RAFAKidz will be able to enhance three of its nurseries thanks to grants from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (AFCFT).
The funding was awarded in the form of grants by the AFCFT on behalf of the MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund: Early Years Programme.
RAFAKidz Valley and RAFAKidz Shawbury will be able to enhance their outdoor spaces, creating environments where children can explore the outside world and develop and thrive at their own pace. RAFAKidz Honington will invest in sensory resources where children can learn to self-regulate and manage their emotions.
Josie Mapes, Executive Director of RAFAKidz, said:
“We are always looking for ways to enhance our provision and give our children the very best experience while they are with us. These generous grants will help us do that. We cannot wait to get the works completed so our children can reap the benefits and enjoy the new resources fully.”
The MOD’s Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (AF3): Early Years programme supports early education and childcare settings to meet the unique needs of young children from serving Armed Forces families.
Anna Wright, CEO of the AFCFT, said:
“High-quality learning environments are vital in helping children build skills, stimulate their imagination and play and to grow their sense of belonging and community in their earliest years – so we are delighted that MOD’s Armed Forces Families Fund is supporting these RAFAKidz projects. We look forward to seeing how the work enabled by these funds creates new learning opportunities for the very youngest in the Armed Forces community.”
With 22 settings across the country, RAFAKidz is the largest provider of early years childcare to the RAF, giving military and civilian families on or around RAF stations and MOD sites access to quality and affordable childcare.
