The Lord Lieutenant of Dorset has met with local childcare provider Tops Day Nurseries Wimborne, to award them the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development.
Tops Day nurseries, founded by Cheryl Hadland, has been a phenomenal success story. Founded with one nursery in Parkstone in 1990 and starting with just 4 children, the organisation has grown to 32 Nurseries and caters for well over 3000 children. The ethos of this business is also involved in recognising environmental issues and has dedicated itself to eliminating as many of the environmental problems involved in the care of young children as possible, such as the use of disposable nappies for instance.
The availability of safe and reliable early years care is essential to the economy, allowing those who wish to return to the work place to do so in the confidence that their children are being well cared for.
It was an honour for me, as His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Dorset, to present The Queen’s Award for Enterprise, in the category of Sustainable Development, to Tops Day Nurseries.
Angus Campbell Esq, HM Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset
Following the official ceremony, where Angus Campbell Esq presented Cheryl Hadland with the prestigious crystal bowl, representing the Queen’s Award, he observed a Tops Cooking School session, where the preschool children at the nursery cooked sugar-free apple crumble. He discussed the benefits of the no-added sugar menus provided at Tops with Senior Nursery Manager, Sharon White.
Tops Day Nurseries were delighted to welcome, Councillor Leslie Gibson, Vice Chair of Colehill and Councillor Diann March, Deputy Mayor of Wimborne, to the ceremony to celebrate with them.
Individuals who have made a significant impact at Tops and who helped them to achieve the Queen’s Award were invited, including Tops colleagues and those in external partnerships that support forwarding Tops’ sustainable ethos and practice.
Find out more about the Queens Award here.
“Sustainability; environmentally, socially and financially, is a journey and we still have lots to do both in our nurseries and nationally. I feel we represent children’s rights to a healthy and sustainable education now, and in the future, I’m hoping that this Queens Award will help us raise the profile of sustainability even further, giving our children a voice.”
Cheryl hadland, speaking at the event
Tops Day Nurseries offers care and education for children from 3 months to school age, all year round for extended opening hours, as well as having an afterschool and holiday club for school-age children. For more information, please call 01202 551553 or email: enquiries@topsdaynurseries.co.uk
