Childcare charity benefits from government grants

Bexhill and Battle Under Fives Association Limited has scooped a grant of £28,720.

BBUFA, based in Vinehall Road, Robertsbridge, is a registered charity funded by subscriptions and grants, and was established in 1993.

BBUFA members include playgroups, pre-schools, day nurseries and parent and toddler groups.

The aim of the organisation is to enhance the development and education of children under school age by encouraging parents to understand and provide for the needs of their children through community groups.

It provides a number of early years services, including activity groups, a toy library and creche.

The Government payouts are part of the second round of awards from the Transition Fund, which is designed to help the most vulnerable charities to public spending cuts and prepare for new opportunities being created through the Government’s Big Society agenda.

Peter Wanless, chief executive of the BIG Lottery Fund, said: “Delivering the Transition Fund on behalf of OCS, BIG has worked hard to ensure that this hugely important funding reaches these organisations as quickly as possible.

“These grants will make a real difference as they enable them to prepare effectively for the future and respond to their new operating environment.”

The Transition Fund was announced in the Spending Review, October 2010.

The Fund closed to applications on January 21 2011.

To date nearly £17million funding has been committed.

The remaining £90million will be awarded from the fund from April 2011 onwards.