✨ Grand Opening of Banana Moon Caterham ✨

TOSFoundation
Aug 20
2 min read

Today Lewis had the pleasure of attending the grand opening of Banana Moon Caterham, after being invited by Laura Salmon (Head of Early Years).

It was a fantastic opportunity to not only celebrate the launch of a brand-new setting in the local community, but also to highlight the work of our charity and the vital role of life-saving LifeVac equipment in childcare settings.

As many of you know, through The Oliver Steeper Foundation, we are dedicated to raising funds to provide LifeVac anti-choking devices to nurseries, preschools, and childminders right across the UK. No parent ever wants to imagine their child in an emergency, and no practitioner should be left without the tools to act. Our mission is to make sure that never happens.

Earlier this year, Banana Moon became the first major nursery group in the UK to take that step thanks to an incredible donation of 50+ wall mounted LifeVac kit by Eden Training Solutions. Every one of their nurseries now has a LifeVac wall-mounted device, ready to be deployed if a child ever chokes and first aid has been attempted and failed.

Banana Moon are a shining example of what forward-thinking childcare looks like. Last year, their “Little Hearts, Bright Futures” campaign saw them install an AED (defibrillator) across their whole network of nurseries. This year, their new campaign “Big Moments, Bright Futures” builds on that legacy, ensuring even more protection for children in their care with the LifeVac devices on hand. LifeVac will also cover all staff members also as each kit comes with 4 different size masks from paediatric to large adult.

At today’s opening, we watched the ribbon cutting and toured the setting and wow, what a bright, airy, and truly inspiring environment where every child’s needs have been carefully considered. The passion and attention to detail from the Banana Moon team was clear in every corner, from the play spaces to the learning resources.

For us as a charity, being part of this moment was more than just an event – it was a reminder of why we do what we do. To see children starting out in a safe, nurturing environment, supported by staff who now have a life-saving tool at their fingertips, is incredibly powerful.

On behalf of our foundation, I want to thank Banana Moon for their leadership in children’s safety and for standing with us in our mission. Together, we are proving that simple steps can save lives and that safeguarding children isn’t just about education and care, but about making sure they always have the brightest and safest future possible.

We would like to wish Osama, his family and all of the staff who have joined Banana Moon Caterham every success with their new setting.

A small section of images from the Nursery

And now for the fun bit – here are some snaps from inside this brand-new nursery! From colourful play areas to cosy corners and endless things to explore, it’s a little one’s dream come true. We’re sure you’ll agree it looks like an amazing place for children to grow, learn, and thrive.