Crystal Palace FC

assistant manager Steve Kember surprised local children on Friday November 30 when he arrived at South Norwood Centre to draw the winning ticket from a raffle aimed at raising cash for its child care unit.

Raffle prizes included a signed Crystal Palace football shirt and organisers at the child care unit, hope over £600 will be raised to buy more play equipment for the unit.

The unit based at the Continuing Education Training Centre, CETS, in Sandown Road enables parents to attend adult education courses whilst their children are being cared for.

Each day, 75 children as young as six weeks attend the centre and make use of the facilities which include a creche, pre-school and after-school clubs.

Fees are charged for the use of facilities but many parents are receiving a childcare grant, giving them free access the centre.

Kim Theobald, mother of a four-year-old boy, said: "They're definitely going in the right direction. Such facilities should be extended across the borough."

Cabinet member for education, Councillor Louisa Woodley said: "Providing an efficient childcare facility within the South Norwood CETS centre and offering financial help to those who may not ordinarily be able to pay for it are the most effective ways of removing barriers to adult education."

December 5, 2001 17:30