The Peter Pan charity pre-school in Bath has launched a community crowdfunding campaign to help make up losses incurred by the coronavirus lockdown.
The pre-school, which has been part of the Newbridge community for 40 years, is a not-for-profit pre-school and one of the lowest cost early years providers in Bath.
The coronavirus lockdown has cost Peter Pan pre-school £16,500, which has had a significant impact on its financial stability and future.
The pre-school is reaching out to the local community to help them survive and allow them to continue to offer local families a quality early years’ experience for their children.
Peter Pan temporarily shut its doors alongside many other schools and nurseries across the country in March.
“It was a very uncertain time” said Marie, one of Peter Pan’s play leaders “Peter Pan has never closed in all the 22 years I have been here.”
Parent and co-chair of the committee, Clare Moon, said, “Peter Pan is a charity run pre-school that operates not for profit. We receive no grants.
“Income comes from early years funding, parent fees and fundraising. The loss of fees for the summer term have had a huge impact on our finances and we have missed out on our usual fundraising opportunities.
“We are very lucky to have extremely supportive parents but, with such a significant loss of income, we simply can’t do this alone. We need help from the wider community.”
Run from the Weston Methodist Church on Kennington Road, close to Chelsea Road, Peter Pan is a familiar part of the Newbridge community.
“It’s just a wonderful thing to see the children back and hear the happy sound of playing once again,” said a local resident.
Newbridge councillor, Michelle O’Doherty, said: “Both my boys went there and we found it excellent. A lot of the staff who looked after my boys are still there. It’s a lovely place.”
You can contribute to the Peter Pan crowdfunding campaign here.
