Peterborough play centre owners welcome COVID business grant after struggling to pay rent and battling to save 70 jobs

Gordon and Fiona Forster from the Safari Adventure Play Centre and Jungle Tots children’s day nursery in Bretton have only been open for a total of 12 weeks since March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and that was at a 40 per cent capacity due to safety restrictions.

Gordon said: “The grants were a lifeline. We were in real danger of not being able to pay our rent as well as the fact we needed to protect 70 jobs. Our overheads continued despite the play centre not being operational and it was an extremely anxious time.

"The team at Peterborough City Council were fantastic, they treated us as individuals throughout the whole application processes - we never felt like we were being shoehorned into a one size fits all solution. They listened to our concerns and took time to lead us through the applications, so subsequently we began to feel a sense of control in a crazy chaotic time.

“During the second round of applications we felt much more confident in what we were doing and asking for and we began to lobby MP’s and government on behalf of our soft play industry. Knowing we had the security of grant funding coming in to cover some of overheads meant we could devote time to helping our industry and making sure government were aware of the issues affecting us all. These grants are a lifeline that cannot be ignored.”

To find out if your business is eligible for a grant and to apply, visit the council’s website