Earlier this year I identified a perfect venue for Bluey's Community, it was affordable, the site was also a social enterprise and the costs to set up would be low. Unfortunately one aspect I had not counted on was a comprehensive tenancy application, vague guidelines and elusive staff. It resulted in a failed tenancy which put me back to square one after 5 months and a lot of work.
After a short look, another venue was identified although the costs would be much higher and would result in a delayed opening date as the soonest we could open is February, this would enable us to hopefully open with appropriate funding such as an Awards for All grant which takes 3 months to be awarded.
Despite the problems I have made progress I now have a range of policies, a business plan and have completed my registration with companies house. I have also been receiving help from the Social Enterprise North West Mentoring Scheme, they have paired me up with an excellent mentor from a Liverpool Housing Association.
Kids party and mobile creche fun!
Setting up my social enterprise "Bluey's Community"
After reaching the final of a competition, I realised that my idea for a shoppers creche must be a good one, although I didn't win the competition I decided that it was an idea worth pursuing.
So after talking to a few customers and my local college I decided to take the plunge and look into how I might get this business of the ground. My first job was research, I looked into competitors, the closest créche is in Shrewsbury and is not a social enterprise and I was unable to find any evidence on the internet of such a business already existing, so no real competition exists out there. My next tasks included researching suitable venues and funding, I found several venues and viewed 2 premises, the funding that I earmarked as suitable is the social entrepreneur Charity Unltd and their level 1 fund, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Community Foundation Merseyside. These funds all support different aspects such as start up costs, wages and capital costs.
I then met up with Jane from employer services at Wirral Met, we discussed aprenticeships and student training and work experience, generally the meeting was very encouraging and positive feedback was given.
I then met up with Marjorie Fagan, the local early years team daycare specialist, she provided lots of useful information regarding OFSTED registration and EYFS best practice. Again positive feedback was offered. Marjorie also pointed out some useful publications with regards to floor the plan of the créche.
Another meeting with a local Business Link advisor was very useful in that I was given networking links and advice about the best legal form Bluey's Community should take, it was agreed that a Social Enterprise with Charitable Trust status would be a good idea.
Armed with information I am now in the process of applying for a level 1 grant, which will enable me to pay all the costs that will prevent this project from getting of the ground.
My to do list has significantly grown as I now have to register Bluey's community with Company House and the Charity Commission, apply for planning permission, write my governing documents and policies and reach an agreement with Warner Estates, the owners of Birkenhead Grange Centre.
I will be attending a networking event for NFP orgs and charities, hopefully I will gain some useful contacts and information that will help with the process.
So after talking to a few customers and my local college I decided to take the plunge and look into how I might get this business of the ground. My first job was research, I looked into competitors, the closest créche is in Shrewsbury and is not a social enterprise and I was unable to find any evidence on the internet of such a business already existing, so no real competition exists out there. My next tasks included researching suitable venues and funding, I found several venues and viewed 2 premises, the funding that I earmarked as suitable is the social entrepreneur Charity Unltd and their level 1 fund, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Community Foundation Merseyside. These funds all support different aspects such as start up costs, wages and capital costs.
I then met up with Jane from employer services at Wirral Met, we discussed aprenticeships and student training and work experience, generally the meeting was very encouraging and positive feedback was given.
I then met up with Marjorie Fagan, the local early years team daycare specialist, she provided lots of useful information regarding OFSTED registration and EYFS best practice. Again positive feedback was offered. Marjorie also pointed out some useful publications with regards to floor the plan of the créche.
Another meeting with a local Business Link advisor was very useful in that I was given networking links and advice about the best legal form Bluey's Community should take, it was agreed that a Social Enterprise with Charitable Trust status would be a good idea.
Armed with information I am now in the process of applying for a level 1 grant, which will enable me to pay all the costs that will prevent this project from getting of the ground.
My to do list has significantly grown as I now have to register Bluey's community with Company House and the Charity Commission, apply for planning permission, write my governing documents and policies and reach an agreement with Warner Estates, the owners of Birkenhead Grange Centre.
I will be attending a networking event for NFP orgs and charities, hopefully I will gain some useful contacts and information that will help with the process.
Presentations and parties
After a busy weekend which saw us entertain at an adoption party in Liverpool and a birthday party in North Wales, I began my presentation for the final of the Big Community Idea on the 30th April.
The advice given about the presentation was to have a bit about how I arrived at my current position, as well as information about my plan for Bluey's Community shoppers Créche and Training Academy. It was a shock to the system to write anything down about my journey to becoming a business women, especially since the last presentation that I did was on the subject of the effects of soil degradation on agricultural productivity!
