A Crewe childcare facility's out of school club recently relocated to a "regenerative" area of Crewe town centre, thanks to support from the Repurposing Our High Streets (ROHS) grant scheme.

ABC Pre-School and Out of School Club at Edleston Primary School relocated to the former Crewe Chronicle building, High Street, last December.

The ROHS 'Open in Crewe' grant scheme offers capital grants of up to £30,000* (subject to meeting eligibility criteria) for businesses taking on leases at vacant town premises.

ABC Pre-School and Out of School Club at Edleston Primary School relocated to the former Crewe Chronicle building, High Street, last December (Open in Crewe).

Owner and director of ABC Childcare Services, Lynsey Taylor, said: "We look after children from babies up to 12 years old.

"We offer a full day care service at our Gainsborough Road facility and here on High Street, we offer childcare for two-year-olds, three-year-olds and school-aged children as well.

"We already had the Gainsborough Road setting and our Edleston Primary School location, who needed our pre-school nursery room for their SEN children.

"We were served notice and this High Street property happened to be available.

"We couldn't believe that the Open In Crewe funding was available. The process of applying for the grant was actually quite straightforward.

"I believe we had a convincing case and I worked very well with James Rowley to put that case forward.

"The funding meant we didn't have to find that extra money that we hadn't planned in order to relocate.

ABC's new High Street setting has space for 30 pre-school and out of school club children, serving residents and surrounding schools (Open in Crewe).

"It ensured the continuity of our service without the finances being affected.

In 2024, the grant scheme, funded by the UK Government Towns Fund, allowed a variety of businesses to open their doors in Crewe, leading to several success stories.

These new businesses included Bug Mugs, Edleston Road, and Total Tile UK, Victoria Street, as well as Oden Lounge and Ice and Fire Studios on High Street.

Lynsey said: "We are very lucky to be within the middle of the regeneration project. We have the brand new pathway opening up, forging a link between High Street and Crewe Library.

"The Dome [Crewe Youth Zone] will open behind us, which is phenomenal for children. We also have the dance academy down the road.

"So it really does seem an activity that's going to be geared towards families and we feel we compliment that.

"If you have got a dream or an ambition, especially a service that is going to benefit the community and benefit the locals, don't be afraid - put your proposal forward and see what you can achieve."

The Southern Gateway scheme, linking High Street with Forge Street, is expected to open in June (Ryan Parker).

ABC's new High Street setting has space for 30 pre-school and out of school club children, serving residents and surrounding schools.

Marketing director at ABC Childcare Services, Carina Roos, said: "We knew how important it was to find a location still able to serve the families that have been so loyal to us.

"Lynsey has always been a really big advocate for Crewe. She believes so much in the things that other people cannot yet see.

"So, when this came up, it was 10 minutes away from Edleston Primary in this phenomenal regenerative area.

"This building, as brilliant as it was, was down to bare bricks. So, it was going to be a pretty expensive sort of project to take on.

"The Open in Crewe funding allowed us to bring our vision to life."

The ROHS 'Open in Crewe' grant scheme offers capital grants of up to £30,000* (subject to meeting eligibility criteria) for businesses, like ABC, taking on leases at vacant town premises (Open in Crewe).

Whether you are a start-up business, looking to expand your existing business into Crewe or want your organisation to have a high street presence, the ROHS grant scheme can help you by contributing towards the initial capital costs of occupying and operating from vacant commercial premises.

Grants are available to sole traders, existing businesses, community enterprises and charities, plus some organisations that take on new leases of previously vacant commercial premises in Crewe Town Centre.

There are various other criteria- for the full details and to check whether you would be eligible click HERE.

READ MORE: Crewe railway museum opening year-long war exhibition for VE Day this weekend.

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