Wet weather gear will help Sidmouth nursery children

Published: 4:55 PM March 8, 2009 Updated: 5:41 PM December 11, 2020

NURSERY children from Sidmouth will soon be able to enjoy outdoor play, whatever the weather, thanks to a �200 grant.

Sidmouth Day Care Nursery, which meets at All Saints Church hall, has nowhere of its own to play outside, so team leader Karin Persson makes sure the 43 six-month to school-age children get a daily dose of fresh air by taking them on walks around the town.

Prompted by last year's wet summer and reading about his offer to help local children, she contacted Sidmouth Sidford County Councillor Stuart Hughes to ask for a grant from his community support budget.

On Friday he joined the youngsters to hand over his �200 cheque so the nursery can order wet weather gear - macs and trousers - for children and staff to use on rainy days out.

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Karin said: "We go everywhere with the children, sometimes down to the sea, sometimes to Blackmore Gardens.

"The criterion is children should go out now every day for an hour, it is very difficult if parents don't send the right gear in. We have to decide whether to go out and get soaking wet or stay in."

Mr Hughes said: "It is difficult for them because they don't have their own building or any funds to help with wet weather gear, which quite a few pre-schools are going in for now, especially with the summer we had last year.

"I am bowled over by the amount of children here, it is fantastic. They have never come to me for help before and I think it is really good that the county councillors have been given a budget so they can help local organisations.