The hardest part was sitting down to start the presentation, what with holiday clubs, family duties and work. When I finally sat down to begin I found it to be easier than expected and I now have 12 slides and many more to come.
The advice given about the presentation was to have a bit about how I arrived at my current position, as well as information about my plan for Bluey's Community shoppers Créche and Training Academy. It was a shock to the system to write anything down about my journey to becoming a business women, especially since the last presentation that I did was on the subject of the effects of soil degradation on agricultural productivity!
The hardest part was sitting down to start the presentation, what with holiday clubs, family duties and work. When I finally sat down to begin I found it to be easier than expected and I now have 12 slides and many more to come.
Awards, free gifts and competitions
This has been a fantastic week. On Tuesday I met my fellow finalists for the Big Community Idea (BCI), it was nice to talk to my fellow community workers, what a mostly laid back bunch we are.
The ideas ranged from Community Reporting, Youth Sport Coaching and a Community Cafe all good ideas. None involved a creche or Training Academy, it's nice to have an original idea.
On arriving home more good news awaited me that Smarties had reached the shortlist for project of the year at the Merseyside Spirit Awards.
This afternoon I ventured into Birkenhead with my Daughter, for a spot of advertising of the Play Sessions at Oxton, New Ferry and Wallasey, most people were not rude to me and appreciated that I was not trying to sell anything, only one mother stomped passed me, much to my amusement!
I decided that it would be better to approach the Early Learning Centre to see if they would let me put some of my leaflets on the counter, they not only said yes but also offered me a donation of a smart toy called a Swinx, this jolly little item is an electronic toy that comes with 10 games that the children can have fun doing, this toy is worth £100 so I was very taken aback, it's not often that I go into a shop and come out with a donation without even asking.
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The ideas ranged from Community Reporting, Youth Sport Coaching and a Community Cafe all good ideas. None involved a creche or Training Academy, it's nice to have an original idea.
On arriving home more good news awaited me that Smarties had reached the shortlist for project of the year at the Merseyside Spirit Awards.
This afternoon I ventured into Birkenhead with my Daughter, for a spot of advertising of the Play Sessions at Oxton, New Ferry and Wallasey, most people were not rude to me and appreciated that I was not trying to sell anything, only one mother stomped passed me, much to my amusement!
I decided that it would be better to approach the Early Learning Centre to see if they would let me put some of my leaflets on the counter, they not only said yes but also offered me a donation of a smart toy called a Swinx, this jolly little item is an electronic toy that comes with 10 games that the children can have fun doing, this toy is worth £100 so I was very taken aback, it's not often that I go into a shop and come out with a donation without even asking.
I
The Big Community Idea
Bluey & Baloo shortlisted for the Big Community Idea award
North West Children's Entertainment Company and Community group, Bluey & Baloo have recently received some fantastic News!
We recently submitted a plan for a Shoppers Creche in Birkenhead to this competition and we are delighted to report that our idea is one of the 10 ideas shortlisted for this £10,000 award. See www.connaught.plc.uk/thebigcommunityidea
www.blueyandbaloo.co.uk
North West Children's Entertainment Company and Community group, Bluey & Baloo have recently received some fantastic News!
We recently submitted a plan for a Shoppers Creche in Birkenhead to this competition and we are delighted to report that our idea is one of the 10 ideas shortlisted for this £10,000 award. See www.connaught.plc.uk/thebigcommunityidea
www.blueyandbaloo.co.uk
My favourite arty projects
I have been asked many times about the playdough that I use at Smarties, parties and other events, so if you would like to make the softest most child friendly play dough then here is the recipe. The cups I use are children's drinking beakers. This recipe will last for ages, at least a month of constant use.
Are you stuck for an easy activity on the plane, play dough is great you only need a small cup filled with play dough and some cutters, you could even use plastic cutlery although this is slightly messier.
1 Cup plain all purpose flour
1/2 Cup of salt
2 tablespoons of cream of tartar
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 cup of water with food colouring added
Put all the ingredients into a large non stick saucepan, stir over a medium/low heat until the mixture is thickened. Wait until dough is cooled, mould into a ball and then put into an air tight container or plastic bag with no holes.
Thornton Manor Wedding
Off to Thornton Manor, my first Wirral Wedding! Entertainment for 17 kids, the usual kind of entertainment was being offered however, my ball pool turned up from the couriers minus the main section. This has thrown a small spanner in the works as I will now be visiting Wirral Play Council to borrow theirs. I have plans for bubbles, colouring, fabric crafts and play equipment then at the end a spot of balloon modelling.
