Direct Childcare - which supports 100 families in the Highlands - had been due to shut imminently
A children’s charity has been saved after a rescue plan to save the service was devised.
Direct Childcare supports more than 100 youngsters in the Highlands and had been due to shut imminently due to significant funding challenges.
However the jobs of eight contracted staff and 40 workers on casual contracts have been salvaged after the organisation entered a rescue package with One Parent Families Scotland’s (OPFS) Flexible Childcare Service - allowing it to continue to provide care services and secure jobs as the groups work on a long-term viability plan with backing of partners.
Fiona Ednie, executive manager of Direct Childcare, said: “I am absolutely delighted for the families and staff and we now look forward to working with OPFS. It is a very difficult part of the year to be negotiating as most places shut down for the festive period but OPFS have been great and deserve a great deal of credit.”
Satwat Rehman, director of OPFS, said the charity was happy to be able to provide support to Direct Childcare.
She said: “OPFS believes all children and families should have access to high quality, flexible, affordable childcare. Our experience in delivering tailored childcare solutions meant we were ideally positioned to help when Direct Childcare was facing closure. The most important thing here is that by working collaboratively and with the support of our partner agencies we have minimised disruption to children and families in Highland region.”
Work will now begin on securing a long-term plan that will secure support for families in the area.
Susan McGhee, operations director of OPFS’ Flexible Childcare Service, said: “We are pleased to have been able to secure the funding needed to maintain Direct Childcare’s service provision and look forward to working with Fiona and her team to ensure long term viability.
“We are committed to high-quality childcare solutions that meet the specific needs of children and families and were impressed by the standard of service provided by Direct Childcare. It is our intention to retain the staff who have been providing care services across Inverness to ensure continuity of care and support for children and families.
“We are liaising with Highland Council and are pleased to report that they have been supportive of our plans.”
