The intrepid team behind a trailblazing children's play centre have spoken of their fight to survive and future plans after opening just two months before Covid locked the nation down.
Outside In, on Beezon Road, Kendal, is a charity-run enterprise that boasts child-size versions of famous Kendal buildings that are used for role-play, a soft-play centre modelled on Kendal Castle, a baby and toddler area and a cafe serving home-baked cakes and healthy meals for parents and children, with no deep-fat fryer in sight.
The venue is the brainchild of veterinary surgeon Mhairi Helme, who explained where it all started:
"It was 2016 when I had the idea, as there was nowhere in Kendal to get your kids physically active indoors.
"I was pushing for a long time, only receiving knock-backs, but the turning point was when (Councillor) Giles Archibald got in touch and he had the clout to help make things happen.
"We got funding from lots of different places including South Lakeland District Council which was vital, and we had to open before 16 January 2020 or we would have lost our lottery funding, so it was a very stressful six weeks leading up to that.
"I'm not religious but I always say to people I learned the meaning of the word faith during that period!"
Mhairi said they was incredibly lucky to receive support from the council and government grants, and that they are now entirely self-funding, and along with manager Andrew Nixon, are able to plan for the future.
She said "We would love to own our own premises, and if we had the space I'd love to introduce an indoor skate-park for older children.
"The soft-play industry has been absolutely decimated by Covid, and we'd love to think we could open elsewhere in Cumbria, but for now we're just delighted to still be here, and I have to thank the incredible staff for that."
"It says 'welcome' in every single language we could think of on the door, and that typifies our ethos of being inclusive to everyone, regardless of background, faith or physicality, and I'm very proud of our accessible changing facilities with a trackable hoist."
Andrew added, "When people ask me what type of children we are designed for, I say its a centre for all."
For more information visit www.outsideincumbria.org.uk
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