Little Bournes Green Pre-School has been running for over fifty years. We have had thousands of babies and children come through our pre-school who have had a flourishing start to their educational journeys and some of which have excelled in their adult lives by achieving first class honours at University. Our great team of staff are highly qualified and collectively have decades of experience. We are like a family and the children in our care are treated as though they are our own children.
We currently rent a church hall where we have been located for decades. For many years the church have supported us to run the pre-school by helping to keep the rent within an affordable range. A new Reverend has come into our parish and in conjunction with the Church Parish Council, they have decided that the rent should be increased. After multiple rent increases, we were served another notice by the Reverend telling us that our rent will be doubled in September! This rent increase has priced us out of the premises at a price that no pre-school could possibly pay. We explained to the Reverend, and other members of the Church committee, that we are the only group renting for thirty hours a week. We are also the only group with many overheads that pay wages and costs that the other groups do not have. Additionally, we kindly rent the hall during the hours where no enquires are made; to support the church and hall. The other Pre-schools in the area have confirmed that they are supported by the churches and that their rents are currently less than ours is.
Unfortunately, in the letter the Reverend sent to us it appears that we have been excluded from the community. His letter states "We rely on the income from the church to help pay the costs of maintaining our buildings, and to provide religious and pastoral care to our congregation, schools and local community" Despite asking the Reverend to provide religious education to our children, something which his predecessor did, we have had no offers. Sadly the Reverend/PCC is happy to remove this vital resource from the heart of our village. Despite us losing our jobs, the spaces for our children attending, and the continued business the Reverend/PCC will receive, he has not visited us, despite passing the hall daily to go to the church adjacent, to see how we all are, to ask if we need help, or to see how the community is following the upsetting news. The Managing Director has supported the local community by giving employment, training and further career opportunities to many people over the years, as well as supporting local families. Many of the people that have been trained are now teachers in local schools.
At the hall, we love the fact that we have always been part of the heart of our local community, along with the other community members. There are many other groups using the hall which brings in a significant amount of money for the church. We are desperate to find a new premises and we have exhausted all options of halls and community premises in the area. The Managing Director of the pre-school has run the setting since 2005. The Managing Director is considered a caring person to work with by the other staff; and families using the pre-school love the education and care that is provided for their children. We are now looking to buy a property locally, which cannot be taken away again. The Managing Director works extensively to support local families, and a new site will continue this momentum while offering a greater scope of services to families. Additionally, we would love to share our premises with other community groups so they can thrive. We are now raising funds for a deposit so we can continue our care and support to the community.
If you are reading this as an existing parent, relative, or community member, we'd like to thank you for the support we've had over the years. Every donation made is one that's appreciated by the Little Bournes Green Pre-School Team. Please share this link and pledge. Even a £1.00 donation from each of you will make a difference! You can change the amount manually that you are willing to pledge.