Playgroup is saved from closure

Parents urgently appealed for donations to save the playgroup

A playgroup in Oxfordshire which was facing possible closure has been awarded £300,000 for a new building.

Earlier this year, a council inspection found several faults with Rainbow Playgroup's 30-year old portable building, and ordered urgent repairs.

The grant, from Oxfordshire County Council, will be used for a new facility at its site on Hendon Place.

It is one of 17 nurseries and pre-schools to benefit from cash grants, worth more than £2m.

Under threat

Roz Edwards, playgroup secretary, said: "We've worked so hard for this for the past year, and to finally find out that Rainbow Playgroup is going to be secure and saved from closure, it's an amazing feeling."

The group, a registered charity run by parents, has been running for more than 25 years and looks after about 70 children.

We are determined that this new building is going to be something very special Roz Edwards, Rainbow Playgroup

Parents feared the group's future was under threat as its portable building suffered from problems such as leakages and subsidence.

A council inspection earlier in the year said the issues needed to be resolved quickly.

During the summer volunteers from the local community helped carry out repairs, so it could continue running.

The group was then told it could apply for the council grant in the summer after initially missing the deadline for applications.

Parents have already raised £5,000 since June towards the new facility at the Glory Farm School site.

Ms Edwards added: "We are determined that this new building is going to be something very special."

The charity said it hoped to move into the new building by the end of next year.