A Fife playgroup which has served local families for decades has been forced to close after the coronavirus pandemic proved the “tipping point” for its finances.
Aberdour Playgroup, which is run by local parents, has welcomed toddlers and pre-school children through its doors for more than 40 years.
But the committee has announced it will not reopen in August because it will not be able to cover running costs.
A spokesperson for Aberdour Playgroup’s committee said keeping the service going had always been a balancing act.
“Since March we’ve been working to adapt our setting and introduce new measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our children, our staff, and their families,” she said.
“However, the evolving national advice, the current restrictions on blended care and Fife Council’s understandable inability to confirm the use of our shared community building has made it almost impossible for a small charity like ours to prepare.
“And without the certainty of reopening in August, we do not have the funds to meet our costs.”
Restrictions introduced to prevent the spread of Covid-19 mean that children enrolled with a nursery or childminder could not attend playgroup.
The spokesperson added: “The nature of our setting, used mainly by local families, means our intake fluctuates year on year, but through incredible family involvement and wider community support, the voluntary committee has always been able to work with this ebb and flow.
“But as a small charity with minimal funds in reserve, Covid-19 has been the tipping point.”
When it was last inspected in 2018, the playgroup was praised by the Care Inspectorate for providing “an extremely flexible and responsive service to meet the varying needs of families” and was graded “very good” in all criteria assessed.
Throughout the years, it has been kept going thanks to tireless fundraising efforts by families and the local community, and a steady intake of children.
The spokesperson added: “While playgroup has been unavoidably closed for the foreseeable future, we are hopeful that with an enormous effort we will be able to open our doors again.
“We’ll need to work in partnership with Fife Council, Early Years Scotland, and the community, and trust we can rely on everyone’s support.”
Local SNP councillor David Barratt said although current guidance prohibited multiple childcare settings being used in a given week this was constantly under review.
“This will inevitably impact on any provider who offers wrap around care or indeed any provider whose children also visit any other setting so I really do hope progress is made on this over the next month,” said Mr Barratt.
He added: “I’m disappointed to hear the news that the playgroup won’t be reopening from August, as many local parents value and rely on the playgroup’s services.”
