Spring Playgroup Celebrates Anniversary – but will it be the last one?

The Spring Playgroup's home is at The Youth Centre

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Kenilworth’s Spring Playgroup has been running at it’s new home in the Youth and Community Centre for nearly two years.  During this time, they have been able to invest in new equipment, take on more staff and offer a far wider variety of activities for the children.  For example, the children use the sports court for outdoor play every day. There is a lot to celebrate. Numbers have risen – 90 children attend the Playgroup each week, including four pairs of twins! There is also a long waiting list. Kenilworth parents  have shown how much they appreciate having  a playgroup located in the centre of the town with up-to-date facilities and caring staff. 

The manager Jackie Cross, said, 'The Centre is the ideal place for our Playgroup.  We can’t imagine anywhere else with the same environment for the children and the same fantastic back-up we get from the Centre’s management team.'

The Centre is the ideal place for our Playgroup

While the Playgroup has flourished since moving to the Centre, the future of the Centre itself has suddenly come under threat. The County Council wants to save money by slashing the budget for Youth Services all over the county. The implications are that all Youth Centres would be closed. Kenilworth Centre, like the others, relies on county council funding for it’s running costs and overheads and if it is forced to close, all the community groups who use it would become homeless.

The children continue to play and learn together happily, but parents and staff are extremely worried. They are hoping enough people will sign the Petition to force the County Cabinet to think again. To find out more, contact Mrs Jackie Cross (Manager of the Playgroup) email: cross_jacquline@yahoo.co.uk or call 01926  864443. The Spring Playgroup has 36 places per session. It is open mornings and afternoons, and has recently started a Toddler Group on Monday mornings. It is a not-for-profit Registered charity.