Stay and Play meets in Cove Burgh Hall at a new time of Tuesday afternoons between 12.45-2.45pm and provides games and activities for young tots, but is also a place for mums to catch up on needed social time with other parents.

Catriona Bray, chairwoman for the group, told the Advertiser it’s ‘fun and educational’. She said: “There’s arts and crafts every week and home baking and social time at the end and lots of soft play equipment.” Since forming in 2004, Stay and Play – which caters for around 30 youngsters and their parents – has gone from strength to strength and last year was awarded a £5,000 grant from the lottery.

Catriona said the much needed funds were a big boost to the running of the group. She added: ”We got awarded £5000 last year from the Lottery, so we got really good soft play equipment and arts and crafts and we have enough to be able to stimulate the children.” The lottery funding also helped Stay and Play expand and stay open for the summer and the group have plans to be open for two days a week during the holidays.

Run by a committee of three, Stay and Play is a small group that is helped out by mums who provide everything from organisational support to much appreciated home baking.

Catriona said the group was an ‘essential’ social hub for the community because mums stay with their kids for the whole time while they play. Many of the parents have husbands in the navy and Catriona said it could be quite a lonely time for them without support.

She added: “We’re really the only social support group for mums here and it’s a rural area. It’s absolutely essential.” Stay and Play not only offers children fun play but also helps with their development and helps them gain life-long social skills.

Catriona said: “I think it’s absolutely lovely because the kids all go on to nursery together and primary school together so they will really be comfortable in their friendships by the time they get to secondary school so I think it’s great.

“Come along and try out Stay and Play- everybody is welcome.” For more information about Stay and Play, call Catriona on 01436 842192.