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When the former South Abingdon Children's Centre closed its doors in 2016, a small community group vowed to reopen them and worked on a number of different partnership agreements until they found one that ought to work. But there was a long road ahead, to set up as a charity and carry out the detailed negotiations with various partners including the County Council, the neighbouring school and the grant funders. The group realised that they needed some multi-skilled but affordable help. Mushroom Communications were asked to take on the various business and negotiation tasks as well as set up a website and social media feeds. 

Mushroom Communications piloted the organisation through the processes of setting up a bank account, registering as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation), establishing a working steering group and Board of Trustees, establishing relationships with service delivery partners, and negotiating acceptable lease terms with the County Council, as well as providing agendas and minutes to all meetings.

Heather Brown continued as Chair of the organisation in order to pilot the charity through the difficult Covid months and finally handed on to a new Chair in 2022.