Upgraded play spaces have been unveiled at the YMCA Early Learning Centre in Epping North as part of the state government’s building blocks grants.
YMCA Victoria chief executive Carolyn Morris said the more than $87,700 upgrades included a new chicken coop, pergola, concreting, shade sails and overall improvements to safety outdoors.
“Our children voted unanimously that they wanted to retain the chickens and that an upgraded chicken coop needed to be factored into the upgrade,” she said. “They love learning about them and having the chooks around.”
The upgrades were celebrated over morning tea with Thomastown MP Bronwyn Halfpenny. The grants also includes more than $150,000 across YMCA early learning centres for inclusive equipment, to support children of all abilities.
Ms Morris announced that $11,092 of this grant will be allocated to Epping North for inclusion resources and IT products and services.
“The additional funding… will further boost the opportunities for the children of all abilities to participate in child-centred learning,” she said.
