PARENTS in Cowdenbeath can breathe a sigh of relief as the town’s vital after school club has announced plans to re-open this month.

Isobel Scott, who originally set up the group 23 years ago, had returned to steer the club in the right direction after its closure in September.

Now, she has confirmed that the service will re-launch on October 31 in the Maxwell Centre, thanks to support from parents and the wider community.

She told the Times: “Things are progressing the way we want them to.

“The Maxwell Centre have said we can move our stuff in already from Cowdenbeath Primary.

“We have had a good response, we had hoped to open in the school holidays in Beath High but we didn’t have a good enough uptake as a lot of parents had already made other arrangements, though we hope to run during the Easter break.

“We were worried on our side about finances but we will get there, we are planning fundraisers.”

Isobel had originally retired from the club in 2016, however after the secretary who replaced her sadly passed away, and issues during the pandemic, the service had run into trouble.

“Mums were saying ‘what are we going to do?’ and I just though we can’t let it close, we have to do something,” she added.

Councillor Darren Watt has been following the progress of re-opening the club, attending previous meetings regarding what could be done to bring it back.

“It is not just short-term getting it up and running but the longevity about it, there are grants available to keep it running,” he commented.

“Parents who rely on the club for childcare are going above and beyond, filling in forms, assisting for an hour, it may not seem a lot, volunteering can put the fear of God in people, but it all makes a difference.

“Isobel is extraordinary, it’s one thing setting up a club in 1999 but to come back and support it is amazing, she has been working diligently.”

The next meeting will be held on October 26, parents and anyone else willing to help are welcome to attend.