USE with photos of Damian Donnelly

AT a recent event organised by Omagh Forum for Rural Associations held in Eskra, participants heard of the funding crisis facing local childcare providers.

Camowen partnership's after school clubs in Loughmacrory, Sixmilecross and Carrickmore, employing 26 full and part-time staff looking after the children within the local community, are under threat due to lack of renewed funding.

"The investment in skilling up and training of all these workers will be lost, never mind the loss of affordable childcare and the subsequent knock on effect to the wider community," said a spokesperson for the group.

"Unless affordable and quality childcare is provided it contributes to a decline in families living in rural areas which can affect the viability of rural schools and other ancillary services i.e. rural post offices.

"We need to value the contribution that these workers make to the economic and social sustainability of the rural area and they need to receive proper remuneration for the crucial jobs they are doing.

"Everyone at the meeting agreed that we should lobby our MLAs so they in turn would lobby the relevant ministers at education, health, social development with regard to this looming crisis."