Jumpstart Kidz, a local charity, may close, due to a lack of funding, although a public meeting has been organised to look at ways to save this popular play facility.

There will be a Public Meeting on Thursday, July 6th, at 7pm at the Ryefield Centre.

Trustees, past and present, will be on hand to talk about the organisation, the opportunities for the future, and to answer any questions. They would like those who use Jumpstart, or have done so in the past, and other interested parties to come to the meeting to see what can be done.

This is an exciting opportunity for a new group to grow and develop, or for an existing group to expand the project, with the benefit of a substantial head-start in terms of equipment and knowledge.

Jumpstart has been providing affordable play sessions for under fives in the Ross area for over 21 years. Parents and carers stay with their children during the sessions to meet and share experiences with staff, other parents, and a range of visiting professionals.

Jumpstart has often been praised by parents and carers for providing benefits for both children and parents, and the local community. Jumpstart runs sessions at seven different locations in the Herefordshire area and charges £2.70 per session, which includes refreshments. They own two vans and a substantial amount of soft play equipment.

Costs of running the project have been heavily subsidised by grants. The Big Lottery Fund (BLF) has been paying 60% towards the £50,000 a year costs. Other grants, from the EF Bulmer Benevolent Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Eveson Charitable Trust and other local organisations have covered 20%, and fees and donations the remaining 20%. Jumpstart are very grateful for the confidence and support of everyone who has contributed over the years, and for the support of the hardworking staff and trustees, past and present.

However, the most recent BLF application, was assessed as fundable and approved as a project, but was declined by the panel due to a lack of funds within the Lottery to continue to support Jumpstart. The BLF has provided repeated grants for many years, but have now called time on further funding. This now leaves the project with a substantial shortfall that it cannot fill from other sources.

Jumpstart has been run by a small group of trustees since its inception in 1996.

The project and its aims have remained unchanged for many years. The trustees now think the time is right for others to consider stepping up to take over the running of the charity or look at how the equipment and resources can be used by a new organisation to continue providing affordable play sessions for children under five.

Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting at the Ryefield Centre and hopefully retain the resources and knowledge built up over the years for the benefit of parents and children in Herefordshire.

For more information about Jumpstart contact Jane Powell on 0797 2341104.