History
In 1981 the only provision for the local community was an old gardeners’ shed and an attached bus that provided a playscheme for 6-12 year olds, run by the Recreational Services Department of the local council. There were no toilets and conditions were extremely basic. Even this meagre provision was under threat of closure.
Concerned local parents began a campaign and set up “The Lloyd Park Action Group”, the aim of which was to pressure the Local Authority to provide a building the local community could use. The campaigning and fundraising involved gave the group a high profile locally and encouraged many people within the local community to get involved.
In 1985 a portacabin made up of 5 units was placed on the existing site and the local authority agreed for the Centre to have the use of the building alongside their Playscheme service in order to start a Parent/carer and Toddler group. At first the building was unsuitable for a care-scheme but after securing funding to double the size of the portacabins in 1989 the centre was able to provide a drop-in 5 days per week, the Playgroup 5 mornings per week and plans were being made to extend the Playgroup hours to 2pm. This service proved very successful and many families used the service for part-time employment and to attend part-time courses.
Because of the constant demand for a full-time daycare service, the Centre applied to the Pre-School Playgroups Association (now The Pre-school Learning Alliance) for help. The Association agreed to help and nominated the Centre for a grant from Avon Cosmetics, supporters of the Association. £5,500 was received which went towards the purchase and placement of two further portacabins.
In 1996 sufficient funds were raised to purchase the final extension and this has enabled the Centre to provide daycare for 24 children and later offer an outside school hour’s club to meet the needs of working parents whose children began school. The building was operating at full capacity and the local authority did not want any more portacabins on the site yet the demand for childcare and community orientated services continued to increase.
In 2002 the centre secured funds for a permanent building to house the expanding services which included additional daycare, sessional and outside school hour’s places with a new provision for under 2’s care, adult education and the range of community activities on offer today.
The Lloyd Park Centre played an active role in the development and implementation of the local Sure Start program. In recognition of the capacity and services provided by The Lloyd Park Centre, it was designated a Children’s Centre in 2007. In 2008 a second contract was awarded and the centre became the lead agencies for both the William Morris and Higham Hill Children’s Centre’s.
