Thank you to all our supporters!

St George's children

At St George’s we believe that every child deserves the best start in life, no matter what their background or family circumstances. That’s why we offer subsidised childcare places to families in need, and fundraise every year so that we can keep providing this vital service.

We also raise money to buy new toys and equipment for the nursery, and in the Spring we’re looking forward to making our garden even better with a new messy mud play area.

It’s thanks to all our supporters that we can continue to help local families and make the nursery the best it can be for all our children.

How donations have made a difference

In the past 12 months, generous donations have meant we have been able to:

  • Provide subsidised childcare places for 21 children in the past year, with a total of 1391 sessions. These have made a huge difference to local families who are struggling, for example due to domestic abuse, illness and financial hardship.

This year we’ve helped a single mum and her little boy Billy (name changed). Both he and his mum have learning disabilities, and experienced abuse at the hands of Billy’s father. When Billy first came to us a year ago, he was unable to speak and express himself, and was very nervous about being active and socialising with other children.

Billy left St George’s in August to start a specialist school, and it’s amazing to see the difference in him. He left us as a chatty little boy who loves running and playing outdoors with other children. Billy’s mum has been so pleased to see her son a much happier, confident child who can express himself.

  • Undertake a technology upgrade – buying new tablets, computers and faster WiFi. Tablets and the iConnect software system have replaced time-consuming paperwork, meaning staff can spend more time with the children and update parents on their children’s progress.
  • Buy 18 new teacher chairs for all the rooms in the nursery. This means the staff can sit comfortably at the children’s level and interact with them much more easily.
  • Buy new toys to help our children play and learn, including a sensory cube for Little Dragons, a chemistry set for Moles and wooden instruments for Squirrels.

This year we were delighted to win Charity of the Year at the Love Where We Live Awards, and be shortlisted in the Community Support Category at the Nursery World Awards.

Thank you

We’ve been supported by so many generous people this year. A huge thank you to everyone who has attended our events (including our quiz night, summer fair and Christmas fair), bought raffle tickets and done their own fundraising – including our wonderful staff.

In July, ten of our staff members took part in the Run or Dye 5K colour run at Penshurst Place and raised over £1300. And in November Senior Childcare Leader Zsuzsi trekked to Mount Everest’s Base Camp. So far she’s raised £435 for St George’s.

A special big thank you to:

The Gatwick Foundation
The Lawson Trust
Sir Thomas Smythe’s Charity
St Mary’s Frittenden
Christchurch Southborough
Kent Police and Crime Commissioner
John Lewis at home
The Rowan Bentall Foundation
Notcutts Garden Centre

Finally, a huge thank you to all of our fantastic volunteers who have helped out at our fundraising events – we couldn’t do it without you. This includes our parents and staff, and students from TWGGs and Skinner’s School who painted our garden fence, helped prepare for the Christmas Fair, decorated Father Christmas’ grotto and ran stalls at the Christmas Fair.

Would you like to support St George’s Childcare in 2018? Find out more about how you can get involved.