Complete the nursery build

Hi, Home From Home Nursery has been operational since April 2012 a small independent family-run setting caring for children aged 3 months to 5 years.

Due to redevelopment, we were given the notice to leave our current premises, and our landlord offered to lease land for us to build elsewhere on site. We found what we thought was a trusted and reliable builder who promised a complete design and build including planning applications etc. It all sounded amazing, contracts were signed and the process began. Sadly planning was not straightforward, we considered pulling out but we were reassured by the building company it was all part of the process, we paid thousands to get council approval. Finally, in September 2022 the application was granted we just had to await a bat licence to take down two trees. In January work slowly began clearing the site, yet more issue arose costing thousands again to put right. Time was running out on the current lease and staff and parents began leaving the setting concerned for the future of it. None the less we continued on, so much time and money had already been invested we couldn't give up. In April 2023 we were forced to move into temporary accommodation due to our lease ending and the building being pulled down, we were promised 10 to 12 weeks and our new nursery would be ready.

Suddenly the building company went quieter than usual, and it was hard to get them down to the site they couldn't give a start date to bring the nursery to the site, and the site manager was using lots of excuses that didn't add up. We were asked for additional money over the build price and when refused as we had paid £450k and had nothing to show for it the owner of the company began insolvency proceedings to close the business, stating they had simply run out of money. They were unable to give us any money back as they simply didn't have it, we collected our building, and a lot was missing. To allow us to be able to fulfil the build an additional £200,000 is required. The nursery has worked tirelessly for years saving for this work to take place to then lose it all because companies like this can simply take your hard earned money and close up getting away with it worse still they are allowed to trade under a new name taking on new work, when previous is not complete. The dream has always been to have a nursery that can continue to offer exceptional care to local families for years to come.

Additional funding is proving hard to secure, the nursery has lost a lot of money to the builder and as we have been operating out a marquee we have had no choice but to reduce the number of children we usually care for due to safety.

It's been a heartbreaking few months but we continue as a team to stand strong and hopeful.