KINGFISHER Nursery in Boyton has been saved thanks to the tremendous work done by the Cornwall Community Foundation.

Threatened with closure due to funds drying up, Kingfisher Nursery contacted North Cornwall Conservative MP Scott Mann, who forwarded their plight to the CCF who were able to provide additional funds.

As a result, the nursery’s future looks a lot more promising, much to the delight of the chair of Kingfisher Nursery, Felicity Roberts.

She said: “We are so grateful to be in receipt of a grant from the Cornwall Community Foundation. This money will help to support the running costs of our small nursery, where numbers are small, usually between 6 and 15.

“Like many small rural nurseries, without additional financial support we really struggle to meet all of our costs and be sustainable. Grants like these are vital if we are to survive.

“In particular, the grant will allow us to produce publicity materials to help us promote the nursery further with the aim of reaching more children from our area. Attracting more children helps us to have a more secure future and be able to offer a better service.

“The foundation was helpful and supportive during the application process, working with us to ensure the application was strong and stood a good chance of success and we would like to take this opportunity to thank the foundation for its support.”

As a result of the CCF’s tireless work, Mr Mann and The Cornwall Club recently attended a celebration in London.

Held at Two Temple Place – commented to be one of London’s architectural gems beside the River Thames – Mr Mann and attendees, including broadcast journalist Alex Polizzi, were treated to food from Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant in Cornwall to celebrate the amazing work by the foundation.

The CCF aims to improve the lives of isolated, disadvantaged or vulnerable people in Cornwall and has expertise and local knowledge to help donors support local causes and charities.

The foundation’s work enables people to make an impact through their giving, and identifies issues of importance to donors and facilitates investment to grassroots, front line, volunteer led organisations on their behalf.

The Cornwall Club was also set up to recognise the amazing work by the CCF and highlight the positive changes that the foundation facilitates in the Duchy.

One of the highlights of the evening was the launch of the Second Home Owners Scheme, under which second home owners are invited to contribute the equivalent of one week’s rent to the community foundation.

Already the scheme has raised £30,000 for the foundation.

Mr Mann was thrilled with the work of the CCF and was immensely proud that he was able to help a village like Boyton in their hour of need.

Mr Mann said: “We had a fantastic evening celebrating the work by the Cornwall Community Foundation. The CCF does great work in the Duchy and it’s right that we recognise its achievements.

“The Kingfisher Nursery contacted me last year with concerns that closure was possible because of issues with funding. My office and I assisted them and were able to direct them to the CCF, who then awarded them a grant.

“Without the CCF, the nursery could have closed which would have been very sad, but now with this extra money, the nursery can continue to serve parents and children in Boyton which I’m delighted about.”