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Case study: Everyone has a part

When Newcastle University's Childsplay Nursery was threatened with closure, the parents rallied to rescue it. Deputy manager Diane Gregory says,'They did not want to own it as a private concern. They wanted everyone to be part of it rather than being organised for one operator. They also wanted to open it to the wider community to make it viable. They felt a co-operative best reflected the philosophy they wanted it to have.' Childsplay re-opened as a co-op and recently celebrated its 21st birthday.

Childsplay re-opened as a co-op and recently celebrated its 21st birthday.

Gifts underlined the nursery's ethos - children were given teddy bears wearing Childsplay T-shirts, staff received a glass key engraved 1982-2003, and parents were presented with a decorated box containing seeds and the motto, 'Nurture these seeds as we nurture your children.'

Diane says, 'Parents become members of the co-op when they register their child. Staff become members after six months continuous employment. All members have voting rights. There is an executive committee of four parents and six staff, which meets once a month.'

Day to day running is delegated to manager Veronica Welsh and Diane. A parent acts as treasurer.

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