Co-op funding will revamp garden to inspire children at Macclesfield pre-school
Parkroyal Pre-school on Lyon Street, has 30 children per three hour session and runs two sessions a day for children across the community
By Alex Greensmith
Posted: Monday, 06th February 2023 5:03 pm
A pre-school in Macclesfield is set to receive thousands of pounds from the Co-op later this year.
Parkroyal Pre-school, located on Lyon Street, has 30 children per three hour session.
There are two sessions each day, with six to seven staff per session, so they have a wide community reach.
Now thanks to Co-op funding, they want to extend the quality of their service even further.
Macclesfield Nub News met with School Administrator Lisa Hodgkinson, fellow Pre-school Leader Lindsey Scott, and Co-op Macclesfield Member Pioneer Louise Little to find more about the partnership.
"We are run as a charity," said Lindsey.
"We're independent from Parkroyal Community School [nextdoor], so we get no funding from the local authority other than a nursery grant.
"Whilst we work co-operatively with the school and share the same vision in the value early years has on our children's future development, we operate on our own.
"We rent the building from the school and the funding we receive from the grant and parents fees is just enough to cover rent plus staff wages"
"We own all our toys and resources so rely on fundraising efforts to replenish supplies and enhance our provision."
As a registered charity, the Pre-school is run by an elected committee of parents and staff, the pre-school could not function without the 14 unpaid volunteers that sit on their committee (some parents on the committee even went to the pre-school themselves).
The volunteer force is in addition to the 11 staff that they hire. And it is this committee that decided what the money raised by the Co-op should be spent on.
"Prior to COVID, we would hold three main fundraising events each year, and that would pay for any additional resources, " explained Lisa.
"In previous years, we have held fundraisers to enhance our sensory provision here, or fund the shelters outside, and with the Co-op's help we'd like to improve our outdoor space even more.
"Most of our pre-schoolers live in town with little access to green space to explore. The main aim of this project is to enhance our outdoor space, ultimately inspiring a love of nature in our children and teaching them about biodiversity.
"We want the children to feel the sensation of soil in their hands. Hopefully we can include a wildflower section and fill it with pollinators so we can attract lots of bees as well.
"We plan to invest in peat-free soil to start early learning of the importance of that [peat-free soil reduces the amount of carbon emissions as opposed to peat-based compost].
"We hope to invest in lots of gardening equipment including wellies for the kids, watering cans and wheelbarrows."
"Depending on how much funding we receive, we are also keen to expand our allotment.
"This will teach them how to grow their own vegetables and about the importance of healthy eating."
Amid climate change, a declining state of UK wildlife and Macclesfield losing swathes of greenery by the day, it could not be a more important time to increase the amount of space for nature wherever possible.
An appreciation of plants is already being fostered with the limited shrubs they currently have outside, and a wide variety of indoor plants inside.
Parkroyal Pre-school was established in 1981, and pride themselves on their longevity of their staff. Congleton resident Lindsey has worked there for over 30 years.
"We could potentially introduce a little outdoor shelter as well," she added.
"Some shade would be great so people and plants can enjoy the outdoors in the heat.
"We were very excited to have been selected by the Co-op as one of their 12 local causes in Macclesfield. This scheme is amazing, we didn't know anything about it until one of our parents suggested it.
"This is the first time we have received a grant of this potential size and we are very excited to be a part of it. It is the first year we have been a Co-op Cause.
"Thank you to them and any Co-op member who selects their funds raised to go to us.
"We may only get this one chance this year and it will make a real long-lasting difference to not only the children here at the moment but children that will come here in the future as well.
"We have a lot of families who have been here over the years, so to have an improved garden for them to as a legacy would be fantastic."
It has been an uncertain time for charities. Lindsey revealed that recent years has seen the first time the school has had to rely on fundraising for the cost of materials for things like arts and crafts.
However, the Co-op is here to help. Macclesfield Co-op Member Pioneer Louise Little had this to say on the partnership.
"One of the things that marks Parkroyal Pre-school out is that it is in a really densely popular, urban area. So the Pre-school doesn't have any lawn for greenery, but thanks to the Co-op there is a fantastic opportunity for planters, garden equipment and much more.
"I think it is really important to teach children the value of nature, and I'm sure our Co-op members will agree."
Louise went on to explain how the fundraising works.
"It can make a really big difference if parents - or anyone - sign up to become Co-op members.
"If you sign up to be a Co-op Member, it will cost you just £1. It has been £1 since the Co-op was first founded in 1863. That pound gives you a share in Co-op, as we are a Co-operative.
"2p of every pound a member spends on selected Co-op branded products goes to them, and 2p goes to different charities.
"Half of that goes to local causes, the other half goes to national causes to make a big difference to social issues.
"So on the Co-op app, you can choose where you want the money you raised through your shopping to go to.
"We have a huge range of local causes you can choose to support. The app tells you how much you have raised personally for your chosen cause throughout the year.
"It is really simple and easy to sign up. Simply become a Co-op member, do your regular shop and pick Parkroyal Pre-school on the Co-op app to support them."
Co-op membership helps support your local community, with great rewards and deals for you too.
It doesn't cost you a penny to raise money for local causes, just become a Co-op Member and shop as you please.
Just make sure you select Parkroyal Pre-school on the Co-op app if you want your money to go to them!
Other causes the Co-op will raise money for in the Macclesfield area this year include Cavalry Church and The Rossendale Trust.
Join the Co-op today online at this webpage or in-store.
Click on these links to find out more about the Local Community Fund.
Learn more about the Macclesfield early years school in general on their website and on this Co-op link.
See Also: Macclesfield Co-op stores to raise money for Bollington Parkinson's group
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