The room I will be entertaining in is very nice and old, the house itself is spectacular, it is a real pleasure to be working in such glorious surroundings. The children are a treat, it's a joy to be a childrens entertainer at Weddings. The only considerations are enabling the children to visit their parents without causing the waiting staff a problem.
The other thing is how to keep the room as we found it, we have managed very well so far to protect carpets from play dough, one of us has to be constantly watching the floor for spillages.
I have a new lady starting today, she is a childminder that has just moved to Chester. Hope she manages o.k.
The room I will be entertaining in is very nice and old, the house itself is spectacular, it is a real pleasure to be working in such glorious surroundings. The children are a treat, it's a joy to be a childrens entertainer at Weddings. The only considerations are enabling the children to visit their parents without causing the waiting staff a problem.
The other thing is how to keep the room as we found it, we have managed very well so far to protect carpets from play dough, one of us has to be constantly watching the floor for spillages.
I have a new lady starting today, she is a childminder that has just moved to Chester. Hope she manages o.k.
Wedding fairs and Smarties Play
This has proved to be a busy and very satisfying week, on Tuesday I launched Smarties Play, a spin off from my Pre-school art club Smarties. Over 20 children attended the first session, which is more children than I have ever had at Smarties. On Thursday (18th Feb) we had a rather more laid back and easy going session at the Oxton Green community shop, with only 8 children. The biggest turn out was at the Wallasey, St. Hilary's session, at least 25 children attended and their accompanying parents and carers. I cannot put into words how pleasing this was as it revealed how necessary this club is.
After all the funding bids, meetings, planning, preparation and organisation the attendance reflected the amount of work that went into creating this club. The feedback was also very encouraging. Hopefully some of the parents will post their comments and pictures an Arty Bears facebook page.
The weekend was also busy, I entertained at a little boys 2nd birthday, all went well 2 happy parents and a happy boy. Sunday was Wedding creche promotion day, loaded with lots of postcards, I began at Thornton Hall Hotels Fair, I spoke to many of the stall holders most had not heard of anyone offering of such a service and many said what a great idea it is. I had a similar response from the Brides and their families. It was a similar story at Inglethorpe Manor in Ledsham, only one stall holder, English Rose Weddings and Events had heard of a wedding Creche. I handed out many postcards and some stall holders took some cards to put in their shops. Overall a good start to the promotion.
After all the funding bids, meetings, planning, preparation and organisation the attendance reflected the amount of work that went into creating this club. The feedback was also very encouraging. Hopefully some of the parents will post their comments and pictures an Arty Bears facebook page.
The weekend was also busy, I entertained at a little boys 2nd birthday, all went well 2 happy parents and a happy boy. Sunday was Wedding creche promotion day, loaded with lots of postcards, I began at Thornton Hall Hotels Fair, I spoke to many of the stall holders most had not heard of anyone offering of such a service and many said what a great idea it is. I had a similar response from the Brides and their families. It was a similar story at Inglethorpe Manor in Ledsham, only one stall holder, English Rose Weddings and Events had heard of a wedding Creche. I handed out many postcards and some stall holders took some cards to put in their shops. Overall a good start to the promotion.
Dodgy customer
I pride myself on providing a good and honest service, what upsets me is when a customer swindles me for no reason. Yesterday I had a customer that decided at the end of the party, (that went very well i might add) to pay me £50 less than the agreed price, the stated reason was the lack of games provided, unfortunately time went fast and I did not find time to do more than a few parachute games and pass the parcel. By this time I had done the work and was not going to argue with 5 of them. What was most astounding is that I have done parties for the price they paid, they however did not try too haggle or negotiate.
Instead of leaving the party with a sense of satisfaction, I felt incredibly dumbfounded, at one point one of the kids defended me whilst they were ganging up to complain. They made the odd suggestion that they would be happy to recommend us!!!
If any other Childrens entertainers have had a similar experience I would love to know.
Instead of leaving the party with a sense of satisfaction, I felt incredibly dumbfounded, at one point one of the kids defended me whilst they were ganging up to complain. They made the odd suggestion that they would be happy to recommend us!!!
If any other Childrens entertainers have had a similar experience I would love to know.
Helpful networkers
I attended a networking event at Oakmere Community College yesterday and was given some very useful information from a member of the Business Link team. It has inspired me to design a postcard and launch my business into the world of Weddings, look out Thornton Hall Hotel!
Another Mum (and fellow networker) allowed me to ask her a few questions about my prices and I was glad to find out that my prices are spot on.
Another Mum (and fellow networker) allowed me to ask her a few questions about my prices and I was glad to find out that my prices are spot on.
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