WHO:
Scribbles Day Nursery established by Taughmonagh Community Forum in south Belfast. Taughmonagh Community Forum was established to improve the quality of live of the people living in the Taughmonagh area.
WHERE:
25-27 Finwood Park, Taughmonagh, Belfast BT9 6QR
Taughmonagh is a pocket of deprivation within the affluent Malone ward.
WHAT:
Scribbles is a day nursery that can cater up to 32 children aging from 6 weeks to 5 years The nursery welcomes children not only from Taughmonagh but also parents from the surrounding area and people working nearby.
Scribbles employs 100% qualified staff even though social services require only 50% of staff to be qualified. Scribbles is a high quality day nursery provider without asking for extra costs from parents.
They are currently employing 9 full-time members of staff.
Social benefits: Accessible day nursery for local parents so that they can avail of job opportunities, a source of employment and improves services available within the Taughmonagh community.
HOW:
Numerous parents in Taughmonagh were availing of training opportunities but they could not seek employment due to the lack of affordable, reliable childcare provision available to them. There were waiting lists for day nursery facilities not only for the local people but for the private sector employees in the nearby areas.
HELP:
Financial support from European Peace II Peace and Reconciliation Measure 3.1.
WISDOM:
From Helen Bunney, Day Nursery Manager: Two pieces of advice – marketing is so important to get your business noticed – ensure that there is a marketing budget in place. Secondly it is very useful to have a contingency budget – always hidden costs that can really affect business and good to have some form of reserves as a back up.
This is an exciting and much needed new business for the area and if you would like more information about Scribbles then contact Helen Bunney on 9062 9218 or visit their website at www.scribblesdaynursey.com
