Two play schemes in Peasedown St John that support pre-school aged children have received a funding boost, thanks to the Peasedown Community Trust.

Last year, the Trust set aside funding for community groups to apply for. After a lengthy application process, grants of £100 each were awarded to Seeds Toddler Group and SJs Little Ones.

Both projects provide opportunities for young children, and their parents, to explore play, meet others and take part in creative, educational activities.

Chairman of the Peasedown Community Trust, Gavin Heathcote, said:

"All the research shows that investment in a child's early year's education is beneficial to them later in life.

" By taking part in play schemes and pre-school learning, this hugely increases a child's chances of having a more rewarding and fulfilling career, being in better health and achieving more in their later years."

Seeds meets on a Wednesday morning at Peasedown St John Methodist Church from 9am – 11am and is a mixture of free play, crafts, stories, snacks, singing and dancing. Seeds is open to all pre-school children and their parents or carers.

SJ's Little Ones meets on Monday and Friday mornings at St John's Church Hall for play, music and movement, craft and story time with fresh coffee/tea and fresh baked cake.

For up-to-date times and news on meeting arrangements due to lockdown restrictions, readers can contact:

Julie Winstanley, Seeds: [email protected]

Sarah Carney, SJs Little Ones: [email protected]

Julie Winstanley, Children and Family Worker at Peasedown St John Methodist Church, said: "We are grateful to have received a grant of £100 from Peasedown Community Trust to support local families with pre-school children whilst they are unable to meet inside the church building. The grant has helped to fund "Grab and Go" bags which contain everything needed for an activity which families can take home and do together. Bags which are collected once a fortnight from the church entrance are a great way of maintaining contact with our Seeds families and have been a big success.

" We have received lots of appreciative comments about the bags, such as this one: After missing Seeds Toddler group since it has stopped, it is always a delight to see you and get one of the activity bags. We really miss going to Seeds, so to be able to take away an activity all packaged up and ready to go is brilliant and much appreciated."

Peasedown Community Trust will be re-opening its grant scheme later this year. To be kept updated on grant news email [email protected].

For more details about Peasedown Community Trust and to get involved with their projects, write to 33a St John's Close, Peasedown St John, Bath, BA2 8JG, email [email protected], or call 07557 683834.

They can also be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PeasedownCommunityTrust and on Twitter at @PeasedownTrust