Greensville Trust - Expanding Affordable and Accessible Childcare in Bradford
Greensville Trust is a vibrant Community Interest Company operating from the heart of Bradford in communities where deprivation is rife and families are faced with economic hardship. The Trust offers a whole range of services including sanctuary retreats, faith workshops, religious education and childcare. They have a primary objective supporting working parents who require all day childcare. Local findings have identified there is a shortage of consistent childcare provision among local providers and a critical shortage of all day care for infants between the ages of 0-2, underscoring the urgent need for accessible and flexible childcare options in the area.
Supported by a total of £20,000 grant from the Local Access Bradford District (LABD) programme, The Greensville Trust is working to conduct a feasibility study to ascertain a business case for the development of a nursery featuring Montessori and ‘Forest Garden’ care. The purpose of the nursery will be to provide a high quality, affordable childcare provision addressing local needs and supporting parents returning to work.
“Since the beginning, we received timely support from the LABD team, whether it was financial model development or grant support. All of these were instrumental in completing the assessment and creating a robust business plan for our planned nursery. Regular feedback and suggestions from Ashfaq, Shahed, and other team members helped us to visualise our plan and understand its strengths and areas for improvement.”
Based on the findings of the feasibility study, the Greensville Trust will be looking to apply for a social investment of £250,000 based on a zero-interest plan, committing £75,000 of their own funds. This venture will create a fully viable childcare, education and community centre meeting the needs of the community. In addition, over 20 new jobs will be created which will strengthen the local economy and contribute to the regeneration of Bradford.