A total success

12:02pm Thursday 25th March 2004

They've done it. Croydon Opportunity Pre-school Group (COPG) will stay open for another year, after exceeding its £67,000 fundraising target a week ahead of its deadline.

Angelene Rackett, chairman of the group, is delighted. She said: "We have been truly amazed by the spirit of the people of Croydon who have rallied behind the Croydon Guardian's campaign to save COPG and sent in their donations by the sackful.

"We wish to say a big thank you to the schools, churches, companies, groups and individuals who have supported us."

Since October the Croydon Guardian has campaigned to save the playgroup, which cares for around 150 children.

If the group did not raise £67,000 by the end of March it could have been forced to close, leaving some children facing the prospect of foster care.

Although it is only a temporary reprieve, the group, which has centres in Selsdon and South Norwood, can now rest assured the people of Croydon care about its future.

Angelene added: "We are so grateful to the people of Croydon for recognising the importance of COPG, and for their generosity, which will enable the group to help more children and their families."

COPG has been running pre-school groups for children with special needs for 28 years, but apart from those involved, few knew it existed.

The children are given the opportunity to achieve their potential and their families get the respite and support they need to come to terms with their children's differences and to help them develop.

Monique Edwards' little boy, Daniel, died in December at the age of two after battling the rare Tay Sachs disease.

But in the short time he spent at COPG he gained so much, and Monique worked hard to raise money and organise events. Now, she cannot thank the playgroup enough.

"The COPG gives children who are disadvantaged the chance to be advantaged," she said. "There is something for all parents, children and families, and the staff work wonders. There is not any amount of money that could be given to the staff. They would still deserve more.

"When Daniel first went there he was a really shy child. But by the end he would go up to anyone and be smiling all the time. Words just cannot say what it is like. I will always be thankful to the playgroup and the staff, and I'm very glad they can go on."

Even though Monique's one-year-old daughter Andrea does not have a special need, she continues to take her to the group because of the support she receives.

"It is a really nice place to be," Monique added. "And I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated money."

The COPG may have raised the money it needs to stay open for another year, but the struggle is not over.

Although it gets a large grant from Croydon Council, the group relies heavily on fundraising and donations.

Reaching its £67,000 target is not the end of the story for the COPG.

Chairman Angelene Rackett explained: "Each year funding becomes harder and harder to come by. It is a sad reality that our continued existence relies so heavily on the generosity of benefactors, which are always an unknown quantity."

Every year the COPG needs to raise £30,000 and the crisis it has faced over the last six months was largely because it had not been able to raise this amount in previous years.

Angelene added: "It is not easy to sustain this level of fundraising and we cannot expect the average Croydon citizen to bail us out if we get into difficulties in the future. We need to establish links and get financial backing from interested companies and organisations not support our future.

"If you have a company which would be willing to sponsor us, please let us know."

If you have a business and can help the COPG, or if you would like to make a donation to the playgroup, you can write to COPG, South Norwood CETS Centre, Sandown Road, South Norwood SE25 4XE, or call 020 8654 3975.

COPG Events

Shirley Park Golf Club donated £2,500. COPG would like to thank club captain David Luff and members of the club for their generosity and continued support.

The COPG received £1,000 from Trinity School.

KT Sherwood donated £50.

Marc Gator donated £50.

St Gertrude's Roman Catholic Church, South Croydon, donated £629.33.

A nursery in South Norwood donated £20.

The COPG received £505 in anonymous donations.

JG and PA Crofts donated £30.

RU Kelly donated £70, in lieu of payment to a plumber.

Second year pupils at Riddlesdown School donated £320 from a bring and buy sale.