A CHILDCARE service that has been running for more than 10 years is desperately trying to raise funds after being forced to relocate, leaving almost 150 children without care after Christmas.

Autumn Cottage Childcare based in Eversley, 13 miles away from Basingstoke, has been forced to relocate after the sudden announcement that its current location at Eversley Village Hall is to close on December 23.

Laurna Hunt and Alison Bedford, the two owners of the service, and their team are now “desperately” looking for community support as they plan to move to a new location near St Mary’s Church in Eversley.

A gofundme page created by the team has raised just more than £2,000, but they are well short of their £20,000 target.

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Kelly Smith, one of the managers at Autumn Cottage, said the team is “desperately raising funds to support the urgent relocation”.

“Many of you will be aware of the horrific news we received that the village hall where we are based will be closing on December 23. Thus leaving Autumn Cottage Childcare homeless and 149 children without care in the New Year.

“Please visit the gofundme link for anyone that would like to help.” 

It is not known why the village hall is closing.

The childcare service, which mainly provides Ofsted 'outstanding’ wrap around care for Charles Kingsley Church of England School as well as nursery care for babies and pre-school education for two to five-year-olds, has secured a plot of land and a room to rent by St Mary's Church.

However, it needs temporary cabins or modular buildings to provide its full service.

The team said it cannot do this alone and is looking for donations, support and help from local companies to continue its critical services without disruption.

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“Any monies raised will go towards covering the cost of obtaining cabins, groundworks and installation of the buildings.

“We can't thank everyone enough for all the support that has already been offered,” the team wrote on its fundraising page.

If you would like to support Autumn Cottage, visit: gofundme.com/f/support-autumn-cottage

For more information, email enquiries@autumncottagechildcare.co.uk.