Derelict Dundee building transformed into childcare facility
The Minister for Children and Young People, Clare Haughey, this afternoon cut the ribbon at the official opening
Last updated 26th May 2022
A building in Dundee left derelict for 10 years has been transformed into a brand new childcare centre open to support children from 0-16 years old.
Following an asset transfer from Dundee City Council, and thanks to funding from the Social Innovation Partnership, Access to Childcare Fund and other grant funders, Flexible Childcare Services Scotland (FCSS) has renovated the former nursery into a new state of the art childcare & community Hub.
Fintry Mains, Community & Childcare Hub, was officially opened today by Clare Haughey, Minister of Children & Young People at the official ribbon cutting ceremony.
The new, multi-functional space will offer day care and school age childcare for 68 children with further places opening soon. The space will also support the community with further developments set to provide the local community with a shared garden, a workshop and it will offer a range of community services which will enhance the skills, experiences and wellbeing of the individuals and groups who use it.
Children’s Minister Clare Haughey said: “It is encouraging to see how FCSS has worked with the community to ensure this building has been transformed to deliver flexible childcare services for children and families.
“The Scottish Government’s expanded early learning and childcare offer means all three and four-year-olds and two-year-olds who need it most can access 1,140 hours of high quality, funded ELC a year. Hubs like this mean parents and carers can access childcare flexibly, supporting sustainable employment and bringing benefits for all the family.”
Susan McGhee, chief executive at FCSS, said: “We currently have 22 registered services around Scotland with more opening in the coming months. We find and fill gaps in provision, and offer flexible, book-by-the-hour childcare, removing barriers of affordability and accessibility and empowering parents to return to employment, education, or training. Increasing a parent’s earning power by ensuring they have the support they need to allow them to work, earn and learn is one of the simplest ways of reducing child poverty.”
The Scottish Government’s ‘Funding Follows the Child’ model allows the charity to work in partnership with the local authority which means families can use their funded hours flexibly further enhancing the benefit of the 1140 hours.
FCSS offer a flexible childcare model meaning that parents can book by the hour, change their bookings each week and only pay for the childcare they actually use which the charity hope can make childcare more accessible.
