Parents of children at One YMCA nurseries in Bedford have said they are “devastated” at the news three nurseries in the area are to close by the end of this month, leaving many with “no childcare at all”.
The nurseries in Goldington, Queen’s Park and Wootton will be ending on the last day of this term, 31 March 2023.
“It’s devastating to see our beloved nursery close down, along with two others in Bedfordshire,” said a parent who did not want to be named. She’s a nurse and relies on the nursery so she can work.
“We were forced to accept exorbitant pay increases to keep our children there, only to be left with no childcare at all.”
In a statement to the media, One YMCA, the charity running the nurseries said lack of Government support has meant they have struggled with funding, which resulted in prices going up and has now led to the closure.
“Over the last couple of years, they have been suffering significant, six-figure losses across all three nurseries and have attempted to change the model and fee structures during this time.
“However, with no assistance from the government and the rise in inflation, minimum wage and energy bills, this has taken the charity to a situation where they cannot afford to sustain the nurseries any longer,” said the statement.
The parent we spoke to though, says this has now left many families facing uncertainty over childcare.
“As an NHS nurse, I now face the daunting prospect of finding alternative childcare with very little time,” she said.
“It’s not just about me, but also about the dedicated staff who are now left without jobs and competing for the same limited opportunities. This situation is not just inconvenient, it’s a crisis.”
One YMCA say they have tried to find solutions to this over the last few months to avoid the closure but this has not been possible.
Guy Foxell, One YMCA chief executive said: “We have always tried to do all we can for the children, families and colleagues involved in our settings – for example by staying open even during the worst of the covid lockdowns and despite growing financial losses.
“Over the last few months, we have been privately advertising the three settings through national brokers, plus making dozens of our own calls to larger local providers and national chains who we thought might be interested and have the capacity to take the nurseries forward.”
Discussions to try and keep the nurseries open were said to be initially promising but have not led anywhere.
“Regrettably, despite some initially promising discussions, we have had final confirmation that in the current financial climate, none of those providers has been willing to take on the three settings – even “for free”,” added Mr Foxell
One YMCA say they have provided parents with a list of nurseries that currently have childcare spaces.
Staff are also now due to be made redundant too. A spokesperson for One YMCA said: “[we] will be exploring options for colleagues to find any suitable alternative employment opportunities within the charity, as well as supporting them with CV and interview workshops and linking them with potential new employers in the area.”
