The opening of an independent daycare centre in a popular resort town has proven the proverb "It takes a village to raise a child".
Helen Deakin and the trustees of Little Gillies Daycare, in Wells, welcomed the centre's first children on November 27.
They are part of a group which formed after the town's only other daycare centre - Polka - closed its doors last year.
Sarah Beresford is the centre manager, supported by early years practitioners - Donna Bishop, Naomi Tottle and Suzie Mitchel-Howard.
Mrs Beresford said: “It feels fantastic to finally open the doors and be able to welcome children to the new setting. Everyone has worked so incredibly hard and Little Gillies looks fabulous.”
Initially, Little Gillies will offer term time care from 9am to 3pm for babies and children aged three months until the end of term after their third birthday.
And there are plans to increase to full days and include breakfast, after-school care and a holiday club.
The trustees have worked throughout autumn on the centre and have had support from quarters including Jonathon Court from Norfolk Tree Services, who flattened and cleared the outside area to make way for a garden.
Dempsey Heating installed hot and cold outside taps, Fakenham Prepress provided all the signage and the Wells Men's Shed created three mud kitchens.
Norfolk County Council has replaced the roof and a broken canopy, installed a new play surface and carried out other repairs on the building.
Fran Marshall, a centre trustee, said: “We are determined to provide a childcare facility for families now and into the future and thank everyone for their support, both financially and physically.
"We couldn’t have opened the new facility without all their support.”
The centre's team also thanked groups which offered financial support, including Wells Town Council, Wells Carnival, Egmere Energy, The Lions, Earl of Leicester Lodge, the Edmondson Trust, Norfolk Community Foundation (Love Norfolk Fund 2023), Wells United Charities, Staithe Place Residents Association, and the Holkham Estate. which held a quiz night raising more than £700.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here