Playgroups in plea for better funding

Playgroups in plea for better funding

12 October 2016

A NUMBER of the district’s leading pre-school playgroups have called for ring-fenced funding to be made available to allow them to plan for the future with confidence.

Currently, cross-community playgroups in Bishopscourt, Dundrum and Ballykinlar are allocated funding on an annual basis, but recent reductions in the cash they receive due to changes in eligibility criteria have forced them to dip into their financial reserves to maintain current service levels.

Each of the groups employ three members of staff and while those in Ballykinlar and Dundrum are not facing any immediate problems, the situation faced by Tiny Toons in Bishopscourt is more acute. 

Pre-school funding is provided under the Pathway Fund with the local groups preparing to submit fresh funding applications next month.

While the amount of cash they have received for the current year has decreased, they argue providing them with a ring-fenced financial package over a two or three-year period would remove any uncertainty about their respective operations, the number of children they can cater for and staffing levels.

The playgroups are concerned about the uncertainty they face each year when they do not know how much funding they will receive, admitting they will not always be able to dip into their reserves to maintain existing service levels.

Mrs Patricia Curran, chairwoman of the Bishopscourt playgroup’s board of directors, argued when it comes to funding reductions, “rural areas are always hardest hit.” She said Tiny Toons currently has no Pathway funding and is surviving on money it receives from the Department of Education for 10 of the places it offers and two of its three staff members.

“We currently have 17 children on the register which requires three staff. Our catchment area is Ardglass, Ballyhornan and Bishopscourt and we are trying to survive on the money we get from the department and our very supportive parents,” she continued.

“We are struggling to get by and have no extra money to pay for trips or buy new equipment. All the 

money is going on wages and bills. We opened in 1994 and have always managed to secure a cocktail of funding to keep going but things are becoming difficult. We have been told there is no money for rural groups, but why is the case? When it comes to cutbacks, rural areas suffer most.”

Mrs Curran said a worst case scenario could see Tiny Toons having to offer a reduced a number of places and lose a member of staff, insisting it is a situation she will work tirelessly to avoid.

“The viability of the group is under threat, but we will keep battling and are buoyed by the support of our parents who have been brilliant. While we are fighting for our survival, we are conscious the funding issue is one which impacts upon many playgroups in the area. Our problems are certainly more immediate than others,” she said.

Mrs Curran added: “All we are looking for is money to fund our third member of staff and we have told the funders that. We will work hard to keep the playgroup going, but should not have to face this funding situation every year. Why not ring fence the cash to provide groups like ours with certainty and allow us to plan for the future? It would make life so much easier.”

Nuala Mulholland, the leader in charge at Tiny Toons, said while a fresh funding application will be made next month, there are no guarantees what the outcome will be. She added: “Children in rural areas are as every bit as important who those who live in urban where money is readily available for pre-school provision.”

Donna Jess, the leader of the Dundrum playgroup, said no one knows what the situation will be in 2017. She said while the group has suffered a reduction in funding, it has been able to maintain its staffing levels by using some of its financial reserves.

Stephanie Murray, of the Ballykinlar playgroup, confirmed it also had to use some of its cash reserves to offset reduced funding, admitting no one knows what funding levels will be available in 2017.

She added: “It is hard to predict from year to year what will happen. The provision of ring-fenced funding would put you at ease as you would know exactly how much money you would have for a set period.

“Financial uncertainty is an issue for some playgroups and we were glad we were able to retain our three staff this year. The Pathway Fund is now open to all aspects of child care and made it much harder for rural groups to get in there.”