We Did It! - Saturday 21st November 2020
On Saturday 21st November children, parents and staff from Holt Pre-school could be seen walking far and wide across the hills and down the lanes in and around the village of Holt, Wiltshire. Each family bubble walked their own 5k route to collectively clock up a marathon. Participants went to town in fancy dress with a starting line to rival a Disney Carnival - Toy Story, Frozen, Trolls, Smurfs, Elves, Dinosaurs, Princesses and Superheroes. Even Father Christmas put in an appearance. Spirits were high and a fantastic time was had by all.
Karen Tripp, Holt Pre-school Leader said, “All the staff are immensely proud of our pre-schoolers for their outstanding effort today. They have done so well to complete the 5k challenge and we are so very grateful for all the donations.”
A fun day, but at its heart, a serious message. The motivation for this walk was to raise awareness, and essential funds for a new Holt Pre-school building. Sadly, the existing old building has reached the end of its life. Like many early years settings who have been severely affected by COVID-19, the pre-school is experiencing some difficult financial times. As a not-for-profit organisation they are especially reliant on money from fundraising activities, not only to provide all children with a full and vibrant early years’ experience, but also to carry out essential maintenance on the declining building. They do not charge any top up fees for any of the much-loved trips, wish days, parties or picnics and are committed to being fully inclusive and ensure that all children are given equal opportunities.
The pre-school is at the heart of the village community, with most of its children feeding into the village’s one primary school. The staff at Holt Pre-school work tirelessly to provide all children with a warm, nurturing and fun education but the building is in much need of replacement.
Business Manager for Holt Pre-school Kate Buckrell said, “I am absolutely delighted with the fundraising efforts of our pre-school community today. We still have a long way to go though. The figure needed to replace the building and to secure the pre-school for future generations is £150,000. To lose the pre-school would be a severe blow to the village so we are doing all we can to raise these funds.”
