Childcare project takes over former janitor’s house
A community out of school care project is growing places in 2018 with the redevelopment of a former janitor’s house.
Klas Care was set up back in 2010 by local mums Lesley Compston and Kirsty MacKenzie in response to a severe lack of local affordable childcare in their home town of Linwood.
It became a social enterprise in 2014 and now, out of its East Fulton Primary School base and Johnstone facility, it looks after 180 youngsters before and after school and employs 16 people.
The janitor’s house at East Fulton Primary has been lying empty for eight years and Lesley has been working towards getting the lease on it for the last three.
Now she’s been given a 25-year lease from Renfrewshire Council on the building and work has started on the redevelopment.
Lesley said: “It’s a huge step for us. When me and Kirsty started in 2010 we had seven children and it’s grown so much since then.
“It will be great to have our own place. The possibilities for the children’s learning and development will be great. We’ve got an outdoor space here and we want the children to help us redesign it.
“It’s a really exciting time for us. There are so many more opportunities.”
As well as creating an extra 13 childcare spaces, the new development will also bring more childcare and administrative jobs.
Lesley raised a fantastic £ 300,000 to invest in the building from various funders and she’s been told the build should take around 16 weeks to be ready for Easter.
The building is currently a threebedroom bungalow but the plans are for it to be a big open space with office space and a teaching kitchen.
As well as extending Klas Care, Lesley wants the building to become a part of the community.
Six lucky Buddies are starting the year on a high after scooping a series of cash prizes.
The happy group of residents won £1,000 through the People’s Postcode Lottery.
The Glenshiel Avenue neighbours, who play with the postcode PA27 7PX, won the daily prize on January 9.
People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador, Judie McCourt, was delighted to send her congratulations to the Renfrewshire winners.
She said: “Just like the Paisley bunch, you too could have a fabulous
She said: “We’ll be opening it up to the community, it’s not just for the out of school care. We want it to be a community hub. Active Communities will be working with us and the Local Energy Action Plan group is coming to Linwood for the first time and will be doing all their climate change work with people in the town.
“As well as expanding our childcare, we want to create a community hub.”
Klas Care received funding from
boost to your bank account.
“With £130 million in prizes to be won in 2018, what are you waiting for? “Sign up to play now.” A minimum of 31 per cent of ticket sales goes directly to charity.
Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised £263 million to date for 4,000 good causes across Great Britain and internationally.
A local cause near the Paisley winners that has received funding is Renfrewshire Polish Association RenPA.
Last year the organisation was LEADER, Launch me Firstport, Robertson Trust, BAA flight Path fund, BA climate change fund, Renfrewshire Council local area committee, Invest in Renfrewshire social enterprise fund, Awards for All, Tesco bags for life, Social Investment Scotland and Senscot Legal.
Lesley has also thanked Engage Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire Council, Armour construction, Cormack Gracie, Lochlie construction and LEAP for all their help and support.
awarded £2,000 to improve access to local support services for Polish women experiencing domestic abuse.
For more information on People’s Postcode Lottery, visit www. postcodelottery. co. uk or follow the official Facebook and Twitter accounts.