Pre -school saved by housing association

A Dorset nursery school has been rebuilt and saved from closure thanks to the support of Magna Housing Association residents.

 

Each year, Magna’s resident’s panels allocate £50,000 to community initiatives. In 2005/06 Charminster Pre-school approached the panel with a bid for funding to replace its dilapidated building.

 

Magna’s staff assessed the project on behalf of the residents’ panel, taking into account the important role the pre-school plays in the community and the difficulty that residents would have finding placements for their children if it closed. After discussions with the pre-school committee and other partners, including local contractors, Magna decided to provide £40,000 of funding, and support and advice to replace the old building with an eco-friendly log cabin.

 

As well as being built using timber from sustainable sources, the imported cabin is more energy efficient so will be cheaper to run.

 

Since being rebuilt, Charminster Pre-school is able to cater for more children: its 2006 intake is up 40 per cent on the previous year, and the Pre-school’s children, parents and committee are delighted with the finished building.