Children's Links has been successfully improving children’s life experiences since being established in 1993.  Although new to Hampshire, we are an innovative and growing organisation. We firmly believe that investment in people matters. In order to grow happy, healthy and motivated children, we need to encourage and nurture the adults around them. In early February we sent out requests for people to nominate those that work with children for the Hampshire Annual Early Years Awards 2010. We would like to thank each of you that spent the time sending through your nominations. With the exceptional response we received it became a very difficult job for the panel to reach decisions in many of the categories; however we are pleased to recognise the following as finalists:
Team of the Year:
James Farm, Hartley Wintney
Stepping Stones, Petersfield
The Rainbow Centre, Fareham
YMCA Fairthorne Manor Nursery, Southampton

Early Years Worker of the Year:
Carol Fraser of Rotherly Day Nursery Winchester
Mary Finch of Castle Hill Pre-School Basingstoke
Sophie Fall of Hopscotch Day Nursery Titchfield

Overall Improvement in Quality:
Crestwood Pre-School, Eastleigh
Hopscotch Day Nursery, Titchfield
Little Gems Day Nursery, Waterlooville
WISPS, Basingstoke

Outstanding Contribution/Support Staff of the Year:
Irene Parsons of Hopscotch Day Nursery Gosport
Paula Curry of All Saints Pre-School Playgroup Winchester
Sue Rashleigh of Court Moor Playgroup Fleet

Volunteer of the Year:
Barbara Sutton of Gosport Opportunity Group Gosport
Gary White of Trinity Pre-School Fareham
Jackie Cross of Woolton Hill Pre-School Newbury
Katrina Munt of Star Playschool & Nursery Basingstoke

Manager/Supervisor of the Year:
Gemma Shorten of Little Gems Day Nursery Waterlooville
Kim Pearson of Little Acorns Hedge End
Kimberley Griffiths of Stepping Stones Petersfield
Paula Phillips of Tavistock Pre-School Fleet
The awards evening took place at the new Holiday Inn, Winchester on Tuesday 30th March and the lucky winners were James’ Farm, Sophie Fall, WISPS, Irene Parsons, Gary White and Kim Pearson. It was a very enjoyable evening for all which we look forward to repeating.