Funding problem for O.S.C.A.R.

Press, 10 November 1986, Page 9

Funding problem for O.S.C.A.R.

Funding was the biggest obstacle to the implementation of the planned St Albans Out of School Care and Recreation programme, about 100 interested parents and residents were told at a public meeting at St Albans School yesterday. O.S.C.A.R. aimed to provide care for children outside school hours in a home away from home atmosphere, and to give opportunities for children to choose different recreational activities. A holiday programme is also a long-term aim. A home away from home programme was envisaged that would probably start between 7.30 a.m. and 8.30 a.m., closing during school hours, and reopening from 3 p.m. until about 5.15 p.m. The Christchurch City Council had given some money towards starting 0.5.C.A.R., but further funding from the Government or local authorities was unlikely to be available, said the co-ordinator of 0.5.C.A.R., Mrs Margreet Hogenhout. Finding the money for the building needed for the programme as well as equipment and recreation materials was a dilemma which needed to be solved by the community if the programme was to work, she said. The St Albans School Committee has already given permission for a relocatable building to be put on the school grounds for O.S.C.A.R.

One idea proposed to cover O.S.C.A.R.’s costs was to have each child pay a flat rate, which would be as low as pos-

sible, for each home-away-from-home session attended. More money could also be raised through a membership scheme for parents, who would pay what they could afford.

The large number of people who attended the meeting reflected the interest in the concept of such a childcare programme, said Mrs Hogenhout. She said she had been encouraged by the turnout and the positive atmosphere of the meeting. More than 60 energetic children from the area helped create a community atmosphere at the meeting with action songs in English and Maori.

An O.S.C.A.R. Core Group has been formed by eight St Albans parents, teachers and residents, who are also liaising with the O.S.C.A.R. Children’s Core Group of eight children from four different schools in the area.

Members of the children’s group were drawn from the four schools in the area: Our Lady of Fatima, St Albans Convent School, Heaton Intermediate School, and St Albans School. The programme is expected to begin in February, although an initial four programmes would be held each week from November 19. Enrolment for these classes was essential.

The programme had been hatched from an “egg of an idea” envisaged by Mrs Hogenhout, after listening to people working with children, attending workshops and lectures, and reading literature on the subject of childcare.

The programme’s key was community involvement, said Mrs Hogenhout.

“We would like to see retired people, unemployed people, people from every ethnic group involved, not just parents,” she said.

For the programme to work everyone needed to take part.

The organisers wanted to hear from people who would consider sharing any skills or hobbies they had, or who were willing to help out with administration or transport. A photograph of Mrs Colleen Young appeared inadvertently over Mrs Hogenhout’s name in a report about the childcare programme in “The Press” of Saturday. Mrs Young is assistant principal of St Albans School and a member of the O.S.C.A.R. planning group.