Toddler group extends to older children over summer break

Parent and toddler group to continue over summer holidays giving support to struggling families

Following a successful pilot last year, The Salvation Army in Chester will once again continue to run its parent and toddler group over the school summer holidays giving welcome relief to families struggling with high costs of living. 

Open weekly from 9:30 am – 11:00 am on Wednesdays, at the church and community centre on St Anne Street, the group, affectionately named Tots and Co, is usually for children up to the age of five but to support families with older children, from end of July the group will be available for children up to the age of 11 and will continue to run throughout the six-week school summer holidays when in recent years it would normally take a break.

Gay Tonks, church leader of The Salvation Army in Chester said: “We saw last year just how valuable continuing to run our programme over the summer holidays was for families, offering a vital social lifeline and giving access to a safe space and supportive environment. It relieved a lot of pressure from families who struggled to find things to do to keep children entertained and stretching budgets for extra food and activities during the six-week break.

“For a lot of our Tots and Co family they also have older children so we know how much of a lifeline schools can be and when that lifeline comes to an end those families that just about manage to get by each week, start to struggle. Not only are we continuing to run our programme we are also extending the offering to include older children too, meaning that we can now be that important lifeline when times get tough.”

At an affordable price with a suggested donation of just £1 per child, children can play freely, join in with age-appropriate nursery rhymes and songs and receive refreshments of toast and drinks at a time when families might struggle once the safety net of free school meals and activities comes to an end.

Gay added: “The Salvation Army has always been at the heart of communities. Ensuring that toast and drinks are provided sounds so simple but to a lot of people that is one less thing to worry about, and to find the money for. We will always do all we can to support people within our community.”

Tots and Co takes place at the church and community centre, located on St Anne Street, and will be for ages 0 – 11, accompanied by a parent or guardian, until the end of August. From September the group will return to accommodating children aged up to five.