Moniaive Playcare, our local, community-operated wrap-around childcare provider will finally open the doors of its new extension following 11 years of planning, designing and fund-raising by the volunteer management committees. Moniaive Initiative has been supporting them since 2019.

When the project started, the existing playcare facility could accommodate just 12 nursery children and 8 after-school children.  Located in the old wood working extension to the school, it operated from a single small room with a concrete yard, and had been catering for the children of Glencairn for over 40 years.   In 2012 discussions began about extending the building with a sun-room. Plans were developed over the following few years and applications to other grant funders were looking positive.  A final proposal was developed in 2017 with funders lined up.  Sadly, one of the major funders changed their funding criteria at the final hour and the project had to be put on hold. That same year was a bumper year for children in the village with 26 children needing places and only 12 available. 

Fast forward to 2019 and Moniaive Initiative signed a Partnership Agreement to support Moniaive Playcare. We were able to do this through our ‘Securing Our Future’ project, funded by Scottish Government’s Investing in Communities Fund.

An application was made to Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Capital Grant Fund, but to to be successful the space had to take a significantly increased number of children – the original plans needed rethinking.  Further successful grant applications were made to Annandale & Nithsdale Community Benefit Company, Glencairn Community Council Wind Farm Fund and Blackcraig Wind Farm Fund. 

Everything changed when the building next door was offered for sale to Playcare by Mr & Mrs Pressley.  Here was the space, the garden and proximity to the school.  After 3 years of design and building in a post-pandemic environment, Moniaive Playcare have finally achieved their goal of extending their premises, thanks to local architect John Murray, Main Contractor Lewis Murray, significant project development and management from Moniaive Initiative, a hands on proactive Management Committee and huge local support from the whole community.

Fiona McMillan, who was once one of the early service users and now manages Moniaive Playcare explains “we have been moving more towards outdoor play and free-flow activities over the years, giving the children more freedom to develop their own interests outside… the garden and facilitates that the new extension offer us will take us on for another 40 years, our dreams have indeed become a reality”.

The Grand Opening of the new Moniaive Playcare building will take place on Sunday 3rd September 2023, beginning with a Duck Race at 2pm, and followed by a Silent Auction. Everyone is Welcome!

Moniaive Playcare would like to thank the following for making this project possible:

FUNDERS:

• Moniaive Playcare would like to thank the following for making this project possible:
• Dumfries & Galloway Council
• Glencairn Community Council Windfarm Fund
• ANCBC
• Blackcraig Windfarm Fund
• Aviva Community Funding
• Watsons Grocers
• BSW Timber
• Johnstone’s Paints
• Learning Through Landscape
• McJerrow & Stevenson Solicitors
• The community of Moniaive and Glencairn

PROJECT TEAM:

• John Murray Architect
• Lewis Murray Builders
• David Taylor Structural Engineers
• Kara Millen, Moniaive Initiative

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY COUNCIL:

• Laraan Foss
• Rosie Smith
• Louise Rae

CARE INSPECTORATE:

• Allison Tyson
• Cathie Branson
• Karen Quinn
• Donna Laing
• Lynn McColgin

And finally, heartfelt thanks to Mr & Mrs Pressley, the previous owners of Corrie Doon, who so kindly supported the project by selling their beautiful property to Playcare.