Nursery World - More time given to win NOF funds

The New Opportunities Fund (NOF) has extended the deadline for applications for funding from its out-of-school hours childcare programme to enable it to allocate the full amount of 220m earmarked for the scheme by 2003. So far more than 160m has been allocated, including grants of nearly 29m to schemes across the UKannounced last week. Nearly 1.8m went to Scotland. Projects in England received just over Pounds 23m, while Wales was granted 2.6m and Northern Ireland Pounds 1.2m.

So far more than 160m has been allocated, including grants of nearly 29m to schemes across the UKannounced last week. Nearly 1.8m went to Scotland. Projects in England received just over 23m, while Wales was granted 2.6m and Northern Ireland 1.2m.

The 29m will create places for more than 50,000 children, bringing the total created by the programme to 370,000.

Announcing the grants yesterday (Wednesday) in Westminster, Baroness Jill Pitkeathley, the NOF chair, said that the NOF was extending the deadline for applications for funding to enable it to allocate the full amount. She said, 'The Fund's Out of School Hours Childcare Programme had been scheduled to close next March. However, in order that we are able to build on the success of what we have achieved so far, I am very pleased to be able to announce that two additional rounds will be added to the programme next year with the closing dates of 15 April and 15 June 2003. This will still enable us to meet our target of allocating the funding by the end of 2003.'

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