The Playrooms operate as a drop-in facility, which suits shiftworkers and those who jobshare, who might otherwise miss out on toddler groups or playgroups. It also makes it attractive to fathers and grandparents.
The three rooms are light and airy and offer the children all the usual activities you would see in a playgroup, with the added bonus of lots of space in a separate room for the cars, tractors and prams. The soft play room with its ball pool is popular with the older children, while parents appreciate the opportunity to have a cup of coffee and browse through the magazines or childcare books available.
Play worker Theresa Jackson, who is employed for ten hours a week, brought her own children to the Playrooms almost 20 years ago, when they were quite new. Set up as part of an urban aid project, the Playrooms no longer receive funding from the local authority and even the national lottery grant, which paid Theresa's wages, has now come to an end. It is the community itself which keeps the Playrooms open and the nominal fees - annual membership 3 and 50p thereafter for each visit - now provide funding for the venture.
Photo: Paul Reid.
