It’s home sweet home for childcare lifeline

KLAS care moves into new building

A lifeline childcare service finally has a place it can call home.

For the past eight years KLAS Care nursery and after school club has been operating out of a single classroom at East Fulton Primary School in Linwood.

Mum and child care manager Lesley Compston founded KLAS Care in 2010.

Her aim was to reduce the amount of families living in poverty by providing affordable and flexible childcare enabling parents to access education, training or employment.

Vital funding has enabled KLAS Care to move into the old janitor’s house in the school grounds.

Lesley told the Express: “We’re delighted to be moving into our purpose-built premises.

“We’ve gone from working out of one classroom for the past eight years to a former bungalow.

“Our intake will jump, as we can now take 40 children, compared with our current number of 27.

“It’s ours as of this week and will be fully up and running by the end of the summer.”

Brand new facilities, separate play areas and outdoor space have got everyone excited at the centre.

While tiny tots and school kids who use KLAS Care will get the most out of the refurbishment, Lesley thinks the benefits of the building are endless.

“There are so many plus points to this new building,” she added.

“As we are a social enterprise the childcare is free.

“We can take more children, so more parents can use the service and go out to work or further education.

“It also results in more jobs as we’ll need extra staff.

“The building will be available for other groups in the community, meaning everyone in Linwood can benefit from it.”

Handing over the keys to Lesley was proud construction director David Aitken.

Speaking on behalf of Lochlie Construction, who completed the build, David said: “We were delighted to get on board with a project such as this.

“The dilapidated building now has a kitchen, toilets, three games rooms, outdoor space and disabled access.

“It will make a huge difference to the community.

“We wish KLAS Care all the best in their new home.”

For more information on KLAS Care visit www. facebook. com/ klascarelinwood