Im a newly registered childminder starting out and really want to learn from forest school intitiatives and encourage natural and outdoor play. I'm looking to create a nature inspired garden with a playhouse, sensory area, mud kitchen and planting area for children. I will be using community recycling materials where possible to keep costs low and also encourage recycling. Unfortunately in Wales there are no childminder start up grants available as there are in England so i'm looking for crowdfunding for the children to get the most out of our outdoor space. Also me and my husband are off to Africa in October to volunteer with Pride and Purpose, having visited the local nursery school on our honeymoon we have paid for our flights to volunteer with them this year. They have a list of items they need on packforpurpose site and we are looking to take as much of these things as possible in our luggage. With enough funding we will pay for extra luggage to take more to them.

What we'll deliver:

• Wooden playhouse
• Sensory garden- bells, water play etc
• mud kitchen
• garden planting area
• small resources to take to african nursery
• if enough funds additional luggage space on plane to carry out more resources

Why it's a great idea:

the first is encouraging local children to play and investigate the great outdoors. It is what i would have done had been given the £500 grant English childminders get but we dont in Wales. It will help the envionment whilst creating a fun, investigative space for the children. The second is an opportunity to provide things for children who have very little and greatly appreciate every single item. From a toothbrush to a pencil or a calculator these are newly built schools and early year settings requiring everything. Every little counts even if you can give us money for 1 toothbrush !! everything counts and makes such a big difference to these amazing children, we cant wait to go out and volunteer with them as they are truly inspirational

Steps to get it done:

• providing a budget plan
• buying plants
• buying equipment for sensory garden
• buying equipment for mud kitchen
• buying equipment for play house
• laying down vegetable garden
• building sensory garden
• building mud kitchen
• building playhouse
• incoorperating childs artwork into structures
• final safety checks of all areas
• yearly replanting of vegetables
• purchase small items to take to school in africa
• if enough funds purchase extra suitcase allowance
• pack small items
• distribute to nseveni pre school

Thanks so much to anyone who has taken the time to read this and would like to donate anything towards either project. We really do appreciate anything and will look forward to seeing all the children's faces when they a) see the new outdoor space for the childminding kids or b) recieve their own individual pencil or toothbrush which may be the only thing they have that is "theirs" alone or the shools