We need funding, say play centre owners as they fear being forced out of business
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The owners of a popular soft-play centre in Thurso fear they will be forced out of business unless new funding is made available by the Scottish Government.
Messy Nessy in the town’s Rotterdam Street has been shut since March, along with similar centres across Scotland, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Owners Ian and Fiona Carlisle had been gearing up to reopen on Monday this week – only for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to announce a further review and a new indicative date of October 5.
They say they "completely understand" the need for a cautious approach by the Scottish Government while Covid-19 cases are rising, but insist: "We need funding."
Mr Carlisle said: "It’s going to be really sad if we have to close our business. We’ve used every loan and grant that has been available to us and we’re funding it out of our own pockets now, and that can only go on for so long."
Messy Nessy opened almost two years ago. Its facilities include a soft-play frame, a sensory room, a pottery area and a small coffee shop. Sensory learning has been proven to help babies to develop vital motor skills, while the centre has also been used by children and adults with special needs, with a range of sessions and classes taking place throughout the week.
"Scottish play centres have now been shut for six months and we are the only businesses that are still closed without any further funding," Mr Carlisle said.
“We’re speaking to the Scottish Government and Scottish Chambers of Commerce. Nightclubs and theatres have had millions upon millions of pounds set aside to help them but play centres haven’t, and we’ve asked them why.
“We’ve had the same funding as all the other businesses. Some didn’t even have to close, and some didn’t have to close for very long. But we’ve had no more funding than anyone else and we’ve been closed the longest.
“We had the original £10,000 [small business] grant, and then we were entitled to a bounce-back loan, which we thought would be acceptable to pay back, but this was in the hope that we were going to be opening in July. That’s what we were aiming for, but we’re still closed and it’s truthful to say that if we’re not going to open then we’re going to lose this for Caithness.”
The couple point out that play centres across Scotland are announcing plans to close for good due to the lack of financial support.
They maintain they have all the protocols and hygiene measures in place to be able to reopen Messy Nessy safely, with only the ball pit taken out of commission as it would be "impossible to clean" in accordance with the regulations.
"We’ve got a huge client base – we find that we’ve got people from all over the county as well as Sutherland," Mr Carlisle said.
"It’s well used. We would hate for it to be taken away from the community when we’ve really only just got started."
He added: “We’re not about making money – we’re about supporting the community and running a business.
“During the lockdown we painted 300 ceramic hearts and put them out throughout Caithness for people to find, and a GoFundMe page raised about £700. We bought ceramics and painting kits and gave them to all the vulnerable adults in nursing homes and any vulnerable people who were in shielding to help with their mental health and wellbeing."
Mr and Mrs Carlisle both worked with adults and children with disabilities before opening Messy Nessy.
"Part of starting this play centre was to do sensory and messy play because it develops learning," Mr Carlisle explained. "Children who play with sensory toys are proven to be able to use their fine motor skills much earlier than others.
"We’re a soft play centre and café but we do a multitude of things. We also have a pottery area with a kiln so we do ceramic painting, we do clay-working, glass-fusing, and in the evenings at least three times a week we do adult classes – so we’re always turning our hand to things that people can come and do.
"But the whole lot had to close its doors because it’s classed as a play centre."
Mr Carlisle added: “More than ever, everyone’s mental health and wellbeing is important because we’ve all been stuck inside and isolated from the community and this is a way children get to mingle and meet, especially if they’re not at school."
The long period of closure has led to some of the staff leaving to find work elsewhere.
“They have been on furlough, although some have had to take other jobs because we’ve not opened yet and the furlough wage isn’t enough for them, so we’ve actually lost three members of staff," Mr Carlisle said.
The couple say they have been "inundated" with emails and messages of support.
Mr Carlisle said: “On our Facebook page we’ve got lots of lovely messages from people hoping that we can open again and any time you see them on the street they’re asking for an update."
