This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New Opportunies funding for childcare
16/09/2002
A new £14.5 million funding package designed to improve
the quality of childcare, particularly in disadvantaged
communities and for vulnerable families, was launched in
Glasgow today.
The programme over the next three years will be run by
the New Opportunities Fund, the biggest of the National
Lottery good cause distributors.
The money will provide capital backing for new projects,
play areas, outdoor play facilities and equipment such as
playbuses or toy libraries in rural areas.
At the Glasgow YWCA Family Centre Education and Young
People Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"This funding will help develop new and existing
childcare projects across Scotland. Good quality childcare
can have a positive effect on children's development and
gives parents greater flexibility to work or study. Good
quality childcare benefits children, their families and the
wider community.
"Providing affordable, high-quality childcare and
improving services for disadvantaged families will help
reach our aim of closing the opportunity gap.
"Our Childcare Strategy has made £16.75 million
available to local authorities this year and, as a result
of the Spending Review, this figure will grow by £24
million over the next three years. The additional money
from the New Opportunities Fund is a welcome boost to a
service which is focused on putting the needs of children
first."
The new grant programme complements the New
Opportunities Fund's existing Out of School Hours Childcare
scheme, under which over £10 million in grants has already
been distributed in Scotland, creating over 25,000 new
before-school, after-school and holiday childcare
places.
New Opportunities Fund Scotland Board Member David
Campbell said: "Access to quality childcare provision is of
central importance to families. In many cases it can be the
deciding factor in whether a parent is able to take up a
learning, training or employment opportunity. The creation
of 25,000 new childcare places across Scotland has already
had a substantial impact.
"With this new funding we will build on this success by
helping to improve the overall quality of childcare
provision, optimising the benefits that childcare can
bring, particularly for vulnerable parents and children and
disadvantaged communities."
The Glasgow YWCA family centre works with vulnerable
women from a range of backgrounds, developing new skills
and improving self-esteem to help many women move on into
sustained work or further education.
In February 2001 the centre received a grant of over
£62,000 from the New Opportunities Fund to create 100 after
school, 96 before school and 100 holiday places for 3-14
year olds across Glasgow.