Bid to save the Banks Peninsula Preschool

TARGET: $10,000 but anticipated total cost of preschool set up is $30,000 so exceeding this target would be a huge help!

Whānau Āwhina Plunket will end their operation of our superb local preschool by the end of 2021. As a community we are proposing to take it over, to prevent it closing permanently. This will mean that, not only will it stay open, but we can make it an outstanding facility to sustainably meet the needs of our community.

A group of highly qualified local parents, grandparents, business owners, education specialists and community champions are working hard on developing a new model and have already put in nearly 400 man hours to make it happen. There is high demand and we are confident the preschool will be financially stable once established. The takeover process will incur costs, however, and we are fundraising to cover these.

The preschool is vital not only for supporting our tamariki develop a love of learning and reach their immense potential, but also to support working parents that form a vital part of our local economy. Without the preschool we will struggle to attract and retain young families/whānau in the area and this will dramatically change the nature of our community; our schools, our businesses, and the vitality of the Akaroa and Bays area.

Any donation, large or small, will be put to excellent use.

Our top priorities for funds raised are:

- Professional legal expenses to establish the appropriate entities to own and run the preschool on behalf of the community, and to submit an offer to Plunket (estimated $1,500).

- Professional HR services to advise on and facilitate the employment of staff for the community preschool.

- Expert Early Childhood Education support to ensure a new model meets Ministry of Education license requirements and to fast track our ambition to run an exceptional Service.