Drumahoe rallies for nursery places

THE community in Drumahoe rallied this summer in defiance of arsonists who torched a local playgroup in May.

It raised thousands of pounds to ensure 24 local children had a nursery place to go to at the start of the new school term.

Drumahoe Community Playgroup was badly damaged by they arson attack late this spring with staff and children forced to move to temporary accommodation for the remainder of the school term.

But the local community worked tirelessly throughout the summer to raise funds for the nursery.

No stone was left unturned with door-to-door collections, tea dances, discos and private donations all contributing to over 6,000 raised for the repairs ensuring the 24 children enrolled for the 20010/11 year had somewhere to go at the start of September.

The situation was not helped by the hammer blow dealt by the revelation that the Playgroup's losses would not be covered by the Western Education and Library Board's insurance.

A frantic fundraising dash ensued with work on repairs - facilitated by tradesmen who worked for free and a contractor who took on the job at a reduced rate - finally got under way in early August.

Playgroup chairperson Kerry Credoz says it was a race against time to have the accommodation ready in a mere three weeks and that the help and support shown by everyone involved was vital to the groups continued survival.

"Everybody has been brilliant," said Ms Credoz. "There are so many people we would like to thank. The local community association were brilliant and raised 2,500 by organising the door-to-door collection.

"Local shops and businesses like Costcutter and the Traveller's Inn who organised bucket collections and a disco. Local playgroups and schools donated equipment and local politicians were brilliant when we needed their help and support and in arranging meetings with the board."

Ms Credoz said the generosity of the tradesmen and the contractor who worked on the repairs was remarkable. Tradesmen worked for free whilst the main contractor took the job for a "very reasonable price." Their generosity was very much appreciated by the people of Drumahoe.

"We are really glad to see it back up and running," she said. "Talking to people in the community you realise how much it meant to them. It's been there for 24 years after all."