Beragh childcare premises closes

A BERAGH childcare facility has closed after 21 years of serving the needs of families in the area.

More than 20 children daily were catered for at Camowen Smart Kids on Main Street in the village, reflecting its benefits to the local community.

In addition, there were four staff employed at the facility, along with two more who were office-based.

Julie McElduff, manager of the Camowen Partnership, which ran the club in Beragh, said the closure came as a massive blow to both the parents, staff and management.

“We are all extremely disappointed at having to close. This has all been very upsetting for staff, parents and those of us involved in the management of the Camowen Smart Kids in
Beragh and Carrickmore,” she said.

“The decision to close was one that certainly wasn’t taken lightly and was very difficult.

“It’s a blow for ourselves, the Beragh Care and Development Association, who own the building, and Easilink, who provided transport.

“But, most of all, it’s terrible for the children and their families who came to Camowen Smart Kids on a daily basis.

“The children really enjoyed coming here; we felt that they learned and benefitted from the experience and our staff certainly enjoyed working with them.

“Unfortunately, this has a wider impact on the children and their parents. They will now have to seek alternative arrangements, and, for many of them, that will mean having to rely on families to provide the care that we have given for the past more than two decades.”

Last month, the UH report how more and more parents were being forced to quit their jobs due to the problems in finding full-time childcare.

Parents and politicians have urged the Government to provide more funding urgently.

Julie McElduff warned that many childcare facilities such as Camowen Smart Kids are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit staff.

“At the moment, the recruitment of staff is a major issue for ourselves and many other childcare facilities,” she added.