Kids Come First

Robin Mitchell never thought she’d see herself providing care for 40 children between the ages of 5 and 12.  But that is what the average afternoon at Kids Come First; Out of School Care looks like.
It all started years ago when Robin had two of her own children. “I had lots of friends who needed somewhere that they could leave their kids and not worry, so I started taking care of other peoples’ children in my home.”  Later, she went back to school to get her Early Childhood Education Certificate.  She worked at the Powell River Recreation Complex for four years running the childrens’ program there.

Finding the limitations of that program frustrating, Robin decided to start up her own business in 2002, and that’s when she came into contact with Community Futures. “I don’t think my business would be where it is today without Community Futures,” she says. “At first I reluctantly went to the Self Employment Program’s Tuesday evening sessions, but I always came away with something I could use and apply to my business.” One of the most important ways the program helped, she says, was to make her see her childcare service as a small business; one that could be viable and important to the community.

“There was so much information shared, it really helped a lot.” When she started the business, Robin got a loan through Community Futures to buy a van, and more recently she got a loan to purchase a bus.  Transportation is key to the services Robin and her staff provide at Kids Come First.

“We provide before and after school care, and before and after kindergarten care,” she explains. “That includes transporting kids to school, picking them up, taking them to extracurricular activities, as well as planning a full agenda of activities ourselves.”

It’s the ultimate situation for busy parents because they can go off to work without worrying about their children. “They leave me with their kids’ schedules, and they know the kids will get where they need to be.” Robin is willing and able to provide parents with flexibility. When a parent needs to be at work early, or if a special situation means a child needs care in the evening, Robin makes it work. “That’s our biggest asset and selling point,” she says. “We ensure that the parents’ and the family’s needs are catered to. We find a way to make extras happen.”