Presentation by Carmen Lindsay
Minutes:
Carmen Lindsay, Chief Executive Officer for Camberwell After School Project (CASP), explained that it was a local childcare organisation that had been running for 28 years. CASP provided a childcare service for parents on a low income. The group was under threat of closure due to funding problems.
CASP provided two after-school collection services for four schools. There was also a breakfast service for up to 20 children. Funding had been lost for the Saturday school but volunteers still ran the service for up to 15 children, which provided additional educational support. There were also holiday schemes for up to 70 children. The work of CASP enabled over 100 parents to go out to work or study and thereby improved their quality of life. CASP worked with schools, colleges and universities to help with placements.
Camberwell Community Council had previously supported CASP via Cleaner, Greener Safer funding. The organisation now needed help in order to continue its work. The rent payable on the facility was at a commercial rate and simply not possible without new funding. Repairs were also needed for the Jack Hobbs building.
Contact: carmen.lindsay@caspuk.org or Tel. 020 7708 2711
Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle, said she was a former chair of CASP, and supported the work and services provided by the organisation. CASP had already been to a meeting of Cabinet and efforts were being made to reduce the rent and other related issues affecting the continued running of CASP services.
The chair asked that the ongoing dialogue continue so that a solution could be found to help CASP carry on its work.