Errol residents rally to rebuild children’s club after closure

Call for anyone willing to deliver activity sessions to children

Carse of Gowrie residents have rallied to replace a vital childcare service which closed down suddenly last month.

Errol Children’s Club (ECC) was forced into ceasing its service following a string of negative Care Inspectorate reports until the group could recruit enough staff to continue.

This left the village without any preschool or after-school childcare options for pupils at Errol Primary – services used by around 30 children five days a week.

The community has rallied around and found an alternative, branded Activity Club Errol (ACE), to tide the village over until the service can resume.

However, the club will run purely as an activity club with the aim of being a stand-in measure, and will not be able to provide the same level of Care Inspectorate-monitored childcare as the postponed club.

Aiming to launch on October 23, the first Wednesday after the pupils return to school after the break, committee chairwoman Caroline McKenzie said the programme will be eased in session by session, and it is hoped it will run until the Christmas holidays.

She said: “Following the temporary closure of Errol Children’s Club a group of parents met at the end of last week to consider options for after-school provision until the club reopens.

“Around 30 children were affected by the sudden closure and there is no imminent sight of it reopening.”

The group will run a series of afterschool activities to keep youngsters safe and busy within the school building, and are asking for people to run a session or two with the pupils. It is hoped the afterschool club will be able to run five days a week.

“We are working closely with Perth and Kinross Council as we set this up and are appealing to the good folks of Errol,” Ms McKenzie added.

“We would love to hear from anyone who could help deliver an activity session such as dancing, football, crafts, art and anything else you think kids would think is ACE. We would of course pay you for any session you deliver.”

If you think you can help the group, email activitycluberrol@gmail.com

“There is no imminent sight of it reopening.

CAROLINE MCKENZIE