The Spurtle received a press release from Broughton St Marys Parish Church today. We reproduce it below unedited and in full. This welcome news follows the recent departure of Smart Cookies from the location (Issue 364).
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Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church is pleased to announce that a new after-school club expects to open in the building in January.
Bellevue After School Club is being established as a not-for-profit organisation. It has applied to register as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, and its application for registration with the Care Inspectorate is in progress. The club will not open its doors at the church until those registrations are complete.
The news comes after a previous after-school club provider, Smart Cookies, voluntarily chose to end its tenancy agreement with Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church in early August.
Parish church leaders rented hall space to the private limited company at a heavily subsidised rate for 11 years because they recognised there was a community need for an after-school activity club in the parish.
The contract also included free storage space, minimal kitchen charges, no tardy time keeping penalties and no separate charge for wear and tear to the two halls it used.
The parish church leadership were very open to negotiating a new agreement with Smart Cookies, that properly reflected market rental rates, but the company was not in favour.
Bellevue After School Club plans to offer after-school care in term time and a holiday club during the school holidays for children from local families. Founder Mary Gater said: ‘We are grateful to the minister and Kirk Session for the welcome they have given us and for their support in getting the club off the ground.
‘Their generosity in making the space available on terms that reflect our charitable purpose has made a real difference.
‘Affordable, reliable after-school care makes an enormous difference to working families, and we are looking forward to becoming part of the life of the building and the wider community.’
Rev Laurene Lafontaine, minister at Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church, said: ‘We are excited about the creation of the Bellevue After School Club, which will meet a significant childcare need for our neighbourhood.
‘Its commitment to working families, parental involvement, and desire to become an active member within our community hub is refreshing.
‘We look forward to working together to provide engaging opportunities for the families and children in the local area.’
Families interested in registering their interest can contact the club at www.bellevue-asc.co.uk.
Further details, including session times and fees, will be published once registration is confirmed.
