Long-running Bristol pre-school warns of closure unless new home found

A pre-school nursery in Bristol that has been running for almost 50 years has warned of closure unless it finds a new home.        

St Joseph's Pre-School say they have been served 12 months’ notice to end their tenancy at St Joseph’s Church on Forest Road in Fishponds.  

The pre-school say the Clifton Diocese is planning renovations to the church hall and can no longer accommodate them after the end of this academic year.     

The school has therefore launched a fundraiser with a target of £20,000 to find a ‘forever home’ and avoid closure.     

“We are not going to be fazed by this news, and remain positive that somewhere better is out there and that maybe the time is right to find a permanent home for us that we can truly call our own,” the fundraiser, which has so far raised £920, reads.    

“We are already exploring a couple of viable opportunities, but want to leave no stone upturned in finding that perfect place.” 

Speaking to BristolWorld, Cathy Williamson, the pre-school’s manager of 30 years, said the nursery is needed in Fishponds due to it being just one of a few in the area.  

“There’s already a shortage in this area, particularly for vulnerable children, so closing isn’t an option,” she said.       

“I am a member of the church as well which has been hard but I’ve got to put the pre-school first now and work to secure the future for that.”

Some 70 children attend the pre-school, which has to be set up and packed away due to the church hall being a shared space.  

“We’re seeing it as a positive,” Cathy added. “Let’s find somewhere that can be our forever home, that we don’t have to pack away.       

“But it’s a bit harder than we thought as we have to finance that as well and as a charity we’re not-for-profit and we spend our funds as we go.”    

On not being part of the future plans for the church hall, she added: “It was a shock because I thought that they were going to incorporate the pre-school within that because we’ve always been a part of that.”         

A Clifton Diocese spokesperson said: “The use of the church hall is currently under review and the parish is considering future works to be carried out to update the hall and ensure it is available more for church use.”  

Anyone who can suggest a new home for the pre-school can email [email protected] or call 0117 9147173. You can donate to the fundraiser here.