Reached retirement age? You could end up running a toddler group!

After a combined working life of 80 years, Joyce and David West were ready for retirement, the opportunity to travel, and a chance to be more active as Christians in their local community. They had no family commitments, and when they were asked to be in charge of making refreshments twice a week for a small parent & toddler group which met in the local church hall, they were happy to accept.

Joyce and David tell the story of how their commitment to make refreshments led to their running the toddler group.

One year after starting to make the refreshments, the group was threatened with closure. Two mums had tried to keep the group going, but their children were now past toddler age, and no parents from within the group were able to take over the responsibility.

Having no experience with young children of our own, but a gut feeling that we were meant to step out in faith, we agreed to take on the additional role of leadership. It was with the clear intention that this would lead to an elected committee that would have overall responsibility for the group.

In the early days, the group struggled with low numbers and meagre finances. Eventually a constitution was approved, and the first committee meeting took place in 2001. It consisted of six elected representatives from within the group, and one from the local church.

Today we are run as a community group that has increased its membership seven-fold. We have an average attendance at each of the two weekly meetings of 40 children plus the parents and helpers, and 120 families on our records overall.

It’s still an effort at each meeting to set out equipment (stored outside in various sheds - a difficult task in winter), but we have a small dedicated team of volunteer helpers, including parents, childminders, local church members, and the toddlers themselves. We are able to offer indoor and outdoor play activities, training in social skills, crafts and story time. During snack time the grown-ups drink tea and ‘real’ coffee, and we are able to offer the children fresh fruit or vegetables - a grant from the local Primary Care Trust paid for these for a whole year.

One of the ways the group has developed is in fundraising. After the tsunami, we arranged a coffee morning that raised £400, and we now hold coffee mornings in aid of Macmillan. We also make and sell cards for charity, and it does not surprise us that, as we give more in time and money to those locally, nationally and internationally who need our support, the more we truly grow and mature as a group.

We now also produced a newsletter; it gives essential dates and information, and also has a ‘for sale’ section for group members to use. This newsletter helps everyone to feel that they belong to the group.

It has been a great delight to us to see some of the young families now attending church services, with several of the children being brought for baptism. In addition, members of the Mothers’ Union have run parenting courses.

We believe that our faith plays a vital part as this group continues to thrive, and has become a ‘touching place’ for those who may be seeking answers to the questions of life. We have become a support group for all ages. Our aim is to continue to improve and adapt to changing situations, and to offer an ‘open door’ policy to all who need this kind of support.

Find out how Care for the Family’s Playtime project offers support, resources and encouragement to toddler group leaders.

You can also read tips on starting a parent and toddler group of your own.

Last Updated 21 October 2008