A Derby children's charity is closing its nursery this week after more than 20 years.

Since its launch nearly 28 years ago Children First has helped hundreds of families. Originally known as Child Concern, the charity was formed to provide a vital support network for struggling families.

The main aim behind the organisation's work has been to offer much-needed respite to parents and their children. And since the early 1980s the Derby-based charity has concentrated on developing a comprehensive nursery service.

But this week the nursery in Leopold Street will close its doors for the last time. The centre will instead be providing support to youngsters who have been selected for fostering and adoption.

Bev Day, acting manager of the centre, said that although the nursery's closure was a sad occasion, the charity was looking forward to the challenges ahead.
"All the children and families who used the nursery service have been found other places," she said.
"It will be sad but the contact centre is a new opportunity for people here and we are all looking forward to what will be a new challenge."

Staff at the new fostering and adoption contact centre will act as support during meetings between children and their natural parents before they head off for a life with their new families.

While the nursery will no longer be around, staff and volunteers at Children First will carry on offering their befriending service to needy families. This sees them go into the homes of families under stress to offer a helping hand.

The new project will be part-funded by Derby City Council's social services department which previously helped cover the cost of running the nursery. A special party to mark the closure of the nursery will take place at the Leopold Street on Thursday.

Margaret Nelson (38), from Alvaston, and her parents were among those who first started the charity back in 1974 when it initially provided an advice service for struggling families. She said: "It will be sad to see the nursery go, because it provided much-needed respite for parents who sometimes found it difficult to cope."