Happy Nursery Days nursery is a subsidiary of Ekaya Housing Association in Upper Tulse Hill, south London, which provides affordable homes for young mothers aged between 16 and 24. Ekaya also supports young mothers to develop parenting, budgeting and health skills and helps them access further education and training.
In March, the Federation of Black Housing Organisations named the 49-place nursery as the most innovative regeneration project in the UK.
The housing association received more than 860,000 to develop the nursery. Money came from Sure Start, the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative, the London Development Agency, the New Opportunities Fund and St Martin's Community Partnership.
On 20 May, Happy Nursery Days held a grand opening to celebrate winning the award and to demonstrate its good practice to local parents and other housing associations.
Centre manager Tracey Gurney said, 'The grand opening was a big success.
More than 60 people visited the nursery and parents and children enjoyed a music session with African drumming.
'It is unusual for housing associations to develop services beyond just housing, so we are very proud that Ekaya has funded Happy Nursery Days. If all housing associations were like Ekaya and linked nurseries with their housing stock, then parents would have a much greater choice of childcare and it would ensure children's educational needs are met.'
Although Happy Nursery Days is part of Ekaya Housing Association, the nursery accepts children from throughout the local community. Ms Gurney said, 'Our catchment area here in the London Borough of Lambeth has very high levels of unemployment and teenage pregnancy, and the whole community really needed a nursery to provide better opportunities for young mothers and help them get back to work.'
Mukharram Mirbabaeva, research and marketing manager at Ekaya Housing Association, said it was keen to develop more nurseries in the future. She said, 'We are pleased with the success of Happy Nursery Days. We now have the expertise to develop nurseries, and the demand for childcare is there.'
