Nursery World Awards 14: Initiatives - Community Support

Through Bright Horizons Foundation for Children's 'Bright Spaces' programme, thousands of children and families in crisis have been provided with a safe place to play and have fun in within their community.

The charity, which is part of the Bright Horizons nursery group, has created 31 Bright Spaces within the communities it serves in the UK and Ireland through partnership with local community agencies.

Bright Spaces are created in rooms or outdoor areas in facilities used by families in times of need, such as domestic violence refuges, temporary housing provision or drop-in advice centres.

Partners include Refuge, Women's Aid, Refugee Action and the Metropolitan Police.

Support from nursery staff is key to the success of the Foundation's spaces.

Each 'Bright Space' is local to at least one of Bright Horizons' nurseries, so practitioners, children and parents can help maintain the project through fundraising and by offering practical help.

Children at the nurseries are taught the importance of helping those less fortunate than themselves, while nursery staff regularly visit their local 'Bright Space' to support families by drawing on their early years experience.

A supporter of 'Bright Spaces' said the project presented an opportunity to feel part of an alternative tide against all the bad in the world, one of 'goodness and magic and awe'.

Keith Grayson, manager of Refugee Action in Leicester, says that the Bright Space for refugee children at their office has completely changed the way families feel when they come to them for advice.

'Having a space for their children to play has been lovely, and the donations of toys from Bright Horizons staff have been fantastic.'

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Fit 'N' Fun Kids

Fit 'N' Fun Kids supports a wide number of charities and takes an active role in helping young people with life skills.

A year ago, the nursery's managing director Rachel Jones launched the Enterprise Foundation South-West, a non-profit organisation to support young people with employability and enterprise.

As part of this, the nursery runs conferences and exhibitions locally to share knowledge and pathways into the childcare sector.

The nursery also facilitates workshops for families, provides business development support to parents, as well as support creches for events in the area.

FINALIST

Tootsies Private Day Nursery, Farnham

CRITERION

Open to early years settings who have involved staff, parents and children in projects to support charities or the local/wider community.

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