A PLAYGROUP will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a mini Olympics tournament and a fundraising picnic.
The Teddybears Parent and Toddler Playgroup has now been meeting at Blunham Village Hall for 30 years, and volunteers, parents and children will be marking the occasion on Thursday, July 12.
Instead of charging parents for the session, the playgroup will be asking for donations which will go to the Keech Children’s Hospice charity.
Fiona Hodgson, chairman of the playgroup’s committee said: “The group has come on a long way, though it has always been run by parents for parents.
“Although we meet at the village hall on Wednesday and Thursday mornings we accept children from around the area – not just from Blunham.”
Unlike a pre-school the group focuses mainly on recreation and provides playtime for youngsters aged up to five-years-old.
Fiona added: “The parents stay with their children during the sessions, and towards the end we have story reading and sing-alongs as well.
“As everyone tends to stay together during the sessions it is also very sociable and gives parents the chance to get to know each other and make friends, as well as the children of course.”
The group wants to mark its 30th anniversary with a memorable event.
Fiona said: “We are very pleased that we have been able to keep the group running in Blunham for 30 years and we want to do something really special to celebrate.
“The mini Olympics will give children the chance to get some exercise and have fun at the same time
“We have also chosen Keech Hospice Care as the charity we will be supporting as it is a hospice which provides care for children in Bedfordshire.”
The group, which before 1982 met at Tempsford Memorial Hall now meets every Wednesday and Thursday from 9.15am to 11.15am.
For more information see www.Blunham/Playgroup/index.html