Appeal for volunteers to help playgroups

Changes in how groups are run mean that additional help is needed

Early Years Scotland has launched ‘Everything to Play For’, a campaign to raise awareness of the issues that are causing many playgroups to struggle to survive, and to encourage volunteers to offer their time and expertise to assist groups’ management committees.

Eliza Scoffield, membership and business support manager, said the appeal has arisen from recent changes to how such groups have to be run, which can sometimes be beyond the scope of the volunteers who run them.

She said: “Almost every town and village will have a playgroup, run on a voluntary basis by local parents.

“A lthough playgroups are still very much a vital service, the tasks involved in running the groups have become too much for parent run committees to take on alone.

“It might not be obvious to people how they could help, but someone with experience in HR could advise on employment matters, or someone from an accountancy background could help with the playgroup’s finances.

"The groups would be delighted with the help, and what better way of volunteering some of your time than ultimately helping the very youngest members of your community.”

Further information about volunteering can be found at www.earlyyearsscotland.org/everything-to-play-for/how-you-can-help