Aviva Community Fund provided £1,977 of match funding
Cambusbarron Village Nursery in the Woods
Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom
Aim
We plan to build a new nursery in the local woodland to develop children’s play and learn opportunties in the natural environment
Cambusbarron Village Nursery (CVN) is a small early learning and childcare setting with a big heart and big ambitions.
In Scotland, the Government has enshrined children's right to play outdoors every day in its national Health and Social Care Standards “As a child, I play outdoors every day and regularly explore a natural environment” (HSCS 1.32) and there is strong and compelling evidence that playing and learning outdoors has many benefits for children including improved physical health and wellbeing.”
Cambusbarron Village Nursery has this right at the centre of its ethos and attending children regularly spend 2 days a week in Woodland Play Sessions where they explore and play in the local woodland known as Gillies Hill Community Woodland.
At a recent Care Inspection the service received “Very Good” ratings for all aspects of their service. According to a Local Authority representative, this was the “most positive feedback” she’d heard in a “long time” and the Inspector reported that “There was a positive focus on outdoor/woodland play where children benefitted from skilled staff who supported experiences to extend their play, fun and learning. The natural play environment of the local Gillies Hill Community Woodland encouraged children to be adventurous, to develop their self-confidence and their resilience through opportunities to climb trees and explore the woods.”
CVN wants to build on their strengths and take their Woodland Play further by delivering more sessions to more children. CVN has been offered space within the woods for a purpose built nursery which will be a secure base to facilitate and support outdoor activities. Children will be able to engage freely in the outdoors secure in the knowledge that if they are tired they can go inside for a rest or nap and when they are cold and wet they can easily get warm and dry again. This flexibility will better support children’s needs and foster positive attitudes to play in the outdoor environment.
Previous funding has allowed us to commission a Feasibility Study, Business Plan and develop an initial idea of what the nursery could look like. We’ve also documented the rationale and benefits of our sessions for funders and the community.
CVN intends that the new nursery will facilitate weekend and afternoon clubs and activities to families and also to the wider community. When not being used by the nursery it will be available to other community groups and clubs as, for example, a yoga studio. The aim is for the nursery building to be a focus point in the woods for the whole community. Working with the cooperation with the woodland owners, the local community development trust, CVN plans to develop an environmentally and ethically sound building which will complement the woodland environment. Renewable technologies will be a core feature and plans are for local resources, skills and labour to be used wherever possible. A local GP has said of the proposal “With its emphasis on active outdoor all-weather activities, climate-friendly buildings and energy use, and wider community involvement, this project has the potential to become an extremely valuable community resource with long term benefits to the children involved.”
As a Community Interest Company (CIC) CVN believes that being part of a strong and vibrant community is a mutually beneficial position, where children benefit from growing up in a secure and supportive environment while the community is made stronger by active and engaged children and families. A Community Interest Company is a type of social enterprise and CVN does not exist to make financial profit as any and all surpluses are reinvested to further its social aims and objectives.
CVN previously received funding to complete a feasibility study and business plan which confirm CVN’s vision. Subsequent funding was received to secure some initial architect work and drawings. CVN is now looking to secure funding to progress the next stage in the project and to refine and finalise plans for the building.
Please help us achieve our goal.
This project successfully funded on 12th April 2022