Social enterprise, Kidzeco in The Centre, Livingston, is celebrating after being awarded a £45,604 grant by the People’s Project to fund a new early-years community space.
As part of an extension of the existing resources and activities, the new community space, being previewed on Friday at 12pm and named Kidz n Kin, will feature a small soft play, a themed play area, a range of activities, including ante-natal and weaning support, classes for babies and children and a 20-seater café.
Kizeco already provides a unique service to parents and families, selling pre-loved children’s clothes, toys and equipment along with groups and classes.
The community group was looking for votes to secure funding for the new project to help families.
The People’s Project, which is a partnership between The National Lottery Community Fund, STV and The National Lottery, gives the public a say in how money should be used to help community groups thrive in local areas.
Following an appearance on STV as part of the campaign, votes flooded in for Kidzeco, which was founded by Tracy Murdoch, a mum of three from Whitburn, almost 10 years ago to help make life easier for parents not only financially but also physically and emotionally.
In addition to selling quality preloved goods and providing Kidz-Start packs to families, Kidzeco also offers training, volunteering and employment opportunities through their Train Upz project for young people with barriers to employment.
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Tracy said: “We are overwhelmed by the support we received from the community to help us to win the grant from People’s Projects. With more and more families struggling to make ends meet Kidz n Kin will be a much-needed resource in our community.
“We are looking forward to welcoming families to this new community space and working with other partner organisations and would like to thank everyone for their continued support of Kidzeco.”
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “Congratulations to Kidzeco for winning the People’s Project grant for their new early-years community space which will be another great resource and meeting place for our shoppers with young children.”
