Help Needed

From

Cllr. Brian Silvester

Willaston and Rope Ward

 

Willaston Pre-School Group, which has been successfully caring for children for 25 years, will be forced to close if it is unable to find a Chairman. The pre-school, which runs sessions from St. John’s Church Hall in Willaston, is a registered charity run by a voluntary committee but without enough people to dedicate some time to the school, it will be forced to close, especially if it fails to recruit a Chairman.

This will be a terrible thing for a much-loved pre-school which has provided childcare to children from Willaston, Hough, Weston, Shavington, Stapeley, Wistaston and Wybunbury since 1985.

Comments from parents this July 2011 include “…lovely environment and staff”; “I can’t tell you how great it is…knowing that he’s receiving genuine care and lots of stimulation in a wonderful atmosphere”; “I’m so pleased at the way he settled in from the start. He has come on so much in his development.”The pre-school is Ofsted registered (unique reference number 305438) for up to 24 children per session. At its last inspection it was rated as ‘Good’ in all areas.

I appeal to local residents to come forward to offer to help, even if it is only for a few hours a week. It would be a great loss to our community if it had to close. It is very important for our young children to have a the best possible start in life and be able to enter Primary School able to participate fully in their new classes.

Awards

I am delighted that Willaston has recently won three awards.

In the 'Small Town' category  of the North West Britain in Bloom competition Willaston was successful again and was presented with the Silver award.

Also Willaston has received two awards in this year's Cheshire Community Pride Competition, organised by Cheshire Community Action, which was entered last March by Willaston Community Opportunities Group – COG.  Willaston was a joint winner, with Willaston Reach magazine, of the award for the Best
Community Newsletter. The Christmas edition of the magazine had been funded by the Parish Plan Implementation Grant. Willaston also received Highly Commended for Community Spirit which is awarded to the most active communities with a population of under 5000. A group of fourteen enthusiastic residents had met Judges in July to talk of their involvement in many aspects of Village life. This was an exciting result in a first attempt for many years and in the face of stiff competition.

There is a wonderful community spirit in Willaston and these awards are fully justified. I pay tribute to all those many volunteers and the Parish Council who ensure that a wide range of local groups flourish and make the village such an excellent, beautiful and friendly place to live.

This year I presented a cheque for  £440 to Willaston in Bloom from the money I raised at a celebration at the Willaston Social Club of my 35 years as a Councillor. I am pleased that I have been able to help in a small way  in the continuing success of Willastom in Bloom. The money was raised in memory of Mike Heywood, the former Chairman of the Parish Council. I am sure he would be delighted with the recent successes of the village he loved.