Oldbury Court Out of School Club has been providing much needed affordable wrap-around care for over 30 years but the impact of Covid-19 on their income has left them facing imminent closure.

A group of parents have pulled out all the stops to organise a truly show stopping raffle to raise much needed emergency funds. Prizes from household names and designer brands will be drawn on New Year’s Eve and delivered in the new year.

Tickets will be just £1 and can be bought here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/752746135446647/?fundraiser_source=external_url

Oldbury Court Out of School Club was founded in 1989 to provide after school childcare in an area where such facilities were in very short supply but in high demand. Currently, OCOSC provides invaluable out of hours care for children from age 4 to 14 years at nine schools across the community.

As a registered non profit charity, they keep their fees affordable – enabling lower income parents to return to work without crippling childcare costs. And not at the expense of performance – the clubs, that provide not only early year education but also care and counselling to children and young people, have been rated Outstanding by Ofsted.

“The club’s fees cover only their running costs and any surplus has always gone into their reserves. The reserves enabled the clubs to operate throughout the March 2020 lockdown, when they continued to operate for key workers. This period of reduced operation meant that the club experienced a 90% drop in income,” explains Hannah Spawls, a parent helping to fundraise for the clubs.

“At the same time, running costs have inflated and Ofsted guidelines require that pupils from different schools do not mix, so that the club has had to divide their premises into completely separate zones, each with access to separate toilets and handwashing facilities.  In addition, the logistics of separating pick-ups and drop offs, so that children from different schools aren’t on the same bus or walking together, have incurred additional running costs”

As a charity, they have fallen through the gaps with the government funding and with a deficit of around £30k, they desperately need help to be able to remain open. Taking part in the fundraising raffle means contributing to this urgent cause while being in with a chance of winning a Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, some Tom Ford perfume, or even a festive bottle of Baileys!

Link for the draw on the 31st December here:
https://www.facebook.com/donate/752746135446647/?fundraiser_source=external_url