Calls to reopen Jersey sports centre crèche
BBCPeople are calling on ministers to consider reopening a crèche at Les Quennevais Sports Centre to help parents of young children enjoy more regular exercise.
The centre in St Brelade used to have childcare facilities but they closed permanently during the pandemic.
Heidi Baker, who has an eight-month-old son, has set up an online petition hoping to demonstrate public support for reinstating the service.
Minister for infrastructure, Andy Jehan, who also has responsibility for sport, says he will meet the petition organisers and supporters, but said the previous crèche made "significant losses" and struggled to get staff.
Ms Baker said: "I'm desperate to get back to doing fitness and I'm finding it very difficult to find childcare for my son.
"It's socialising. It's mixing with other people. It's making new friends. It's good for your health and well-being.
"When my son was four months old, I had postnatal depression.
"I think my recovery would have been a lot quicker if I had been able to go to the gym and have someone look after him there."
Fitness coach Vicky Barratt used the crèche at Les Quennevais when her own children were young.
She said: "It's hard bringing up a new-born baby.
"If you can just do something for yourself for an hour a day where you know your child's cared for, you're going to be in a better place for your child.
"I've got a lovely lady who desperately wants to come to spinning class [indoor cycling] but is often late because she's had to get a family member to look after two small children.
"If we still had the crèche, she could just pop downstairs, come into the class and not have that pressure of wondering who can look after them today.
"The government should be leading the way with this."