Gift hampers given out to key workers as Growing Places nurseries aims to give them a boost

Support for essential workers has come from Growing Places, a childcare provider with eight settings in Waterlooville, Fareham and Havant, which have stayed open to support those who still need to go to work.

Food and care hampers have been distributed by nursery staff, made up of donations from parents, staff, shops such as TK Maxx, as well as redistributing surplus stock from Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Lidl and Aldi.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue, Royal Mail, police, ambulance, Rachel Madocks School and other key worker parents have all been given special hampers to keep their spirits up during this time.

Jackie Warren, company director, said: ‘We all have a responsibility to do what we can and we are lucky to be in a position to do this and hopefully bring some relief to families struggling with finances or who can’t get out because of self-isolation.

‘Our nurseries are safe places to enable key worker parents to leave their children, knowing that they will be well cared for, have fun and make happy memories, while they do the work that we all need them to in these difficult times.

‘We have opened our doors to children of key worker families whose nurseries have had to close and welcomed them into our family, until this is all over. When I watch how resilient and tolerant these young children are, it gives me such hope for the future!’

There has been a positive response from many parents, including Amber Berryman whose son Nolan attends Growing Places nursery.

She said: ‘The generosity and selflessness you display as a company and a community is inspirational. We as a family cannot thank you all enough for your help at this time, when it's a struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel you all provide the sunshine to get us through.’

Growing Places have some spaces to offer provisions to key worker parents. Contact Jackie on 07809 440773 or head office on (023) 9226 6004 for more information.

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