criminal Records Bureau checked.

The move to the new premises will enable Smart Kids to employ additional staff to look after an increased number of children, as the refurbishment means the organisation will now be able to provide excellent nursery facilities for 105 children.

Lynda Hayes, Director and Practice Manager at Smart Kids, said: “When we moved out of our former home, we were looking for somewhere that we could move to in order to fully expand the business.

“After initially struggling to find a suitable location, it was great to find such a fantastic site and the loan from TSELF has been invaluable as it now means we can fully refurbish the new property to a very high standard.

“We are truly grateful for the superb support we have received from TSELF, and we are very much looking forward to completing all the work on the building and continuing to offer outstanding childcare services to even more busy parents.”

Roy White, regional director for TSELF, said: “We are delighted to be able to help Smart Kids in this way. No other childcare provider in the area offers the full range of services and varied flexible sessions – including a baby unit, nursery, before and after school and holiday care – that Smart Kids will now be able to offer.”

Smart Kids Childcare, which looks after children from the hours of 7.30am – 6pm, plans to move into its new premises in November.

TSELF is a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) and a registered charity providing loans ranging from £3,000 to £250,000 to social enterprises and charities and has, to date, invested £8million in social enterprises across the UK, helping clients to generate job opportunities as well as training places.

For further information about Smart Kids Childcare please call 07940 891622.

For more details about TSELF in the North West visit www.tself.org.uk or call 01829 261019.

Posted at 6^th October 2010