Head Office: Step by Step Nurseries Ltd, 25 Sandfield Street, Glasgow, G20 9TL | 0141 945 2030 | Email us 

After our huge effort for Breast Cancer in our 10th anniversary year to raise a total of we decided to go for more child focus in our charity work this year.

Our Christmas present was the funds to build a classroom, and we donated that to Oxfam. As part of the Oxfam unwrapped programme, Oxfam take funds in this way and provide much needed resources across the world. Have a look at some of the other things they do ( OXFAM )

Build a Classroom - Go large and make a big difference to a school – now and for years to come. From windows and walls to floors and furnishings, this gift helps build and renovate schoolrooms and gives education-hungry kids the right environment in which to learn.

In June 2009 we decided to commit the vast majority of our fund raising efforts to supporting the Meicheta School in Bogalow near Koidu in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, a British former colony, is located on the West coast of Africa. It has an area of about 72,000 square kilometres. The population is just over 5 million but over 90% of the population is illiterate. The country is endowed with vast mineral resources, including diamonds. Sierra Leone is considered by the Human Development Index analysis as being the least developed in the world. In terms of its wealth, this is a contradictory situation, but it is a reality.

The country suffered a horrific decade long civil war between 1991 and 2002, during the war local communities and even family members fought between each other. Sadly the war was not widely reported in the Western media and so many of the atrocities are only just emerging. More important it is only now that the West is waking up to the need for help in rebuilding communities.

One brutal feature of the war was the use of amputation as a weapon of fear and intimidation by both factions. Today this leaves hundreds of people trying to survive with only one arm or one leg. Many of the victims of these war crimes were innocent young men who were targeted in order to stop them fighting for the other side.

The film ‘Blood Diamonds’ is about Sierra Leone

‘Our’ school - Meicheta (Bungalow) School in Koidu

The head teacher of the school is Margaret. . Bungalow junior school has been successfully started up under Margaret and now has 35 nursery school children (under 5) and 261 children in the 5 – 12 age range. There are 8 teachers who teach the near 300 pupils.

Bungalow school was set up by a Non Government Organisation (NGO) shortly after the end of the civil war, but they stopped supporting the school 2 years ago The school is being supported by the Christian Community Church in the hope that the Government will eventually take on the responsibility of the Buildings and salaries.

Margaret shows great commitment to Bungalow school often not taking a salary if the funds are not available. At present the Government pay for qualified teachers starts at 200,000 Leones per month (Just under £50). The basic pay bill for the school which is currently funded by the church is therefore approximately £400 month for the 8 teachers.

Bungalow school also needs of some desks and benches to cope with all the children now attending as well as a need for improved WC's. However until the Sierra Leone Government take on the school it continues to need outside help from the church or wherever.

There is plenty of opportunity to help in Sierra Leone and our direct links are with people in Sierra Leone who will make a difference. In this way money goes directly to where it is needed without any overheads or administrative costs.

What are we doing to help?

Every month Step by Step Nurseries donates £200, about half of the salary bill for the school. During the year we will donate some of our fundraising proceeds to the school.

What can you do to help?

You can buy a voucher to give as a gift to someone who ‘has everything’.

You can make a one –off or a regular contribution.

After much discussion with the school staff we have agreed that we will not offer the ‘sponsor a child’ scheme that some other charities have because that could cause differentials between families in the village that would not be helpful. All of our contributions will go towards the school, so that all of the children can benefit

We will keep you up to date with as much information as we have.

If you want to have a look at their website click here.

Since day one our first priority has been the children's happiness and our second, peace of mind for the children's parents and carers. The business is owned and managed by working mothers and so we understand fully the challenges facing busy families.

We hope that you find the information on this website useful. For further information, please contact us using the contact page on this website, or alternatively, you can contact the nursery or after school club of your choice direct. All contact details are contained on each centre's information page.

All of our nurseries and after school clubs are registered and inspected by The Scottish Commission for the Registration of Care ( www.carecommission.com ) and by the local authority for the area. All of our nurseries are in Partnership with the local authority to offer subsidised pre-school education, and are therefore registered with and inspected by HMIe ( www.hmie.gov.uk ). We are also members of the National Day Nurseries Association.

Each member of staff has been carefully selected for their special skills and expertise and is registered with the Scottish Social Services Council. We are committed to staff develpment and therefore we offer Modern Apprenticeships in Children's Care Learning and Development to compliment the skills of our qualified staff.

Our facilities all vary in their accomodation and services but the caring and friendly ethos and high standards of our comapny are evident throughout. Our management team work closely together to share ideas and practice, this ensures that you and your child receive the service you require. We offer care from children aged 8 weeks - 14 years.