Fox Cubs Playscheme Launched: Supporting Parents Facing Cost of Living Crisis.
A new, affordable childcare initiative is providing a vital lifeline for parents struggling with the cost of living. It offers a safe and educational space for children, with a focus on community and accessibility for all.
By Tom Drysdale
A new, affordable childcare initiative has been launched in Burton, offering a lifeline to parents struggling with the rising cost of living. The Fox Cubs Playscheme, a project founded by Sharon Fox, officially opened its doors on Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Kim Smith.
The play scheme is an affordable childcare service that runs on Wednesdays and Fridays, providing a safe space for young children to learn and play. The idea came to Sharon from conversations she had during her community work. “We did feed the homeless back in 2018… but then I had parents come to me and say, ‘Sharon, we really are struggling. We can’t afford childminding fees — they’ve gone up astronomically.’”
Sharon felt compelled to take action, establishing a scheme that looked after children and was genuinely affordable for parents. “They were asking for a safe, warm space to play in… somewhere children could be looked after by people who genuinely like being with children,” she explained.
The scheme’s affordability is a key feature. "Our charge is five pounds for a whole day of full care… in comparison, it’s a minimum of fifteen pounds an hour to have your child looked after.” She also detailed the daily structure: "They’re registered first thing in the morning, just like in school… then toilet, play activities, outdoor play… lunch at 12:30." She added that they also use "reading books, writing books — we try and make sure they don’t forget what they’ve learned during term time.”
At the club, Mayor Smith was joined by Sharon and the playscheme’s treasurer, Anne Peace, for the ribbon cutting. Mayor Smith underscored the importance of such schemes, saying, “With the cost of living… food is expensive. Those children who do get free school dinners aren’t having the food in the holidays.” She added that even for working parents, “Times are still hard. Some people are just above that benefit level, so get no support at all.”
Anne Peace echoed this sentiment, stating, “No parent should have to struggle to go to work, and not know what to do for their children.” She continued, “Sometimes kids have nowhere to go. Parents are relying on grandparents, relatives or even neighbours but this is not always enough.”
“We are trying to make it accessible for absolutely everybody”
Sharon was adamant that the playscheme be accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. “We want schemes to be open to anyone — whether they’re working, on benefits, or not. The children all play together at school; they should be able to play together outside school too.” She stressed that parents who struggle with payment can speak to her confidentially.
The playscheme relies on the generosity of the local community for donations of food, toys, and stationery, and is heavily dependent on volunteers to run. Both Sharon and Mayor Smith expressed their deep gratitude for these volunteers, calling them "essential" to local charitable organisations. "There’s no age limit — at my organisation I’ve got volunteers aged 14, and I’ve got some in their 70s,” Mayor Smith shared, highlighting the broad appeal of volunteering.
They also spoke about how volunteering can benefit the individual, building confidence and skills that can lead to future career opportunities. Mayor Smith shared a particularly heart-warming story of a volunteer who started with her and went on to a more senior position. “One girl started volunteering a few hours a week… It built her confidence, and now she’s working as a SEND coordinator at a school. She’s got a good income now, and I’m really proud of that.”
If you would like to get involved or find out more about Fox Cubs Playscheme, please visit their Facebook page here, or email foxcubs.scheme@gmail.com
Have a positive community story to share? Email Tom Drysdale at tom.drysdale@burtonecho.co.uk, and we’ll do our best to bring it to life!
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