A charity has reworked the words of a famous Glasgow song as a new way of raising funds
A Glasgow charity which excels in play and learning for youngsters is to diversify its fund-raising by opening up its award-winning facilities and expertise to local families looking for stimulating fun activities over the summer holidays.
The Jeely Piece Club is hopeful that staycationing families will be keen to book some fun and exciting activities for their early years/ primary age youngsters at their PlayZone in Castlemilk – playing indoors and out – which will help fund the charity’s core work with youngsters in Glasgow.
And to help encourage parents to bring their youngsters along, the charity has even written new words to the famous 1960s song which gave them their name – The Jeely Piece song – and local celebrities and former Jeely kids Robin Ashcroft and Gary Lamont are helping to record the charity’s own music video.
Meantime, the charity will also continue to deliver its free holiday food and outdoors play programme for around 80 local youngsters in Castlemilk, along with numerous other free pop-up play programmes that will benefit many children in and around the south side of Glasgow.
Chief executive Tracey Black explained that pressure on public funding meant the charity had been forced to look at new ways to raise money to support its work. She said: “We hope that by using the PlayZone to raise money over the summer holidays, and after that at weekends, we will create a new revenue stream that will help fund our work in Castlemilk and neighbouring areas throughout the year. We hope mums and dads looking for something different, fun and of real value for their kids during the holidays will use us knowing their kids will be active, they’ll be learning and having fun, and they will be looked after by dedicated and trained people in a terrific, controlled and Covid safe environment.
“We’ve not just got the PlayZone with its amazing spaces, we also have beautiful woodland right outside where we run outdoor play activities. And while parents can make use of all this at a very reasonable cost, they will also know that the money they spend is being used for a great cause to support families in Glasgow.”
Throughout the summer, the PlayZone will be open for bookings for those just looking to come and use its varied facilities – from computer games room through to bouncy castles – it will also be running themed days. The full programme is available online.
Black added: “We’ve even had new words written to The Jeely Piece song for a bit of fun and, hopefully, to get a bit of attention for this new venture. We need to find new ways to raise money to support the work we do with children and parents in Glasgow. It is universally accepted that play is vital to the development of children, and every child should have access to play. We also work with the parents to help them achieve their potential as mums and dads.
“Our recent work has seen us support thousands of children and their parents through our programmes, including holiday food.”
The Jeely Piece Song
The words of the 1960s song made famous by Billy Connolly among others have been reworked as below:
Today’s as guid a day as any tae try oot somethin’ new
Try a great place fir yer weans tae play, an’ feel good aboot it too
Pack away yer preconceptions, Save some time and dae some good
Spend a great time wi’ yer weans while ye help yer neighbourhood
(chorus)
A’ oor Kids should prosper safely in a fun-filled habitat
But finding it’s no easy, we’ll a’ testify tae that
Fir a magic place to play and learn withoot takin’ oot a loan
Bring the weans tae the Jeely at the Castlemilk PlayZone
We’ve got plenty space tae enjoy, inside the Zone and oot
Arts and Crafts, Computer Games, an’ loads o’ toys tae boot
Woods tae explore, a play park, some soft play when rules allow
We’ve even got a café where the grown-ups can pow-wow
(chorus)
Oor Playzone’s based in Castlemilk, but can serve a wider base
At the weekend come frae King’s Park and you’ll no’ feel oot of place
Aye oan Saturdays and Sundays families come fae near and far
Fae Burnside, Cathcart, Shawlands tae, come by foot, by bus or car
(chorus)
Oor fantastic staff and volunteers will make yer day complete
A visit to the Jeely Club is something ye’ll repeat
And every time ye visit us this simple fact remains
Ye help us fund oor weekday work in helpin’ ither weans
