A Brief History of STAR

"Promoting diversity, inclusion and equality for all children"

Registered Charity No. 1023528

STAR has its roots in a two-day training event held in Bath in 1987 held by the London based group Building Blocks. Building Blocks offered training to childcare workers wanting to run their organisations from an anti-racist perspective.

A group of parents and under-fives workers who attended this event decided to continue to meet to explore the issue of anti-racism and to support each other in their attempts to foster anti-racist childcare.

In 1988, the group set up STAR. They adopted a constitution and produced a newsletter. For the next ten years, a small team of dedicated volunteers ran STAR. Without their commitment STAR would not have continued.

In 1989, STAR obtained grants for training and to build a multicultural resource library. The library provided low cost loans of toys and books that reflect positively the different racial and cultural backgrounds of British children.

In 1990, STAR obtained a grant to employ a development worker for a short term, to continue to build up the library and deliver more training.

In 1998, Bath & North East Somerset Council granted STAR funding to employ a permanent part time Development Worker, Chaya Tagore, to take on the day-to-day running of STAR and the multicultural resource library.

Chaya got STAR more involved with community projects, the voluntary sector and council services such as the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership. She helped to set up two toddler groups in partnership with Percy Community Centre and Riverside Youth Centre. She also initiated a Service Level Agreement with B&NES EYDCP to deliver outreach visits to pre-schools and out of school clubs. Chaya still does freelance consultancy work for STAR.

B&NES Council continues to grant funding for STAR and the Service Level Agreement is still in operation.

Pauline Fairman took over as STAR's Development Worker from November 2001 and built on STAR's strengths. She made a significant contribution to the well-attended Bath 'Towards Racial Equality' conference in April 2002 and facilitated a workshop at the Bath Islamascope event.

She has given STAR presentations and training to over 400 people and represented STAR on relevant committees. She also designed and produced the popular 'Festival Boxes' with funding from B&NES EYPCD. Pauline continues to do freelance consultancy work and training for STAR.

In 2002 the Evaluation Trust completed an evaluation and report on STAR's work. STAR held a successful open day at Riverside Youth Centre. STAR also recruited another freelance outreach worker, Linda Barnes.

In 2004, the Lloyds TSB Foundation granted STAR £7,100 towards employing a Development Worker for one year. Diana Grace became STAR’s Development Worker from April 2004 to September 2004; she joined the management committee in June 2005. Monalisa Mukherjee took over as STAR’s Development Worker from September 2004 to October 2005.

STAR is actively seeking funding to renew the Development Worker post. In February 2006, the management committee employed a consultant, Vicky Harrison, to help them produce a business plan for the next five years including updating and expanding the training courses. Funding for this came from the B&NES Early Years Childcare and Play Team.

STAR concentrates, for now, on under-eights workers and parents in this area. This brings us into contact with infant and primary schools, pre-schools, out of school groups, toddler groups, health visitors, childminders and parents — just about anyone who has any contact with a child under the age of eight.

Our Management Committee is small but vital, and we always welcome new members. If you feel you could help STAR please consider joining our committee.