ESCC announces the closure of 15 children centres and the last of Bexhill's two remaining Children’s Centre Nurseries.
WHO WE ARE
About Us
A TEAM OF BEXHILL RESIDENTS SUPPORTING THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY
About the Bexhill Family Collective
The Bexhill Family Collective originally formed in August 2020 as a direct response to nursery and children’s centre closures within Bexhill. In March 2021 we opened Dragonflies Community Nursery on the same site as Rainbow Childcare Centre which was sadly closed in December 2020.
We received an amazing response from the people of Bexhill, but the more people we met, the more stories we heard of how the then, pandemic, and now, cost of living crisis is affecting all people within Bexhill and Rother.
While Dragonflies Community Nursery goes from strength to strength; Bexhill Family Collective CIC now work to meet the needs of local people with the hope, that one day, everyone has access to work, education and leisure which enables them to lead fulfilling lives.
Meet our CEO
HEATHER
Heather has worked with the Bexhill Family Collective since its incorporation and we are proud to have made her our Full Time Chief Executive Officer since December 2022. Heather has been recognised with 6 consecutive “Outstanding” grades from Ofsted and continues to support Dragonflies Community Nursery whilst focusing on the needs of the Bexhill and Rother communities.
Our Journey
A dramatic event in 2019 with a blow to the local community kickstarted the Bexhill Family Collective journey. See our key events and achievements below.
SPRING 2019
JULY 2019
We worked with local councillors to hold a petition to prevent the closure of the children’s centres and Nurseries. The campaign group “save Cygnets and Rainbow Nurseries” submitted the impact evidence to East Sussex County Council entitled “What our nurseries mean to us”.
AUGUST 2020
It was now clear that ESCC were not going to keep the nurseries open and drastic action was needed. A group of 5 passionate parents came together to launch the Bexhill Family Collective CIC.
SEPTEMBER 2020
Final closure of nurseries are announced.
DECEMBER 2020
The nurseries close their doors for the final time.
DECEMBER 2020
Keys handed to BFC for Nursery. The hard work began. The next few months were a blur of Ofsted inspection, painting, decorating, acquiring furniture and learning how to run a nursery school!
MARCH 2021
Dragonflies Community Nursery opens its doors.
AUGUST 2021
First HAF project
OCTOBER 2021
First Community Forest School
APRIL 2022
First Community Pantry
JANUARY 2023
First Wednesday Warmer
MARCH 2023
First Allotment Afternoon
MAY 2023
Dragonflies Community Nursery rated Outstanding by Ofsted
JUNE 2023
First Women’s Workshop
AUGUST 2023
Consultation started regarding the opening of the Collective Garden
October 2023
Work started on the Collective Garden
January 2024
Recruited our amazing Volunteer Coordinator to help us with future ventures
February 2024
Craft, Coffee and Cake sessions began
August 2024
Consultation started on changes to our Community Pantry
November 2024
Changes to the Community pantry finalised
Coming in 2025
Outdoor Adventures, new and improve Community pantry offer and more events/ well-being workshops at The Collective Garden.