A Kendal-based charity has received a £20,000 boost to help it expand and transform services offered to local families.
Outside-In Cumbria, a community play centre at Beezon Road, has just been given a £20,000 grant by the National Lottery Community Fund.
The money will be spent to fund the Kendal Parent Network 2025 Programme, which is being delivered through Outside-In’s partnership with Kendal Parent Network (KPN), which aims to support parents so they can raise happy, healthy children.
“I was so excited when I heard the news about the National Lottery Community Fund grant,” said Kate Miller, KPN programme manager, who will now receive a salary via the grant.
“It means we can continue to offer what we do at the moment, which was not sustainable when it was run on a purely voluntary basis, and also expand our services and plan for the future.”
Kendal Parent Network was set up 15 months ago by Kate and two other parents. “We thought about what we wished was available when we were pregnant and first became a parent and decided to make that happen,” said Kate.
The network runs two groups which meet at Outside-In. Bump Start is a free drop-in group for expectant parents on Wednesdays from 5.45pm to 7.15pm.
“The primary aim is for expectant parents, both mums and dads, to meet other people in the same position,” said Kate.
“Every week we have a themed topic and a guest speaker. Topics range from breastfeeding to coping with crying, looking after your physical health during and after pregnancy, preparing for labour and how to bath your baby and change nappies.
“We collaborate with local businesses, local and national charities and statutory organisations. Bringing these cross-sector organisations together, alongside the peer
support parents get from connecting with each other, all ties in with the underlying ethos of Kendal Parent Network: it takes a village to raise a child.”
One user of Bump Start said: “I’m so grateful this group exists – it’s such a lovely atmosphere and a nice balance of informative and social. It makes a big difference being first time parents in a place where we don’t have a big social network already.”
KPN also runs a New Parents Support Group, aimed at parents of babies under one, which meets every Wednesday from 12.30pm to 2pm. The free sessions are informal social gatherings where local service providers offer guidance and advice.
For example, the money advice manager from Kendal Debt Centre has spoken to new parents about money and budgeting for a new family, while a sling consultant has offered advice and support about carrying a baby in a sling.
In addition, KPN has several online directories, with lists of local toddler groups, playgroups and classes for activities such as pilates and yoga; suggestions for family days out and family bike rides.
The £20,000 National Lottery funding will be used to fund four developments.
It will pay Kate a salary, allowing her to continue running the Bump Start sessions; give the New Parents Support Group exclusive use of Outside-In for its sessions and pay for each person attending to have a cake and hot drink; will allow KPN to continue expanding the information for parents on its website; and create a new monthly workshop for parents of children of any age.
“We carried out a survey and asked parents what they would be interested in learning about,” said Kate. “The new workshops, which will begin in February, will cover topics such as kids and technology, navigating your relationship as parents, children’s health and nutrition, weaning, and dealing with anger: yours, your partner’s and your child’s.”
“We would like to thank the National Lottery Community Fund and all National Lottery players for their support.”
Meanwhile Outside-In is keen to attract new volunteers and trustees and to encourage people to hold fund-raising events.
The vision of the play centre, which opened in 2020, is to create a safe community space for all to connect and play. It believes in helping to provide children with the best start in life and supporting parents, children of all ages and the wider community.
It includes a castle-themed soft play area; a café; a baby/toddler area; a sensory room; an outdoor play area and a mini town centre complete with post office, library and inn. Role play in each town centre building varies.
One room is currently being sponsored by contractors working on the Kendal flood relief scheme and includes hard hats and toy diggers.
Activities held at Outside-In include mini bakers sessions, primary school maths workshops for parents and subsidised winter Tea for Tuesdays, providing a hot meal and play session for just £5 or free for families reliant on the local food bank.
“The centre is seeking more volunteers to help with things like making cakes, helping out in the café, doing activities with the children and maintenance of the building,” said centre manager Andrew Nixon.
It is also looking for some new trustees and people willing to do some fundraising activities.
“Many people don’t realise that Outside-In is a charity so when they are looking to raise money we are not always at the top of their minds,” said trustee Karen Peel.
“Most large organisations now allocate their staff paid volunteer days. It would be great to see people from the South Lakeland community utilising these to help with local charities.”
Anyone interested in volunteering, serving as a trustee or raising money can contact Andrew Nixon at andrew@outsideincumbria.org.uk
Andrew added that the centre was largely unused in the evening and he was keen to see more community groups benefit from using the space.
Outside-In Cumbria is open from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday and from 9am to 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday and during school holidays.
