Community News

We are sharing the following open letter on behalf of Northleach Playgroup:

Dear Northleach,

First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter. As you may have heard, our beloved Northleach Playgroup is facing a serious financial challenge. Due to rising costs and limited government funding, the Playgroup is at risk of closing its doors this Spring—unless we can raise a significant amount of money in a very short time.

The Northleach Playgroup is a vital part of our community, providing the only early years education for 2- and 3-year-olds in the area. It is a charity run by a dedicated team of five local staff members who are committed to providing the best care and education for our youngest residents at the most accessible prices for stretched working parents. Losing this invaluable service would have a devastating impact: many children would be left without access to early years education, working parents who are already finding it hard to make ends meet would have to give up jobs, and five highly qualified early years practitioners would lose their jobs.

It is no longer possible to provide this service on the meagre funding given by the government, as nurseries and playgroups across the country are experiencing.  We are asking parents to contribute more if they can, but we want to remain affordable to all Northleach parents.

To keep the Playgroup open for the remainder of the academic year – and to start to stabilize its finances for the long term – we urgently need to raise several thousand pounds. The committee is working tirelessly to reduce costs, organise fundraising efforts, and apply for grants to secure the Playgroup’s long-term future. But we cannot do this alone.  We would be so grateful of your support.

So, you may be wondering—what can you do to help?

1. Make a Financial Contribution Any donation, no matter how small, will make a difference. Your support could be the key to keeping the Playgroup open. Here is a link to our funding page:- https://gofund.me/dcb442cb If you are able to contribute a larger donation (above £500) please use the bank details at the top of this letter. We would also greatly appreciate it if you could drop us an email to let us know about your donation.
2. Help with Fundraising or Grant Applications If you have experience in fundraising or grant writing, your expertise would be invaluable to us. The committee is made up of parents with limited experience in these areas, so any support you can offer would be greatly appreciated. Please reach out via email if you are able to help.
3. Spread the Word Even if you are unable to contribute financially, sharing our fundraising efforts with others in the community can have a big impact. Every bit of exposure helps us reach potential donors.

In addition, we will be holding an Emergency General Meeting on Thursday, 16th January at 7:30 PM in The Barn at The Wine Bar. Please join us to discuss how we can work together to save the Playgroup.

Thank you so much for your time, support, and generosity. Together, we can help ensure that Northleach Playgroup continues to be a nurturing and educational environment for our youngest community members.

Warm regards,
Northleach Playgroup Committee

Northleach Playgroup Open Letter – JAN 2025

In September an almost unprecedented amount of rain caused flooding across Northleach and particularly along the High Street. Thanks to amazing response from the community the worst of the impact was alleviated, but several homes were flooded causing thousands of pounds of damage. Within days of the flood Gloucestershire Highways cleared all of the drains and gullies which should enable more water to drain but we all know that leaves and debris will continue to accumulate. Whilst we can’t do anything about the weather, we can take action to give ourselves the best chance of dealing with the rain by keeping gullies and drains clear.

If you have time and would like to help your community then please consider becoming a Drain Guardian. This is a new role for Northleach but is based on voluntary approaches in other areas that carry a flood risk. As a group we will allocate drains to Guardians who will then keep them clear of leaves and debris, report issues to Gloucestershire County Council and be the first line of defence when the flood risk is high.

If you’d like to get involved, please get in touch. We will set up a meeting to run through the role in more detail and allocate drains.

Cllr Matt Jackson
matt.jackson@northleach.gov.uk