About 4Children

4Children (formerly Kids' Clubs Network) is the national organisation for out of school childcare. Established 20 years ago as the National Out of School Childcare Alliance, 4Children has raised the profile of out of school childcare at a local, regional, and national level. The organisation offers advice and support to out of school clubs, parents, children, childcare providers, Government, local authorities, and employers.

http://www.4children.org.uk/

4Children's Project

4Children’s EQUIPE project was to produce a Toolkit for voluntary management committees of childcare provision. The main objectives were:

• To develop management and delivery tools for small service providers in the voluntary sector.
• Information and Communication.

Project Outputs

• Consultation, research and training delivery for voluntary management committees in Somerset, Lincolnshire, Sheffield, Derbyshire and The Wirral.
• Production and distribution of a draft version of the management toolkit to support voluntary sector management committees.
• The design and delivery of a training course to accompany the draft toolkit - training and consultation seminars were delivered over 2 days, and were held in London, Peterborough, Gloucester, York and Crewe.
• Final production and dissemination of the management toolkit and training materials.
• The design and delivery of a training course for trainers and development officers to support and develop committees. These took place in London, Birmingham, Newcastle, Peterborough and Exeter.
• Central information/advice line established, offering advice linked to the management of committee work to those who had attended the seminars, and other members of 4Children.
• Complimentary service to 4Children Business Support unit – provided support and guidance to clubs.
• Innovate: a quarterly newsletter used to showcase best practice examples of childcare and social enterprise, and to disseminate information on the EQUIPE projects.
• Attendance at EQUIPE partner events promoting joint working and sharing of knowledge and skills.
• 4Children's project evaluation report.