Funding helps Jessica stay with her nursery children

A childcare student will have the chance to finish her training and keep on working with children she loves, thanks to a grant from Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation.
Redcar and Cleveland College student Jessica Burford, 18, has been working at Guisborough Montessori Preschool on a placement for ten weeks, and is keen to achieve the Level 3 qualification she needs.
But with no funding available, it looked as though she would have to leave – until preschool owner Chris Robertson and the College asked the charity to step in.
The Foundation was set up to raise and allocate funds to community groups and help businesses and people join together to make Middlesbrough and Teesside better places to live, work and do business.
Chris said: “We were very keen to keep Jess, because she’s a great worker and very popular with the children, but we’re an extremely small business and just didn’t have the funds available.
“Thankfully, the Foundation has given a grant of £1,500, which tops up £2,500 of funding from Routes to Employment and makes sure she can stay with us and finish her training.”
Jessica, from Guisborough, said she was delighted to be able to stay at the pre-school.
“You need the Level 3 qualification to work in childcare, so it’s great news for me – and I’m really pleased to stay because I get on well with everyone at the nursery and I love the children,” she said.
Middlesbrough and Teesside Philanthropic Foundation Chairman Andy Preston said the charity was delighted to be able to help both Jessica and the nursery.
“The nursery appreciates the high-quality work Jessica does and is pleased to be able to keep her – and Jessica gains an important qualification that will stand her in good stead for the rest of her career,” he said. “Everybody wins.”